Ministers should act in such a way that the enemies of their master may not be able to detect his loopholes. On the other hand, when their shortcomings are seen, they should then be assailed. Like the tortoise protecting its limbs by withdrawing them within its shell, ministers should keep close their own counsels. They should, even thus, conceal their own short-comings. Those ministers of a kingdom, who succeed in keeping their counsels close, are said to be wise. Counsels are the armour of a king, and the limbs are his subjects and officers.