Be Wise as Serpents but Innocent as Doves.

We certainly don't have to, nor should we employ Machiavellian amorality. However, considering the growing number of disinformation campaigns, red herrings, and the continuous lies and deceit of the upper echelon, who face no consequences for their corrupt behavior, it's more important than ever to possess the wisdom to realize and understand when this ferocious lack of morality is aimed in our direction.

The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene filters and condenses 3,000 years of the history of power into 48 laws, which incorporate  philosophies from Machiavelli to Sun-tzu.

Amongst those "laws of power", I believe our government, corporations, and many other powerful institutions use the following one to manipulate the people continuously.

Use selective honesty and generosity to  disarm, as one sincere move will serve to cover dozens of dishonest ones.

There is nothing like a seemingly open-hearted gesture to break down and penetrate the defenses of suspicious people in order to exploit and suppress.