“First they ignore you. If this succeeds, you are essentially forgotten by history. Then they laugh at you. If this succeeds, you are essentially forgotten by history. Then they fight you. If this succeeds, you are remembered by history as a villain. If this fails, you win.
… unless your cause is subverted or sublimated, in which case you are forgotten by history.
… unless your cause is subverted or sublimated, in which case you are forgotten by history.