great game, n.All

The Great Game (n.) of ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠empire was endless by definition, and in politics an endless game can only end in catastrophe — its secrecy rarely rising above a spy's vulgar duplicity.

The Great Game (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠dangerously similar to life itself because it has no ultimate purpose: 'When every one is dead the Great Game is finished. Not before.'