The old manual still applies because perception has always been crucial for the assimilation of messages. The story rhymes here: Emperor Vespasian, despite self-attributed miracles to legitimize his power, did not standardize the understanding of his legitimacy among all factions of the Roman Empire, especially those distant or hostile, who continued to see him as an usurper. It's like the difference between a grand cinematic special effects show and the lasting transmission of a deep meaning.