The 48 Laws of Power is a highly influential book written by Robert Green. This book unveils the many ways one can gain power and control over others through cunning and manipulation. It offers a historical account of the various power plays employed by notable figures throughout history, including politicians, businessmen, and conquerors.
The 48 Laws of Power offers an intriguing perspective on the concept of power itself. It argues that power is a fundamental component of human nature and that those who seek to deny its importance are ultimately doomed to fail. Green contends that power is not inherently good or evil but rather is simply a tool that can be used to achieve one’s goals.
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In this post I summarize what each of the 48 laws represent. Each law should be taken as advice on how to use power and influence others, and how to protect yourself against those who would seek to undo your own success.
Law 1: Never Outshine the Master
Always make those above you feel comfortably superior. In your desire to please and impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite—inspire fear and insecurity. Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power. When it comes time for rewards, do not compete for them. It is better to be the master’s loyal servant than his anxious rival.
Law 2: Never Put Too Much Trust In Friends, Learn How To Use Enemies
Be wary of friends—they will betray you more quickly, for they are easily aroused to envy. They also become spoiled and tyrannical. But hire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a friend, because he has more to prove. In fact, you have more to fear from friends than from enemies. If you have no enemies, find a way to make them.
Law 3: Conceal Your Intentions
Keep people off-balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions. If they have no clue what you are up to, they cannot prepare a defense against you. Guide them far enough down the wrong path, envelop them in enough smoke, and by the time they realize your intentions, it will be too late.
Law 4: Always Say Less Than Necessary
When you are trying to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear, and the less in control. Even if you are saying something banal, it will seem original if you make it vague, open-ended, and sphinxlike. Powerful people impress and intimidates by saying less. When talking ask yourself: “How can I be more mysterious and profound?”
Law 5: So Much Depends On Reputation—Guard It With Your Life
Reputation is the cornerstone of power. Through reputation alone you can intimidate and win; once it slips, however, you are vulnerable, and will be attacked on all sides. Make your reputation unassailable. Always be alert to potential attacks and thwart them before they start. Meanwhile, learn to destroy your enemies by opening holes in their own reputations. Then stand aside and let public opinion hang them.
Law 6 Create an Air of Mystery
People are drawn to mystery and intrigue. The more obscure your motives and intentions, the more fascinating you become. Create an air of mystery around yourself by keeping a low profile and revealing only what is necessary. Allow others to speculate and wonder about your true nature, but be sure to give them enough information to keep their interest piqued. The key is to be both alluring and inscrutable, keeping people guessing but never disappointing them with banal or predictable behavior.
Law 7: Get Others To Do The Work For You, But Always Take The Credit
Use the wisdom, knowledge, and legwork of other people to further your own cause. Not only will such assistance save you valuable time and energy, it will give you a godlike aura of efficiency and speed. In the end, however, always take the credit for yourself—it is the ultimate prize.
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Law 8: Make Other People Come To You—Use Bait If Necessary
When you force the other person to act, you are in control. Make them come to you, make them eager and anxious to negotiate or discuss. Put yourself in the catbird’s seat by always having something they want. Lure them with fabulous deals that are too good to be true. Once they are in your grasp, then you can play hardball.
Law 9: Win Through Your Actions, Never Through Argument
Any fool can win an argument on paper, but it takes a man of strength and poise to win in the real world. In any dispute, simply lay out the facts—don’t argue or match wits—and see which position is stronger. Then take action and go with the winner. You will not only avoid wasting time and energy on senseless bickering, but you will also give your opponent less satisfaction than he had hoped for.
Law 10: Infection: Avoid The Unhappy And Unlucky
You can become a victim of the same ills that afflict them. Associate with the happy and fortunate instead. Life is an infectious disease, and if you hang around gloomy, depressed people all the time, their misery will rub off on you. You need to keep your spirits high if you want to succeed in life, so stay clear of anyone who brings you down.
Law 11: Learn to Keep People Dependent on You
To maintain your power, learn how to bring people around to your side and make them dependent on you. When people come to rely on you for emotional or material support, they become more pliable and willing to defer to your wishes. This dependency can also be used as leverage if they ever try to cross you.
Law 12: Use Selective Honesty and Generosity To Disarm Your Victim
One of the most cunning tactics is to use honesty and generosity to raise people’s estimation of you. Once they trust you, they lay themselves open to your manipulation, and even when they realize that you have taken advantage of them they will still find it hard to resist you. It has been said that it is better to be respected than loved, but being both is best of all.
Law 13: When Asking for Help, Appeal To People’s Self-Interest
If you need to turn to an ally for help, do not be afraid to give something in return. People are more willing to help you if they see what’s in it for them. So, offer your assistance and prove that their cooperation will be mutually beneficial. This is the only way to persuade others to lend a helping hand.
Law 14: Pose As A Friend, Work As A Spy
Infiltrate your target’s circle of friends and associates by posing as someone who shares his interests and ideals. Once you have gained his trust, you can discreetly gather information about him that will give you the upper hand in any situation. Be wary though; if discovered, you will lose all credibility.
Law 15: Crush Your Enemy Totally
If you have to give battle, do not be concerned about saving face—go for the throat. By totally annihilating your foes you will be sending a clear message that they should never cross you again. This ruthless tactic may seem cruel, but it is often necessary in order to preserve one’s power and authority.
Law 16: Use absence to increase respect and honor
Too much familiarity breeds contempt, so always keep people guessing by being slightly out of reach. This will give you an air of mystery that will make people more interested in you and they will start to miss your presence when you are not around. Even your enemies will begin to admire and grudgingly respect you.
Law 17: Keep others in suspended terror
Cultivate an air of unpredictability. Be completely honest at times, and utterly ruthless at others. Keep people off-balance by behaving erratically—sometimes harshly, sometimes generously—so that they never know what to expect from you. This will make them fear and respect your power all the more.
Law 18: Do Not Build Fortresses To Protect Yourself
Do not build physical or psychological barriers to insulate yourself from the world. This may make you feel safe and secure in the short-term, but it will only isolate you and cut off your access to valuable resources. Instead, cultivate relationships with powerful allies who can provide protection when needed.
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Law 19: Know who you are dealing with—do not offend the wrong person
Always use caution and discretion when dealing with influential people. Consider the consequences of your actions before you act, as it is always easier to avoid trouble than to get out of it. Remember: one wrong move can lead to long-term disaster.
Law 20: Do not commit to anyone
Do not let yourself be drawn into any long-term commitments or affiliations. Instead, keep your options open and maintain flexibility so that you can quickly adapt to changing circumstances. Being able to move quickly and decisively is key in the game of power.
Law 21: Play a Sucker to Catch a Sucker—Seem Dumber Than Your Mark
In certain situations, it can be advantageous to appear less intelligent and knowledgeable than your target. If they think they can outsmart you, they will let down their guard, giving you the opportunity to catch them off-guard and manipulate them to your advantage.
Law 22: Use the surrender tactic: transform weakness into power
When you find yourself in a position of weakness, do not despair! Instead, use it as an opportunity to make a strategic retreat and regain your strength. Your enemies will be expecting a fight, so surprise them by showing grace under pressure and making a graceful exit. This will make them underestimate you—which is exactly what you want.
Law 23: Concentrate Your Forces
Do not waste your energy by spreading yourself too thin. Instead, focus all of your efforts on one area and use that as a platform to expand your power base. By concentrating all of your forces, you can achieve maximum effect with minimal effort.
Law 24: Play the Perfect Courtier
Learn the art of subtle flattery and ingratiation to make yourself indispensable to those in power. Become an expert at reading people, anticipating their needs, and providing them with what they want before they even have to ask for it. This will make you a valuable asset that cannot be ignored.
Law 25: Re-Create Yourself
Always remember that you have the power to recreate yourself at any moment. You can redefine your identity and purpose in life, allowing you to break free from past limitations and reinvent yourself as someone new. Take control of your destiny by embracing the power of transformation.
Law 26: Keep Your Hands Clean
No matter what situation you find yourself in, make sure to avoid getting involved in any dirty or illegal business. This will not only protect your reputation, but it will also ensure that you have a clean slate and the freedom to pursue your ambitions without fear of repercussions.
Law 27: Play on People’s Need To Believe To Create A Cultlike Following
People want desperately to believe in something, so use this to your advantage. Create a vision that resonates with their deepest desires and they will follow you without question.
Law 28: Enter Action With Boldness
When the time comes to act, have the courage of your convictions and charge forward with confidence. Do not let fear or doubt stand in your way. Strike fast and strike hard, and you will find success.
Law 29: Plan All the Way to the End
Do not let yourself be sidetracked by short-term objectives. Always plan for the long term so that you can achieve your ultimate goal. Be prepared to make tough decisions, but never lose sight of what you are ultimately trying to achieve.
Law 30: Make Your Accomplishments Seem Effortless
The key to attaining power is making it seem effortless. People will be drawn to your accomplishments if they appear natural and easy, so practice the art of deception and make your triumphs look easy. Once people see how easy it is for you to achieve success, they will flock to your side.
Law 31: Control the Options: Get Others To Play With The Cards You Deal
Don’t give others a choice. Instead, control the options and then get them to play with the cards you have dealt out. By limiting their choices, you can make them believe they have autonomy while ensuring that they make the decisions you want them to.
Law 32: Play to People’s Fantasies
People love to escape into fantasy, so use this to your advantage. Tap into people’s hopes and dreams by giving them something larger than life to aspire towards. This will not only give them a sense of purpose, but it will also ensure that they are loyal to you.
Law 33: Discover Each Man’s Thumbscrew
Figure out what makes each person tick and then use this knowledge to manipulate them. Find out their secrets, fears, and desires so that you can push their buttons when necessary. People will do whatever you want if you know how to play on their weaknesses.
Law 34: Be Royal in Your Own Fashion: Act Like a King To Be Treated Like One
If you want to be treated like royalty, then act like one. Carry yourself with confidence and project an air of sophistication and strength. People will flock to your side if they believe that you possess a regal aura.
Law 35: Master the Art of Timing
Never be too early or too late when making decisions. Know when to strike and then act decisively in order to maximize the impact of your actions. This will ensure that you make the most out of every opportunity.
Law 36: Disdain Things You Cannot Have: Ignoring Them Is the Best Revenge
When you are denied something that you want, do not become desperate. Instead, act as if you do not care and move on. This will show others that you are in control of your emotions and immune to their power games.
Law 37: Create Compelling Spectacles
People love a good show, so use this knowledge to your advantage. Arrange events or situations that will captivate the attention of others and keep them in awe of you. This will ensure that they remember you long after the event is over.
Law 38: Think As You Like But Behave Like Others
You may think differently than everyone else, and that is okay. However, if you want to gain influence, then you must learn to act like the rest of the crowd. Blend in with those around you and use their behavior as a guide for your own. This will make it easier for others to accept you.
Law 39: Stir Up Waters To Catch Fish
Never be afraid to make waves if it will help you get what you want. Shake things up and create chaos so that you can take advantage of the confusion. This will give you opportunities to seize power and gain influence.
Law 40: Despise the Free Lunch
Nothing in life is free, so never accept gifts or favors without strings attached. Be wary of those who offer you something for nothing, as they are likely trying to manipulate you. Respect yourself enough to demand a price for your services.
Law 41: Avoid Stepping Into a Great Man’s Shoes
Sometimes it can be tempting to take over from a great leader after they have left. However, it is often better to avoid this situation as it can be difficult to fill their shoes and you may end up disappointing those who were devoted to the previous leader.
Law 42: Strike the Shepherd and the Sheep Will Scatter
When dealing with a group of people who have been loyal to one person, it can be difficult to gain their trust. In this situation, the best course of action is to discredit or remove the leader so that you can take control of the group. This will ensure that they are more open to your influence.
Law 43: Work on the Hearts and Minds of Others
People often respond better to those who can win their hearts and minds. Make an effort to get to know people on a deeper level and understand their motivations, needs, and desires. This will help you gain influence over them in the long run.
Law 44: Disarm and Infuriate with the Mirror Effect
Turning someone’s own tactics against them can be a powerful tool. When dealing with an adversary, use the mirror effect to show them that their own actions are inappropriate or wrong. This will often cause them to become frustrated and lose their composure.
Law 45: Preach the Need for Change But Never Reform Too Much at Once
Change is necessary in order to move forward, but it should be implemented gradually. If you try to force too much change at once, you will likely face resistance from those around you. This can make it harder for you to gain influence in the long run.
Law 46: Never Appear Too Perfect
No one is perfect, so strive to make mistakes that others can relate to. Showing that you are human and not infallible will help people to open up to you and accept your influence more easily.
Law 47: Do Not Go Past the Mark You Aimed For; In Victory, Learn When to Stop
It is easy to become overeager or greedy when achieving success. However, it is important to remember to stop when you have achieved your goal. Going for more can often lead to disaster, so it is best to stay within the boundaries that you set for yourself.
Law 48: Assume Formlessness
Formlessness is the ability to be flexible and adaptable in any situation. Learn how to read a room and adjust your behavior accordingly. This will help you to gain the trust and respect of those around you, making it easier for them to accept your influence.
