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(Mind Power News)

The 48 Laws of Power

By Robert Greene and Joost Elffers Authors of The 48 Laws of Power

The 48 Laws of Power is a 1998 book by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers. The book shares thematic elements with iccol! "achia#elli$s The Prince and has been com%ared to &'n(T)'$s classic treatise The *rt of +ar. Law 1 Never Outshine the Master *lways make those abo#e yo' feel comfortably s'%erior. ,n yo'r desire to %lease or im%ress them- do not .o too far in dis%layin. yo'r talents or yo' mi.ht accom%lish the o%%osite ( ins%ire fear and insec'rity. "ake yo'r masters a%%ear more brilliant than they are and yo' will attain the hei.hts of %ower. Law 2 Never put too Much Trust in Friends, Learn how to use Enemies /e wary of friends ( they will betray yo' more 0'ickly- for they are easily aro'sed to en#y. They also become s%oiled and tyrannical. /'t hire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a friend- beca'se he has more to %ro#e. ,n fact- yo' ha#e more to fear from friends than from enemies. ,f yo' ha#e no enemies- find a way to make them. Law 3 Conceal your ntentions 1ee% %eo%le off(balance and in the dark by ne#er re#ealin. the %'r%ose behind yo'r actions. ,f they ha#e no cl'e what yo' are '% to- they cannot %re%are a defense. G'ide them far eno'.h down the wron. %ath- en#elo%e them in eno'.h smoke- and by the time they reali)e yo'r intentions- it will be too late. Law ! "lways #ay Less than Necessary +hen yo' are tryin. to im%ress %eo%le with words- the more yo' say- the more common yo' a%%ear- and the less in control. E#en if yo' are sayin. somethin. banal- it will seem ori.inal if yo' make it #a.'e- o%en(ended- and s%hin2like.

Powerf'l %eo%le im%ress and intimidate by sayin. less. The more yo' say- the more likely yo' are to say somethin. foolish. Law $ #o Much %epends on &eputation ' (uard it with your Li)e Re%'tation is the cornerstone of %ower. Thro'.h re%'tation alone yo' can intimidate and win3 once yo' sli%- howe#er- yo' are #'lnerable- and will be attacked on all sides. "ake yo'r re%'tation 'nassailable. *lways be alert to %otential attacks and thwart them before they ha%%en. "eanwhile- learn to destroy yo'r enemies by o%enin. holes in their own re%'tations. Then stand aside and let %'blic o%inion han. them. Law * Court "ttention at all Cost E#erythin. is 4'd.ed by its a%%earance3 what is 'nseen co'nts for nothin.. e#er let yo'rself .et lost in the crowd- then- or b'ried in obli#ion. &tand o't. /e cons%ic'o's- at all cost. "ake yo'rself a ma.net of attention by a%%earin. lar.er- more colorf'l- more mysterio's- than the bland and timid masses. Law + (et others to do the ,or- )or you, .ut "lways Ta-e the Credit 5se the wisdom- knowled.e- and le.work of other %eo%le to f'rther yo'r own ca'se. ot only will s'ch assistance sa#e yo' #al'able time and ener.y- it will .i#e yo' a .odlike a'ra of efficiency and s%eed. ,n the end yo'r hel%ers will be for.otten and yo' will be remembered. e#er do yo'rself what others can do for yo'. Law / Ma-e other 0eople come to you ' use 1ait i) Necessary +hen yo' force the other %erson to act- yo' are the one in control. ,t is always better to make yo'r o%%onent come to yo'- abandonin. his own %lans in the %rocess. L're him with fab'lo's .ains 6 then attack. 7o' hold the cards. Law 2 ,in throu3h your "ctions, Never throu3h "r3ument *ny momentary tri'm%h yo' think .ained thro'.h ar.'ment is really a Pyrrhic #ictory8 The resentment and ill will yo' stir '% is stron.er and lasts lon.er than any momentary chan.e of o%inion. ,t is m'ch more %owerf'l to .et others to a.ree with yo' thro'.h yo'r actions- witho't sayin. a word. 9emonstrate- do not e2%licate. Law 14 n)ection5 "void the 6nhappy and 6nluc-y

7o' can die from someone else$s misery 6 emotional states are as infectio's as disease. 7o' may feel yo' are hel%in. the drownin. man b't yo' are only %reci%itatin. yo'r own disaster. The 'nfort'nate sometimes draw misfort'ne on themsel#es3 they will also draw it on yo'. *ssociate with the ha%%y and fort'nate instead. Law 11 Learn to 7eep 0eople %ependent on 8ou To maintain yo'r inde%endence yo' m'st always be needed and wanted. The more yo' are relied on- the more freedom yo' ha#e. "ake %eo%le de%end on yo' for their ha%%iness and %ros%erity and yo' ha#e nothin. to fear. e#er teach them eno'.h so that they can do witho't yo'. Law 12 6se #elective 9onesty and (enerosity to %isarm your :ictim :ne sincere and honest mo#e will co#er o#er do)ens of dishonest ones. :%en( hearted .est'res of honesty and .enerosity brin. down the .'ard of e#en the most s's%icio's %eo%le. :nce yo'r selecti#e honesty o%ens a hole in their armoryo' can decei#e and mani%'late them at will. * timely .ift 6 a Tro4an horse 6 will ser#e the same %'r%ose. Law 13 ,hen "s-in3 )or 9elp, "ppeal to 0eople;s #el)< nterest, Never to their Mercy or (ratitude ,f yo' need to t'rn to an ally for hel%- do not bother to remind him of yo'r %ast assistance and .ood deeds. ;e will find a way to i.nore yo'. ,nstead- 'nco#er somethin. in yo'r re0'est- or in yo'r alliance with him- that will benefit him- and em%hasi)e it o't of all %ro%ortion. ;e will res%ond enth'siastically when he sees somethin. to be .ained for himself. Law 1! 0ose as a Friend, ,or- as a #py 1nowin. abo't yo'r ri#al is critical. 5se s%ies to .ather #al'able information that will kee% yo' a ste% ahead. /etter still8 Play the s%y yo'rself. ,n %olite social enco'nters- learn to %robe. *sk indirect 0'estions to .et %eo%le to re#eal their weaknesses and intentions. There is no occasion that is not an o%%ort'nity for artf'l s%yin.. Law 1$ Crush your Enemy Totally *ll .reat leaders since "oses ha#e known that a feared enemy m'st be cr'shed com%letely. <&ometimes they ha#e learned this the hard way.= ,f one ember is left ali.ht- no matter how dimly it smolders- a fire will e#ent'ally break o't.

"ore is lost thro'.h sto%%in. halfway than thro'.h total annihilation8 The enemy will reco#er- and will seek re#en.e. >r'sh him- not only in body b't in s%irit. Law 1* 6se ".sence to ncrease &espect and 9onor Too m'ch circ'lation makes the %rice .o down8 The more yo' are seen and heard from- the more common yo' a%%ear. ,f yo' are already established in a .ro'%- tem%orary withdrawal from it will make yo' more talked abo't- e#en more admired. 7o' m'st learn when to lea#e. >reate #al'e thro'.h scarcity. Law 1+ 7eep Others in #uspended Terror5 Cultivate an "ir o) 6npredicta.ility ;'mans are creat'res of habit with an insatiable need to see familiarity in other %eo%le$s actions. 7o'r %redictability .i#es them a sense of control. T'rn the tables8 /e deliberately 'n%redictable. /eha#ior that seems to ha#e no consistency or %'r%ose will kee% them off(balance- and they will wear themsel#es o't tryin. to e2%lain yo'r mo#es. Taken to an e2treme- this strate.y can intimidate and terrori)e. Law 1/ %o Not 1uild Fortresses to 0rotect 8oursel) ' solation is %an3erous The world is dan.ero's and enemies are e#erywhere 6 e#eryone has to %rotect themsel#es. * fortress seems the safest. /'t isolation e2%oses yo' to more dan.ers than it %rotects yo' from 6 it c'ts yo' off from #al'able information- it makes yo' cons%ic'o's and an easy tar.et. /etter to circ'late amon. %eo%le find allies- min.le. 7o' are shielded from yo'r enemies by the crowd. Law 12 7now ,ho 8ou;re %ealin3 with ' %o Not O))end the ,ron3 0erson There are many different kinds of %eo%le in the world- and yo' can ne#er ass'me that e#eryone will react to yo'r strate.ies in the same way. 9ecei#e or o'tmane'#er some %eo%le and they will s%end the rest of their li#es seekin. re#en.e. They are wol#es in lambs$ clothin.. >hoose yo'r #ictims and o%%onents caref'lly- then 6 ne#er offend or decei#e the wron. %erson. Law 24 %o Not Commit to "nyone ,t is the fool who always r'shes to take sides. 9o not commit to any side or ca'se b't yo'rself. /y maintainin. yo'r inde%endence- yo' become the master of others 6 %layin. %eo%le a.ainst one another- makin. them %'rs'e yo'. Law 21

0lay a #uc-er to Catch a #uc-er ' #eem %um.er than your Maro one likes feelin. st'%ider than the ne2t %ersons. The trick- is to make yo'r #ictims feel smart 6 and not 4'st smart- b't smarter than yo' are. :nce con#inced of this- they will ne#er s's%ect that yo' may ha#e 'lterior moti#es. Law 22 6se the #urrender Tactic5 Trans)orm ,ea-ness into 0ower +hen yo' are weaker- ne#er fi.ht for honor$s sake3 choose s'rrender instead. &'rrender .i#es yo' time to reco#er- time to torment and irritate yo'r con0'erortime to wait for his %ower to wane. 9o not .i#e him the satisfaction of fi.htin. and defeatin. yo' 6 s'rrender first. /y t'rnin. the other check yo' inf'riate and 'nsettle him. "ake s'rrender a tool of %ower. Law 23 Concentrate 8our Forces >onser#e yo'r forces and ener.ies by kee%in. them concentrated at their stron.est %oint. 7o' .ain more by findin. a rich mine and minin. it dee%er- than by flittin. from one shallow mine to another 6 intensity defeats e2tensity e#ery time. +hen lookin. for so'rces of %ower to ele#ate yo'- find the one key %atronthe fat cow who will .i#e yo' milk for a lon. time to come. Law 2! 0lay the 0er)ect Courtier The %erfect co'rtier thri#es in a world where e#erythin. re#ol#es aro'nd %ower and %olitical de2terity. ;e has mastered the art of indirection3 he flatters- yields to s'%eriors- and asserts %ower o#er others in the most obli0'e and .racef'l manner. Learn and a%%ly the laws of co'rtiershi% and there will be no limit to how far yo' can rise in the co'rt. Law 2$ &e<Create 8oursel) 9o not acce%t the roles that society foists on yo'. Re(create yo'rself by for.in. a new identity- one that commands attention and ne#er bores the a'dience. /e the master of yo'r own ima.e rather than lettin. others define if for yo'. ,ncor%orate dramatic de#ices into yo'r %'blic .est'res and actions 6 yo'r %ower will be enhanced and yo'r character will seem lar.er than life. Law 2* 7eep 8our 9ands Clean 7o' m'st seem a %ara.on of ci#ility and efficiency8 7o'r hands are ne#er soiled by mistakes and nasty deeds. "aintain s'ch a s%otless a%%earance by 'sin. others as sca%e.oats and cat$s(%aws to dis.'ise yo'r in#ol#ement.

Law 2+ 0lay on 0eople;s Need to 1elieve to Create a Cultli-e Followin3 Peo%le ha#e an o#erwhelmin. desire to belie#e in somethin.. /ecome the focal %oint of s'ch desire by offerin. them a ca'se- a new faith to follow. 1ee% yo'r words #a.'e b't f'll of %romise3 em%hasi)e enth'siasm o#er rationality and clear thinkin.. Gi#e yo'r new disci%les rit'als to %erform- ask them to make sacrifices on yo'r behalf. ,n the absence of or.ani)ed reli.ion and .rand ca'ses- yo'r new belief system will brin. yo' 'ntold %ower. Law 2/ Enter "ction with 1oldness ,f yo' are 'ns're of a co'rse of action- do not attem%t it. 7o'r do'bts and hesitations will infect yo'r e2ec'tion. Timidity is dan.ero's8 /etter to enter with boldness. *ny mistakes yo' commit thro'.h a'dacity are easily corrected with more a'dacity. E#eryone admires the bold3 no one honors the timid. Law 22 0lan "ll the ,ay to the End The endin. is e#erythin.. Plan all the way to it- takin. into acco'nt all the %ossible conse0'ences- obstacles- and twists of fort'ne that mi.ht re#erse yo'r hard work and .i#e the .lory to others. /y %lannin. to the end yo' will not be o#erwhelmed by circ'mstances and yo' will know when to sto%. Gently .'ide fort'ne and hel% determine the f't're by thinkin. )ar, really )ar ahead. Law 34 Ma-e your "ccomplishments #eem E))ortless 7o'r actions m'st seem nat'ral and e2ec'ted with ease. *ll the toil and %ractice that .o into them- and also all the cle#er tricks- m'st be concealed. +hen yo' act- act effortlessly- as if yo' co'ld do m'ch more. *#oid the tem%tation of re#ealin. how hard yo' work 6 it only raises 0'estions. Teach no one yo'r tricks or they will be 'sed a.ainst yo'. Law 31 Control the Options5 (et Others to 0lay with the Cards you %eal The best dece%tions are the ones that seem to .i#e the other %erson a choice8 7o'r #ictims feel they are in control- b't are act'ally yo'r %'%%ets. Gi#e %eo%le o%tions that come o't in yo'r fa#or whiche#er one they choose. ?orce them to make choices between the lesser of two e#ils- both of which ser#e yo'r %'r%ose. P't them on the horns of a dilemma8 They are .ored where#er they t'rn. Law 32 0lay to 0eople;s Fantasies The tr'th is often a#oided beca'se it is '.ly and 'n%leasant.

e#er a%%eal to

tr'th and reality 'nless yo' are %re%ared for the an.er that comes for disenchantment. Life is so harsh and distressin. that %eo%le who can man'fact're romance or con4're '% fantasy are like oases in the desert8 E#eryone flocks to them. There is great power in tapping into the fantasies of the masses and that includes even the so called leaders of the masses. Law 33 %iscover Each Man;s Thum.screw E#eryone has a weakness- a .a% in the castle wall. That weakness is 's'ally an insec'rity- an 'ncontrollable emotion or need3 it can also be a small secret %leas're. Either way- once fo'nd- it is a th'mbscrew yo' can t'rn to yo'r ad#anta.e. Law 3! 1e &oyal in your Own Fashion5 "ct li-e a 7in3 to .e treated li-e one The way yo' carry yo'rself will often determine how yo' are treated3 ,n the lon. r'n- a%%earin. #'l.ar or common will make %eo%le disres%ect yo'. ?or a kin. res%ects himself and ins%ires the same sentiment in others. /y actin. re.ally and confident of yo'r %owers- yo' make yo'rself seem destined to wear a crown. Law 3$ Master the "rt o) Timin3 e#er seem to be in a h'rry 6 h'rryin. betrays a lack of control o#er yo'rselfand o#er time. *lways seem %atient- as if yo' know that e#erythin. will come to yo' e#ent'ally. /ecome a detecti#e of the ri.ht moment3 sniff o't the s%irit of the times- the trends that will carry yo' to %ower. Learn to stand back when the time is not yet ri%e- and to strike fiercely when it has reached fr'ition. Law 3* %isdain Thin3s you cannot have5 3norin3 them is the .est &even3e /y acknowled.in. a %etty %roblem yo' .i#e it e2istence and credibility. The more attention yo' %ay an enemy- the stron.er yo' make him3 and a small mistake is often made worse and more #isible when yo' try to fi2 it. ,t is sometimes best to lea#e thin.s alone. ,f there is somethin. yo' want b't cannot ha#e- show contem%t for it. The less interest yo' re#eal- the more s'%erior yo' seem. Law 3+ Create Compellin3 #pectacles &trikin. ima.ery and .rand symbolic .est'res create the a'ra of %ower 6 e#eryone res%onds to them. &ta.e s%ectacles for those aro'nd yo'- then f'll of arrestin. #is'als and radiant symbols that hei.hten yo'r %resence. 9a))led by a%%earances- no one will notice what yo' are really doin..

Law 3/ Thin- as you li-e .ut 1ehave li-e others ,f yo' make a show of .oin. a.ainst the times- fla'ntin. yo'r 'ncon#entional ideas and 'northodo2 ways- %eo%le will think that yo' only want attention and that yo' look down '%on them. They will find a way to %'nish yo' for makin. them feel inferior. ,t is far safer to blend in and n'rt're the common to'ch. &hare yo'r ori.inality only with tolerant friends and those who are s're to a%%reciate yo'r 'ni0'eness. Law 32 #tir up ,aters to Catch Fish *n.er and emotion are strate.ically co'nter%rod'cti#e. 7o' m'st always stay calm and ob4ecti#e. /'t if yo' can make yo'r enemies an.ry while stayin. calm yo'rself- yo' .ain a decided ad#anta.e. P't yo'r enemies off(balance8 ?ind the chink in their #anity thro'.h which yo' can rattle them and yo' hold the strin.s. Law !4 %espise the Free Lunch +hat is offered for free is dan.ero's 6 it 's'ally in#ol#es either a trick or a hidden obli.ation. +hat has worth is worth %ayin. for. /y %ayin. yo'r own way yo' stay clear of .ratit'de- .'ilt- and deceit. ,t is also often wise to %ay the f'll %rice 6 there is no c'ttin. corners with e2cellence. /e la#ish with yo'r money and kee% it circ'latin.- for .enerosity is a si.n and a ma.net for %ower. Law !1 "void #teppin3 into a (reat Man;s #hoes +hat ha%%ens first always a%%ears better and more ori.inal than what comes after. ,f yo' s'cceed a .reat man or ha#e a famo's %arent- yo' will ha#e to accom%lish do'ble their achie#ements to o'tshine them. 9o not .et lost in their shadow- or st'ck in a %ast not of yo'r own makin.8 Establish yo'r own name and identity by chan.in. co'rse. &lay the o#erbearin. father- dis%ara.e his le.acy- and .ain %ower by shinin. in yo'r own way. Law !2 #tri-e the #hepherd and the #heep will #catter Tro'ble can often be traced to a sin.le stron. indi#id'al 6 the stirrer- the arro.ant 'nderlin.- the %oisoned of .oodwill. ,f yo' allow s'ch %eo%le room to o%erateothers will s'cc'mb to their infl'ence. 9o not wait for the tro'bles they ca'se to m'lti%ly- do not try to ne.otiate with them 6 they are irredeemable. e'trali)e their infl'ence by isolatin. or banishin. them. &trike at the so'rce of the tro'ble and the shee% will scatter.

Law !3 ,or- on the 9earts and Minds o) Others >oercion creates a reaction that will e#ent'ally work a.ainst yo'. 7o' m'st sed'ce others into wantin. to mo#e in yo'r direction. * %erson yo' ha#e sed'ced becomes yo'r loyal %awn. *nd the way to sed'ce others is to o%erate on their indi#id'al %sycholo.ies and weaknesses. &often '% the resistant by workin. on their emotions- %layin. on what they hold dear and what they fear. ,.nore the hearts and minds of others and they will .row to hate yo'. Law !! %isarm and n)uriate with the Mirror E))ect The mirror reflects reality- b't it is also the %erfect tool for dece%tion8 +hen yo' mirror yo'r enemies- doin. e2actly as they do- they cannot fi.'re o't yo'r strate.y. The "irror Effect mocks and h'miliates them- makin. them o#erreact. /y holdin. '% a mirror to their %syches- yo' sed'ce them with the ill'sion that yo' share their #al'es3 by holdin. '% a mirror to their actions- yo' teach them a lesson. ?ew can resist the %ower of "irror Effect. Law !$ 0reach the Need )or Chan3e, .ut Never &e)orm too much at Once E#eryone 'nderstands the need for chan.e in the abstract- b't on the day(to(day le#el %eo%le are creat'res of habit. Too m'ch inno#ation is tra'matic- and will lead to re#olt. ,f yo' are new to a %osition of %ower- or an o'tsider tryin. to b'ild a %ower base- make a show of res%ectin. the old way of doin. thin.s. ,f chan.e is necessary- make it feel like a .entle im%ro#ement on the %ast. Law !* Never appear too 0er)ect *%%earin. better than others is always dan.ero's- b't most dan.ero's of all is to a%%ear to ha#e no fa'lts or weaknesses. En#y creates silent enemies. ,t is smart to occasionally dis%lay defects- and admit to harmless #ices- in order to deflect en#y and a%%ear more h'man and a%%roachable. :nly .ods and the dead can seem %erfect with im%'nity. Law !+ %o not 3o 0ast the Mar- you "imed )or= n :ictory, Learn when to #top The moment of #ictory is often the moment of .reatest %eril. ,n the heat of #ictory- arro.ance and o#erconfidence can %'sh yo' %ast the .oal yo' had aimed for- and by .oin. too far- yo' make more enemies than yo' defeat. 9o not allow s'ccess to .o to yo'r head. There is no s'bstit'te for strate.y and caref'l %lannin.. &et a .oal- and when yo' reach it- sto%. Law !/

"ssume Formlessness /y takin. a sha%e- by ha#in. a #isible %lan- yo' o%en yo'rself to attack. ,nstead of takin. a form for yo'r enemy to .ras%- kee% yo'rself ada%table and on the mo#e. *cce%t the fact that nothin. is certain and no law is fi2ed. The best way to %rotect yo'rself is to be as fl'id and formless as water3 ne#er bet on stability or lastin. order. E#erythin. chan.es. ======================================================= ======