The 20 Laws of Power

Law one

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.

Law Two

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 three

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 guide them far enough down the wrong path envelop them in enough smoke and by the time they realize your intentions they will be too late.

Law Four.

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're saying something but now it will seem original if you make it vague open-ended and sphinx-like powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less the more you say the more likely you are to say something foolish

Law five

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 happen meanwhile learn to destroy your enemies by opening holes in their own reputations then stand aside and let public opinion hang them.

Law six

Court attention at all costs everything is judged by its appearance what is unseen counts for nothing never let yourself get lost in the crowd then or buried in Oblivion Stand Out be conspicuous at all costs make yourself a magnet of attention by appearing larger more colorful more mysterious than the Bland and timid masses.

law seven

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 god-like aura of efficiency and speed in the end your helpers will be forgotten and you will be remembered never do yourself what others can do for you

law eight

Make other people come to you use bait if necessary when you force the other person to act you are the one in control it is always better to make your opponent come to you abandoning his own plans in the process lure him with fabulous gains then attack you hold the cards

law nine

Win through your actions never through argument any momentary Triumph you think you have gained through argument is really a puric victory the resentment and ill will you stir up is stronger and lasts longer than any momentary change of opinion it is much more powerful to get others to agree with you through your actions without saying a word demonstrate do not explicate

law 10.

Infection avoid the unhappy and unlucky you can die from someone else's misery emotional states are as infectious as diseases you may feel you are helping the drowning man but you are only precipitating your own disaster the unfortunate sometimes draw Misfortune on themselves they will also draw it on you associate with the happy and fortunate instead.

law 11.

Learn to keep people dependent on you to maintain your Independence you must always be needed and wanted the more you are relied on the more freedom you have make people depend on you for their happiness and prosperity and you have nothing to fear never teach them enough so that they can do without you

law 12.

Use selective honesty and generosity to disarm your victim one sincere and honest move will cover over dozens of dishonest ones open-hearted gestures of honesty and generosity bring down the guard of even the most suspicious people once you are selective honesty opens a hole in their armor you can deceive and manipulate them at will a timely gift a trojan horse will serve the same purpose.

Law 13.

When asking for help appeal to people's self-interest never to their Mercy or gratitude if you need to turn to an ally for help do not bother to remind him of your past assistance and good deeds he will find a way to ignore you instead uncover something in your request or in your alliance with him that will benefit him and emphasize it out of all proportion he will respond enthusiastically when he sees something to be gained for himself.

law 14.

Pose as a friend work as a spy knowing about your rival is critical use spies to gather valuable information that will keep you a step ahead better still play this by yourself in polite social encounters learn to probe ask indirect questions to get people to reveal their weaknesses and intentions there is no occasion that is not an opportunity for Artful spying

law 15.

Crush your enemy totally all great leaders since Moses have known that a feared enemy must be crushed completely sometimes they have learned this the hard way if one Ember is left a light no matter how dimly it smolders a fire will eventually break out more is lost through stopping half way than through total Annihilation the enemy will recover and will seek revenge crush him not only in body but in spirit

law 16.

Use absence to increase respect and honor too much circulation makes the price go down the more you are seen and heard from the more common you appear if you are already established in a group temporary withdrawal from it will make you more talked about even more admired you must learn when to leave create value through scarcity

law 17

Keep others in suspense cultivate an air of unpredictability humans are creatures of habit with an insatiable need to see familiarity in other people's actions your predictability gives them a sense of control turn the tables be deliberately unpredictable behavior that seems to have no consistency or purpose will keep them off balance and they will wear themselves out trying to explain your moves taken to an extreme this strategy can intimidate and terrorize

law 18

Do not build fortresses to protect yourself isolation is dangerous the world is dangerous and enemies are everywhere everyone has to protect themselves a fortress seems the safest but isolation exposes you to more dangers than it protects you from it cuts you off from valuable information it makes you conspicuous and an easy target better to circulate among people find allies Mingle you were shielded from your enemies by the crowd

Law 19.

Know who you are dealing with do not offend the wrong person there are many different kinds of people in the world and you can never assume that everyone will react to your strategies in the same way deceive or outmaneuver some people and they will spend the rest of their lives seeking Revenge they are wolves in Lamb's clothing choose your victims and opponents carefully then never offend or deceive the wrong person

Law 20.

Do not commit to anyone it is the fool who always rushes to take sides do not commit to any side or cause but yourself by maintaining your Independence you become the master of others playing

people against one another making them pursue you.