Law 1
When interacting with individuals in positions of authority, it is essential to avoid outshining them. It is critical to guarantee that those who hold higher ranks feel superior, regardless of the actual circumstances. This principle applies universally and all employees should acknowledge its importance. In this particular scenario, the boss or “master” holds a higher position and has likely earned their role through merit. As a result, they have no intention of being replaced. When individuals possess power, it is natural for them to eliminate any potential threats.
Robert Greene emphasizes the importance of following his advice in order to prevent being replaced by someone who is less intelligent, less attractive, and less threatening. A crucial aspect he highlights is that inadvertently overshadowing the master can result in conflict. Certain masters may be more insecure than others, so if your natural charm and elegance cause you to outshine them, it becomes necessary for you to conceal these qualities in order to retain your position.
It is important to recognize that one cannot simply do whatever they want because their boss or “master” may have affection for them. Despite feeling a strong bond with their superior or if they show affection towards them, it does not guarantee special treatment or increased authority. This is particularly true in the United States where workplace etiquette is generally polite and everyone is valued. Hence, it is crucial to always depict the master as the central figure, radiating power and brilliance, capturing everyone’s attention. By adhering to this principle, one’s position will not be weakened but instead lead to gaining more influence.
Law 2
It is crucial to not place excessive trust in your friends. It is important to learn how to handle your enemies and even foster a closer connection with them. The second principle of law indicates that intentionally creating enemies or forming a closer bond with them can be advantageous. Differentiating between friends and enemies is essential because typically, enemies do not have the best interests of the other person at heart, while friends usually do. R. Greene suggests that employing a friend can unveil hidden traits they may possess. Limiting interactions with friends solely to friendly and social settings makes it challenging to assess their conduct in a professional or work-related atmosphere.
Hiring friends can result in losing one, as it is difficult for most people to separate work life from friendship. When a friend enters into a deal with you that may leave you feeling cheated, maintaining the friendship becomes challenging. Thus, it is essential to differentiate between friendship and work. On the other hand, hiring an enemy eliminates these issues. There are no emotional ties with enemies, making it easier to cut ties if they deceive or betray you. Ultimately, there is also the option of not hiring either a friend or an enemy.
While friends may act friendly, they do not harm you like enemies. Enemies, on the other hand, are initially viewed negatively and have a greater chance to exceed expectations positively. Friends are seen as good and optimistic individuals whom you cherish and adore. However, compared to your enemies, friends have limited potential for growth. They can only fulfill your needs up to a certain extent until they disappoint or reveal their unknown side. Nonetheless, I believe many people are diligent and determined to prove that they are capable of more than what one may assume at first.
The ability to identify those who can effectively meet your interests in any situation is essential for gaining power. Ultimately, the goal is to achieve personal objectives and strive for the most advantageous result. While it is important to value friendships independently, it is also beneficial to cooperate with individuals who possess skills and competence.
Law 3
The concept of concealing one’s intentions is becoming more acknowledged in the legal field. It is clear that using a disguise is the best tactic for tricking others and keeping one’s true motives hidden. This can be done subtly or, as exemplified by Otto von Bismarck, in a more extravagant way to achieve victories in war. People are willing to take extreme measures and resort to any action necessary to gain power.
Concealing one’s intentions can be seen as bluffing in today’s world. Most people are transparent and willingly share their intentions and opinions when asked. They do so for various reasons. Firstly, it is natural and effortless to discuss one’s emotions and future plans. Although this may be advantageous for some, falling for bluffing is the consequence if one attempts to deceive. Secondly, many individuals believe that by being honest and open, they can win others’ hearts and showcase their inherent goodness. These people are easily identifiable as they are willing to bear the cost of being liked.
This Law encompasses two important abilities. First, it involves mastering both your own words and gestures, while also being able to interpret the gestures of others and detect when they are bluffing. By pretending to fully believe in what you say, your words will carry more weight and your gestures will appear more expressive. Utilizing a smoke screen to conceal your true intentions is also highly advantageous. By using distractions and misdirection, you can lead your opponents into a trap and ultimately achieve your desired outcome, whether through displaying noble gestures or maintaining a consistent pattern of behavior.
Although this behavior may be considered barely legal in certain circumstances and potentially risky, it can help you achieve your goal by granting you control and power over others.
Law 4
Always Say Less than Necessary … Point made! Law 4 part II Always Say Less than Necessary
In the realm of power, speaking less than required can significantly improve one’s image and degree of impact. This principle complements law number 3 and when employed in conjunction, can produce the best outcomes. These laws are similar but synergistic. Your silence has a tendency to disturb others.
While silence may cause unease for individuals and those in their vicinity, it can also be advantageous. It is crucial to have restraint over one’s speech and actions because once something is uttered, it cannot be retracted. Unfiltered words can unexpectedly inflict greater harm, affecting an individual’s reputation, appearance, and future conduct. Nevertheless, staying silent does not always bring benefits as it can raise doubt and insecurity among higher authorities. Others may interpret silence as a display of disrespect or rudeness.
Law 5
Protecting your reputation is absolutely essential, as it greatly impacts your life. Understanding how others perceive us in society is crucial if we desire positive opinions. If we don’t actively manage our reputation, someone else will take charge of that responsibility. We possess the ability to shape both our future and people’s perceptions of us. Ultimately, what truly counts is our behavior within society, as judgments are formed solely based on appearance and actions. While a single negative act can swiftly damage our reputation, building a positive one may require multiple endeavors.
The way people perceive and shape your reputation starts the moment they encounter or hear about you. Sometimes, your reputation precedes your actual presence. The only opportunity to create a fresh reputation is by relocating to unfamiliar environments where nobody knows you. Consequently, it is crucial to commence building your reputation from the very start. It is necessary to strive for establishing a reputation centered around a single exceptional attribute, such as generosity, honesty, or cleverness. As you progress, your reputation will naturally spread, yet it is advantageous to actively ensure its dissemination.
Developing a strong and enduring image relies on establishing and expanding your reputation. This valuable asset must be continuously protected from potential harm without appearing desperate. Conversely, attacking someone else’s reputation can be an effective tactic, particularly when you have less authority than them. Individuals with more at stake are more vulnerable, while those with less power will fiercely defend themselves.
Having a robust reputation built on power, authority, and a strong foundation can greatly simplify your everyday life. It enables you to effectively oversee those under your command and holds the potential to enhance future interactions. In essence, reputation is indispensable for acquiring power!
Law 6
Court Attention at all Cost. It is crucial to constantly be aware of one’s appearance and do whatever it takes to seem larger than life, standing out and shining brightly among others. This approach is the most effective way to be noticed. In general, taller individuals tend to earn higher salaries compared to shorter individuals.
The main idea of this passage is that standing out increases the chances of success and being noticed. It emphasizes the importance of grabbing people’s attention and keeping it. R. Greene’s fifth law states that the key to achieving this is associating your name and reputation with a distinctive quality and image. Whether the attention received is positive or negative, it can be advantageous. Therefore, qualities such as appearance, actions, words, and reputation are insignificant as long as they are captivating.
I partly disagree with this statement. Its applicability varies depending on one’s role in the workplace and society. Those who are regarded as different by society often encounter rejection and must distinguish themselves to gain acceptance. This especially applies to minority groups, who frequently struggle for equal rights and acknowledgement. Cultivating curiosity and attracting attention can also be advantageous in achieving objectives. Generally, mysteries captivate people more than appearances do. The ability to create an aura of intrigue around oneself or one’s plans is more crucial than physical appearance.
The natural instinct to seek discovery will undoubtedly generate the attention you desire. If your current circumstances prevent you from creating any sense of intrigue, then you must endeavor to make yourself less conspicuous. The ability to evoke mystery and captivate your audience or intended recipients starts from the very outset of your ascent to authority. The pursuit of attention is crucial and should be pursued relentlessly. Adapting strategies is essential as you journey toward the pinnacle.
Law 7
To prevent exhaustion and overwhelm, it’s important to delegate tasks and have others do the work for you. However, it’s crucial to always take credit for their accomplishments. While your helpers may be forgotten in the long run, you will be remembered for what they achieve. This concept is evident in many companies’ daily routine, where the people doing the work don’t receive as much credit as the CEO does. The CEO gets credit for all actions and new developments of the company but also takes responsibility during difficult times like financial losses. It’s only during good times that they are recognized for their achievements. Trying to do everything on your own will eventually lead to exhaustion and feeling overwhelmed. Thus, outsourcing tasks has become increasingly common in today’s world.
The ability to hire individuals with the necessary skills for a job is essential. Two crucial elements come into play: acknowledging an invention or creation and utilizing others’ work. Both concepts involve taking credit, but caution must be taken to prevent mishandling or misuse. In my opinion, this principle can be misunderstood or incorrectly applied in different situations, resulting in unfortunate consequences. There might be cases where it is not advisable to do so.
Plagiarism is prohibited in academic settings as it involves copying someone else’s work without giving proper credit. Nevertheless, this problem can be effectively dealt with through appropriate management techniques. It is interesting to note that as people get older, a behavior that was once seen as unacceptable becomes more common. As Thomas Edison famously said, “Everyone steals in commerce and industry.” Thus, cleverly claiming others’ work as one’s own can result in gaining power and significant benefits.
The main idea is that in the end, you will be remembered while your helpers will be forgotten. This concept is illustrated through the use of Law 8, which suggests that one should make other people come to them and use bait if necessary. By being in control and planning ahead, one can use bait to succeed in various ways. Bait is often used in hunting and fishing to catch prey more effectively and with less effort. Similarly, bait can be used with people to reach goals or aims more efficiently. The most effective approach is to stay back, remain calm, and frustrate others with traps laid for them. This strategy focuses on long-term power rather than quick victories.
The core of power lies in the capacity to retain control and take the lead, persuading others to react while causing opponents and those nearby to remain defensive. Nevertheless, it is important to be careful not to raise suspicion or engage in manipulation. Once suspicion emerges, the task of accomplishing objectives and retaining control becomes more difficult. Ultimately, the objective is for others to approach you, enabling you to have command over the situation – this is where genuine power resides.
Law 9
Winning through actions, rather than arguments, was exemplified by Michelangelo’s approach to a disagreement with Soderini. Soderini lacked an accurate understanding of sculpture, unlike Michelangelo. This led to Michelangelo being hired as the artist when no one else would accept the position. When Soderini instructed Michelangelo to alter the nose of the sculpture, Michelangelo cleverly deceived him. Instead of actually making any changes, Michelangelo gathered random fragments from the ground and moved Soderini himself. Although it appeared as if he was making alterations, in reality, the statue remained untouched.
Just by appearing to work, Michelangelo made Soderini believe he had changed and won their argument. Even without engaging in a debate, Michelangelo’s actions spoke louder than words. No one was offended, yet his point was successfully proven. It is crucial to make others believe they have won arguments, even if one has already achieved their goal without the other party’s awareness. People will go to great lengths to win arguments, as it is natural to strive for victory. Therefore, the ability to manipulate others into thinking they have won is the gateway to power and achieving one’s objectives.
Law 10
Infection: Avoid the Unhappy and Unlucky. The given example for law 10 is a common occurrence in society. It often happens that friends change when they are in new relationships. This can apply to both males and females. People adapt to each other as they enter new relationships. Being around someone who is unhappy will have negative consequences. Over time, feelings may develop and people become too attached to their partners. This makes it difficult to listen to outstanding advice, which is extremely valuable in difficult situations. Throughout history, many powerful men have ended up at the bottom of society because they fail to recognize this “spell” and behave differently than before.
This will end up in disaster. It will get out of control. Once this state has been entered. A virus is perspectival similar. Unseen, it enters your pores without warning, spreading silently and slowly. Before you are aware of the infection, it is deep inside you. After the virus spreads and reaches the main target, it will try to spread and infect others. Also, the unhappy and unlucky are not a good company for you in the first place. You don’t want to be infected with unhappiness or unluckiness. Those are attitudes that will be a big rock on your way to power.
Law 11
Learn how to create and maintain dependency in others as a means of acquiring power and control over them. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to ensure that they rely on you. Strong individuals will not become dependent on you, so it is important to target weaker rulers or masters and make them dependent on your guidance and support. By becoming their source of strength, intelligence, and backbone, you can increase your own power and surpass that of your master. If the ruler or master consistently seeks your advice, your power will greatly surpass theirs.
As the one making decisions, you won’t face the consequences if things go wrong. However, remember to always respect the first rule: never outshine the master. In fact, this might cause him to feel threatened and fear you. However, fear is something you can manipulate. Ultimately, the key to this power lies in the ability to influence people as you desire. Encourage them to work for your advantages and guide them in ways that will benefit you without being too evident.
Law 12
Using Selective Honesty and Generosity can help disarm your victim and destroy your hard-earned honest reputation with just one small act of dishonesty. Even someone as powerful as Al Capone, one of the most notorious mafia bosses in history, could be deceived by Count Victor Lustig’s clever trick. Lustig, a highly skilled con artist, had the ability to understand people and identify the gullible ones. Many men have their guards up against criminals and troublemakers, but Lustig managed to break down those defenses. He projected an image of trustworthiness through his actions and appearance, ensuring his plan was seen as trustworthy. Building trust takes time and requires consistently proving oneself. Once the foundation is built, it provides the opportunity to disarm your victim, as explained in Law Number 5.
All the honesty and generosity you demonstrate towards your victim, whether genuine or feigned, will enable you to attain power and achieve your objectives. The core of deceit lies in the art of diversion. Diversion holds the key to numerous forms of power. It not only aids you in acting surreptitiously, but also strengthens the foundation of your intentions.
Law 13
When seeking assistance, it is important to appeal to people’s self-interest rather than relying on their mercy or gratitude. Throughout the pursuit of power, there will be unavoidable situations in which one must ask for help from others.
But to achieve the most positive outcome, there is an art to requesting assistance that relies on your ability to understand the person you are dealing with and not confuse your own needs with theirs. People are more willing to help if they feel they will receive something in return. Asking for a favor is simple. Once you do favors for others, they will feel indebted to you. However, asking for help is different. There may be situations where you only need a small favor, such as borrowing a pen for a few minutes. In these cases, most people who have a pen and are willing to keep you company for more than five minutes will likely give you the pen.
When it comes to asking for bigger favors or help, people often hesitate. The leverage that will motivate them is their self-interest. It is crucial to show them that there is a personal benefit for them in the favor or not make it seem like a favor at all. If they perceive that their needs will be met or that it aligns with their own interests, it won’t appear as a request for help. The key to having power in asking for favors is to avoid making it look like help or a favor. This may require great skills or could be easily accomplished depending on the situation. Understanding the person you are asking and knowing their intentions and needs are the most important factors in this process.
Law 14
Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy: By posing as a friend and working as a spy, you can gain more benefits than just acquiring information. The key to achieving this is obtaining knowledge about your rivals, especially if you are the spy yourself. Using this knowledge will give you the upper hand in defeating the opposing party. Friends trust each other and share secrets and information. This information will be advantageous to you in two ways. Firstly, you will have access to information that most people do not possess about the person, as long as they perceive you as a friend. Secondly, people will mistakenly interpret your interest in them as a genuine act of friendship.
Another important aspect is the perception of your intentions by others. If they view your actions as friendly gestures, they are likely to become your allies. However, you need to exercise caution and be mindful of maintaining this perception. If people start suspecting your motives, they will actively avoid you. In such cases, it may be beneficial to offer false confessions to elicit genuine ones from them. By handling these interactions carefully, you have the potential to not only influence your new companions but also manipulate the outcomes of future events. Yet, it is important to remain vigilant as there is a possibility of others spying on you as well. If you sense this, you can exploit it by providing misleading information and setting traps for them.
Law 15
Crush your enemies completely while engaging in war. The ultimate objective in war is to overwhelm, defeat, and conquer the enemy. In warfare, there is no room for showing mercy, especially when victory is within reach. It is crucial to deny your enemies any opportunities to regain power or launch surprise attacks against you. Once your enemies are completely crushed, there is no need to worry. If they are gone, they are gone for good. Even if they are on the brink of defeat, they can rebound and regain more power than before. They have fought against you in the past and now understand your strategic approach. They can adapt to your strategies and seek to crush you in return. Your enemies harbor ill intentions towards you, and you should reciprocate the same sentiment. It is imperative to never cease the process of destruction.
In order to ensure your safety, it is crucial to mercilessly defeat your enemies just as they would do to you. The complete eradication of your adversaries is the only way to achieve full security for yourself. This principle is particularly relevant in warfare and certain business situations. When applied to political circumstances, it can result in or indicate imminent conflict. Your foes may possess greater strength and more alliances than you. Employing this principle will ultimately lead to your downfall rather than empowerment.
Law 16
Using absence as a means to enhance respect and honor appears impractical in today’s era. It seems irrational to be absent from work in a business context, although it could potentially bolster one’s authority and reputation.
As the boss, you may occasionally be absent due to important meetings or trips. However, this could be seen as setting a negative example. In ancient times, when kings held absolute power over countries, such behavior may have been advantageous for building a reputation or asserting dominance over others, as seen in ancient Persia. Deioces initially demonstrated the importance of his actions to society, ensuring that he would not be overlooked or treated as ordinary. He halted at the pinnacle of his power, allowing the people to recognize their need for someone like him. Subsequently, he was crowned king.
His absence creates a godlike image and prevents others from becoming jealous of his possessions. A strong presentation will bring attention and power to you – you will shine brighter than those around you. This is similar to Law number 6, “Court Attention at all Cost,” which also emphasizes standing out from the crowd. Presence and absence play a crucial role in everything, including economics. This concept is observed daily in economics, particularly in relation to supply and demand. When a product is removed from the market, reducing the supply, the demand automatically increases.
If a product becomes scarce, its value will increase. This law holds true in economic terms, but when applied in business, it can result in failure. Those who are able to adapt this law correctly will gain power.
Law 17
Maintain Others in a State of Suspended Fear: Cultivate a Sense of Unpredictability Humans possess a tendency to seek familiarity in the actions of others, as they are creatures of habit. Your consistent behavior allows them to feel in control. This principle centers around strategy, which is a common theme in most laws of power. However, mastering unpredictability grants you immense power.
Many men are unaware of this power. Even if they are aware, they often choose not to use it for the sake of their own personal comfort. Animals exhibit predictable behavior patterns, making them easy targets for hunters. Likewise, if people consistently display the same patterns of behavior, they become easy targets too. To avoid being easily targeted, one simply needs to make a few unpredictable moves. This unpredictability also makes a person more intriguing to others. By deviating from the norm, Law number 6 is applied, causing people to become curious and follow your every move. They will discuss you and keep you in their thoughts.
