48 Laws of Power – (Book Written by: Robert Greene 1998)

48 Laws of Power: (Book Written by: Robert Greene, 1998)

1. Never Outshine the Master: Always make those above you feel superior.

2. Never Put Too Much Trust in Friends: Friends can be unreliable; use enemies instead.

3. Conceal Your Intentions: Keep your plans hidden to avoid manipulation.

4. Always Say Less Than Necessary: Saying less keeps you in control and mysterious.

5. So Much Depends on Reputation: Guard your reputation; it determines your power.

6. Court Attention at All Costs: Visibility is key; never blend in.

7. Get Others to Do the Work for You: Delegate and take credit for results.

8. Make Other People Come to You: Draw people in, and maintain control.

9. Win Through Actions, Not Argument: Demonstrate your power through results.

10. Avoid the Unhappy and Unlucky: Negative energy can bring you down.

11. Learn to Keep People Dependent on You: Make yourself indispensable to others.

12. Use Selective Honesty: Disarm others with occasional truths.

13. When Asking for Help, Appeal to Self-interest: Make it about their benefit.

14. Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy: Gather intelligence while appearing loyal.

15. Crush Your Enemy Totally: Ensure they cannot recover and retaliate.

16. Use Absence to Increase Respect and Honor: Too much presence can diminish value.

17. Keep Others in Suspense: Control others by being unpredictable.

18. Don’t Build Fortresses: Isolation makes you vulnerable to attacks.

19. Know Who You’re Dealing With: Choose your battles wisely; each person differs.

20. Do Not Commit to Anyone: Keep your independence; avoid alliances.

21. Play a Sucker to Catch a Sucker: Pretend to be less smart to deceive.

22. Surrender as a Tactic: Sometimes, yielding gains more power.

23. Concentrate Your Forces: Focus energy and resources on a single objective.

24. Play the Perfect Courtier: Master the art of flattery and diplomacy.

25. Recreate Yourself: Be adaptable, continually evolve to stay relevant.

26. Keep Your Hands Clean: Avoid direct involvement in messy situations.

27. Play on People’s Need to Believe: Manipulate with faith or a vision.

28. Enter Action with Boldness: Bold actions command attention and respect.

29. Plan All the Way to the End: Anticipate everything to avoid failure.

30. Make Your Accomplishments Seem Effortless: Hide hard work behind simplicity. Become a Local Man.

31. Control the Options: Make others feel like they have choices.

32. Play to People’s Fantasies: Appeal to their dreams, not reality.

33. Discover Each Man’s Thumbscrew: Find and exploit their vulnerabilities.

34. Be Royal in Your Own Fashion: Act confidently and with self-worth.

35. Master the Art of Timing: Timing is crucial; act at the right moment.

36. Disdain Things You Cannot Have: Ignore what you can’t control to stay powerful.

37. Create Compelling Spectacles: Impress with grand, dramatic gestures.

38. Think as You Like, But Behave Like Others: Blend in to avoid unnecessary conflict.

39. Stir Up Waters to Catch Fish: Confusion disorients enemies and helps you win.

40. Despise the Free Lunch: Value things that come at a cost; nothing is free.

41. Avoid Stepping into a Great Man’s Shoes: Don’t follow in powerful footsteps.

42. Strike the Shepherd and the Sheep Will Scatter: Remove key influencers to weaken opposition.

43. Work on the Hearts and Minds of Others: Win people over emotionally.

44. Disarm and Infuriate with the Mirror Effect: Reflect back behavior to unsettle others.

45. Preach the Need for Change, but Never Reform Too Much: People resist drastic change.

46. Never Appear Too Perfect: Appearing flawless provokes envy.

47. Do Not Go Past the Mark You Aimed For: Know when to stop, avoid greed.

48. Assume Formlessness: Be adaptable and unpredictable to stay invincible.

Book Written by: Robert Greene, 1998