The 48 Laws of Power is a book written by Robert Greene, an author known for his works on power, seduction and war.
In the following articles, these 48 laws will be discussed and analyzed, so grab along; and we’ll get going!
Law 1
Never outshine the master.
Always make those above you feel comfortably superior.
When doing psychology at a lower level, a key thing we’re taught is to always impress superiors to make them remember you. However, this is not always what you want to do. Showing off talents must not go too far, making those above you uncomfortable and threatened. Impressing those in charge can, to some extent, make them fond of you (thinging of you as a valuable resourse); but can quickly reach a point where they feel insecure because of your brilliance. Make your superiors remember you, but keep them happy. We only see the stars when the sun isn’t there; and clever stars don’t try to outshine the sun. Ever.
Law 2
Never put too much trust in friends,
Learn how to use your enemies.
Friends will betray you quickly, for they are easily aroused by envy. You have more to fear from friends than enemies. If you have no enemies, find a way to make them.
Ah, friends. The people we can trust no matter what, who are always there. Those who never go behind our backs, who never point at us in times of doubt, and who are loyal to the grave. Right?
Well, whereas friends in the general life are little problem; remember that you can never be certain they won’t turn on you. You have less to fear from enemies for one simple reason. When friends turn against you, they do it with all they know about you, which is a lot. An enemy who wants to attack your weak points will have to take time to find your weak spots; those that your friends already know. You also need to learn to use your enemies to your advantage, and use aggression as a tool, rather than an irritability. If enemies are nowhere to be found, however; find some. They’ll prove more useful than you could ever have imagined.
“Lord, protect me from my friends. My enemies I can take care of”
– Voltaire
Law 3
Conceal your intentions.
Keep people off-balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose of your actions.
Obvious? To some, yes; but not to all. Concealing your true intentions is key to not being betrayed, or have plans collapsed. This law much relates to Law 11 (Learn to keep people dependent on you), as it has to do with not being left or betrayed. If no one knows your intentions, no one can replace you, as they might lose something worth preserving. A plan, scheme or simple thought are things that keep people happy with you, because they have to be. Not showing you the respect you deserve, they risk losing you, and along it your grand scheme. Of course, parts of a plan must sometimes be revealed to keep crowds interested, but remember Law 4.
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. Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less.
The principal at a university I visited for an exchange program was the most memorable person I have ever met. It wasn’t, though, the way he spoke that impressed me. It was the way he didn’t. His words seemed limited, as if he was cautious not to waste his precious vocal cords on anyone.
This is what Law 4 is all about. Saying less, thus seeming less common and more interesting, is usually a simple, but proven effective, way to keep yourself at the higher of positions. You may noticed how your boss always seems to say much less than anyone else during conferences and meetings. That a coincidence? No, your boss has merely learned how to keep his employees at the edge of intimidation. Always say less than necessary, and always say less than your opponent.
Law 5
So much depends on you 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 from all sides.
Vital to all social interaction is if people have heard of you, and what they have heard. Good reputation is the most important thing you will ever have to defend. Pride, social status and and salary are all things that depend on your reputation; and it is up to no one else than you to make sure you’re worth the trouble of contacting. When it comes to keeping a good reputation; it’s little trouble to do. Simply doing what you do and doing it well is usually enough to keep your reputation at a steady raise (with, of course, help of these 48 laws). Saving your reputation, however, will often prove to be a difficult and time-consuming task. Just like a car demands more power to start roll than to keep doing it; you will find that it’s the first weeks of rebuilding reputation that demand the most effort. Well, go with it. It will be worth the few weeks of struggle you’ll remember when you’re successful. Keep people dependent on you (Law 11), but keep yourself dependent on your reputation; and guard it with all you’ve got.
Law 6
Court attention at all cost
Everything is judged by appearance; what is unseen counts for nothing. Never let yourself get lost in crowd, then, or buried in the oblivion. Stand out.
In contrary to Law 4, you need to speak to keep people below you. Do that, however, in proper amounts, and never exceed any limits. There are two things people notice; individuals and crowds, however not individuals in crowds. For this reason, you must stand out of the crowd to impress people and make them remember you; which is the key to power. Whether adopting the peacock syndrome (wearing unmatching socks to attract attention), or simply speaking in a way that few people do; you must make sure your opponent will not forget you in the first turn.
There, those are the first six rules to adopt if power is what you seek. Always feel free to ask if anything is unclear.
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