48 Laws

Question 1

Law 1

Answer 1

Never outshine the master Law

Question 2

Law 2

Answer 2

Never Put too Much Trust in Friends, Learn How to Use Enemies

Question 3

Law 3

Answer 3

Conceal Your Intentions

Question 4

Law 4

Answer 4

Always Say Less than Necessary

Question 5

Law 5

Answer 5

So Much Depends on Reputation — Guard It with Your Life

Question 6

Law 6

Answer 6

Create an Air of Mystery

Question 7

Law 7

Answer 7

Get Others to Do the Work for You, but Always Take the Credit

Question 8

Law 8

Answer 8

Make Other People Come to You — Use Bait if Necessary

Question 9

Law 9

Answer 9

Win through your Actions, Never through Argument

Question 10

Law 10

Answer 10

Avoid the Unhappy and Unlucky

Question 11

Law 11

Answer 11

Learn to Keep People Dependent on You

Question 12

Law 12

Answer 12

Use Selective Honesty and Generosity to Disarm your Victim

Question 13

Law 13

Answer 13

When Asking for Help, Appeal to People’s Self-Interest, Never to their Mercy or Gratitude

Question 14

Law 14

Answer 14

Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy

Question 15

Law 15

Answer 15

Crush Your Enemy Totally

Question 16

Law 16

Answer 16

Use Absence to Increase Respect and Honor

Question 17

Law 17

Answer 17

Keep Others in Suspended Terror: Cultivate an Air of Unpredictability

Question 18

Law 18

Answer 18

Do Not Build Fortresses to Protect Yourself – Isolation is Dangerous

Question 19

Law 19

Answer 19

Know Who You’re Dealing with – Do Not Offend the Wrong Person

Question 20

Law 20

Answer 20

Do not commit to anyone

Question 21

Law 21

Answer 21

Play a sucker to catch a sucker, seem dumber than your mark

Question 22

Law 22

Answer 22

Use the surrender tactic: transform weakness into power

Question 23

Law 23

Answer 23

Concentrate your forces

Question 24

Law 24

Answer 24

Play the perfect courtier

Question 25

Law 25

Answer 25

Re-Create Yourself

Question 26

Law 26

Answer 26

Keep your hands clean

Question 27

Law 27

Answer 27

Play on people’s need to believe to create a cult like following

Question 28

Law 28

Answer 28

Enter action with boldness

Question 29

Law 29

Answer 29

Plan all the way to the end

Question 30

Law 30

Answer 30

Make your accomplishments seem effortless

Question 31

Law 31

Answer 31

Control the options, get others to play with the cards you deal

Question 32

Law 32

Answer 32

Play to people’s fantasies

Question 33

Law 33

Answer 33

Discover each man’s thumbscrew

Question 34

Law 34

Answer 34

Be royal in your own fashion. Act like a king to be treated like one

Question 35

Law 35

Answer 35

Master the art of timing

Question 36

Law 36

Answer 36

Disdain things you cannot have, ignoring them is the best revenge

Question 37

Law 37

Answer 37

Create compelling spectacles

Question 38

Law 38

Answer 38

Think as you like but behave like others

Question 39

Law 39

Answer 39

Stir up waters to catch fish

Question 40

Law 40

Answer 40

Despise the free lunch

Question 41

Law 41

Answer 41

Avoid stepping into a great man’s shoes

Question 42

Law 42

Answer 42

Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter

Question 43

Law 43

Answer 43

Work on the hearts and minds of others

Question 44

Law 44

Answer 44

Disarm and infuriate with the mirror effect

Question 45

Law 45

Answer 45

Preach the need to change, but never reform too much at once

Question 46

Law 46

Answer 46

Never appear too perfect

Question 47

Law 47

Answer 47

Do not go past the mark you aimed for. In victory, know when to stop

Question 48

Law 48

Answer 48

Assume formlessness