48 Laws of Power Flashcards
- Never outshine
the master.
- Never put…learn how
Never put too much trust in friends. Learn how to use enemies.
People are selfish and pursue their own interests.
- Conceal your …add…
intentions.
Add a sense of inexplicable mystery to your character.
Be indirect and subtle when exposing intentions.
- Always say
less than necessary.
Only speak when you have something important to say.
- So much depends
on reputation, guard it with your life.
- Court
attention at all costs.
Don’t be forgotten. All publicity is good publicity.
- Get others
to do the work for you.
Hire talents capable of doing what you can’t.
- Make other people ; force your opponent
come to you. Use bait if necessary.
Don’t take your first shot until the whole herd has gathered round.
For your opponent to react to your moves.
- Win through
your actions, not through argument.
Demonstrate your better approach.
- Infection: avoid
the unhappy and unlucky.
Cut off the firestarters.
- Learn to keep people
dependent on you.
Be the only one who can do what you do.
- Use selective honesty
to disarm your victim.
Tell the truth to gain your opponent’s trust. Be honest when expected to be dishonest to throw your opponent off guard.
- Asking for help,
appeal to people’s self interest.
Don’t count on loyalty. Don’t remind people of their debt, but of mutual interests.
Aim for win-win deals.
- Pose as a friend
work as a spy.
Test people’s honesty before trusting them.
Get people to talk about themselves, an interrogation disguised as a friendly chat.
- Crush your enemy
totally.
Don’t keep enemies. Dispose of or convert them.
- Use absence to
increase respect and honor.
Give people time to miss you. It’s when we lose something that we discover its value.
“why do I not see you more often?” -“because the words, why have you not been to see me are sweeter to my ear than Why have you come again?”
- Cultivate an air of
unpredictability.
Picasso told his art dealer they would no longer work together, Rosenberg was confused and offered him much more money.
When people don’t know what to expect while negotiating, they can’t create an effective plan.
18: Isolation
is dangerous.
The more isolated, the more easy to deceive you.
When someone is urging you to cut friend and family out of your life, it’s because they want to control and influence you all by themselves.
- Do not offend
the wrong person.
You don’t always know who you are dealing with.
