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Military History > The 48 Laws of Power > Flashcards

The 48 Laws of Power Flashcards

1
Q

Law 1: Outshine

A

Never outshine the master

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2
Q

Law 2: Trust

A

Never put too much trust in friends, learn how to use enemies

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3
Q

Law 3: Intentions

A

Conceal your intentions

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4
Q

Law 4: Say

A

Always say less than necessary

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5
Q

Law 5: So Much Depends On…

A

So much depends on reputation - Guard it with your life

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6
Q

Law 6: Court

A

Court attention at all cost

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7
Q

Law 7: Get Others

A

Get others to do the work for you, but always take the credit

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8
Q

Law 8: Make Other People…

A

Make other people come to you - use bait if necessary

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9
Q

Law 9: Actions

A

Win through your actions, never through argument

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10
Q

Law 10: Infection:

A

Infection: Avoid the unhappy and unlucky

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11
Q

Law 11: Dependent

A

Learn how to keep people dependent on you

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12
Q

Law 12: Honesty and Generosity

A

Use selective honesty and generosity to disarm your victim

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13
Q

Law 13: Help

A

When asking for help, appeal to people’s self-interest, never to their mercy or gratitude

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14
Q

Law 14: Pose

A

Pose as a friend, work as a spy

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15
Q

Law 15: Crush

A

Crush your enemy totally

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16
Q

Law 16: Absence

A

Use absence to increase respect and honour

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17
Q

Law 17: Terror

A

Keep others in suspended terror: Cultivate an air of unpredictability

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18
Q

Law 18: Fortresses

A

Do not build fortresses to protect yourself - isolation is dangerous

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19
Q

Law 19: Offend

A

Know who you’re dealing with - do not offend the wrong person

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20
Q

Law 20: Commit

A

Do not commit to anything

21
Q

Law 21: Sucker

A

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

22
Q

Law 22: Surrender

A

Use the surrender tactic: Transform weakness into power

23
Q

Law 23: Forces

A

Concentrate your forces

24
Q

Law 24: Play

A

Play the perfect courtier

25
Q

Law 25: Re-create

A

Re-create yourself

26
Q

Law 26: Clean

A

Keep your hands clean

27
Q

Law 27: Believe

A

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

28
Q

Law 28: Action

A

Enter action with boldness

29
Q

Law 29: Plan

A

Plan all the way to the end

30
Q

Law 30: Accomplishments

A

Make your accomplishments seem effortless

31
Q

Law 31: Options

A

Control the options: Get others to play with the cards you deal

32
Q

Law 32: Fantasies

A

Play to people’s fantasies

33
Q

Law 33: Discover

A

Discover each man’s thumbscrew

34
Q

Law 34: Royal

A

Be royal in your own fashion: Act like a king to be treated like on

35
Q

Law 35: Master

A

Master the art of timing

36
Q

Law 36: Disdain

A

Disdain things you cannot have: Ignoring them is the best revenge

37
Q

Law 37: Compelling

A

Create compelling spectacles

38
Q

Law 38: Think

A

Think as you like but behave like others

39
Q

Law 39: Waters

A

Stir up waters to catch fish

40
Q

Law 40: Despise

A

Despise the free lunch

41
Q

Law 41: Shoes

A

Avoid stepping into a great man’s shoes

42
Q

Law 42: Strike

A

Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter

43
Q

Law 43: Work

A

Work on the hearts and minds of others

44
Q

Law 44: Mirror

A

Disarm and infuriate with the mirror effect

45
Q

Law 45: Preach

A

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

46
Q

Law 46: Perfect

A

Never appear too perfect

47
Q

Law 47: Victory

A

Do not go past the mark you aimed for; in victory, learn when to stop

48
Q

Law 48: Assume

A

Assume formlessness

Military History (6 decks)

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