The 48 Laws Of Power by Robert Greene II Flashcards
What is the first law of power?
Never outshine the master
This law emphasizes the importance of making superiors look good to secure your own position.
What should you do to endear yourself to superiors?
Make them look good and let them take credit for your hard work
This approach builds goodwill and can lead to future opportunities.
How can you build trust with others?
Be vulnerable but careful with the information you share
Sharing too much can expose you to risks.
What is the second law of power?
Never put too much trust in friends, learn how to use enemies
This law advises caution in relationships and leveraging rivals.
What should you learn to do with your enemies?
Leverage them and win them to your side
This can shift power dynamics in your favor.
What is the third law of power?
Conceal your intentions
This law suggests keeping your plans private to avoid sabotage.
Why is it important to conceal your intentions at work?
To prevent others from stealing your ideas
Revealing intentions too early can compromise your success.
What is the fourth law of power?
Always say less than necessary
Speaking less can enhance your influence and learning.
What is a key benefit of listening more and speaking less?
You learn more and can prompt others to reveal information
Great conversationalists excel at listening.
Fill in the blank: ‘It’s better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and _______ it.’
confirm
What should you aim to do in conversations to learn more?
Keep others talking
This encourages them to share insights they might otherwise withhold.
What should you maintain to protect your reputation?
Be honest, reliable, and consistent
A good reputation is crucial for personal and professional success.
How can you influence your reputation?
Quiz others to find out what people say about you and shape your behavior accordingly
Understanding public perception can help in managing reputation.
What is the importance of promoting yourself?
People will not recognize your work without promotion through the right channels
Self-promotion is essential to ensure visibility in professional settings.
What should you do to avoid being forgotten?
Court attention at all costs
Staying relevant is vital to maintain value in any field.
What is the key to successful delegation?
Learn how to delegate tasks to others
Effective delegation leads to greater accomplishments as a team.
What should you always do when others do work for you?
Take the credit
Leadership involves recognizing contributions while ensuring you are seen as the driving force.
What is necessary to attract others to you?
Create a sense of allure and exclusivity
Making others want to work with you can enhance your network and opportunities.
What is the preferred method to demonstrate your value?
Win through your actions, never through argument
Actions often speak louder than words in establishing credibility.
What skill is considered a superpower in persuasion?
Getting people to come around to your way of thinking while believing it was their idea
This approach helps in building rapport and influence without confrontation.
What should you do to avoid the unhappy and unlucky?
Surround yourself with positive, successful people who can uplift and support you.
Negative people are described as a plague that can influence others negatively.
What is the main idea behind keeping people dependent on you?
Identify ways to make yourself indispensable to your employer or colleagues.
Develop a unique set of skills or expertise that sets you apart from others.
How can selective honesty and generosity be used effectively?
Use honesty and generosity strategically to gain trust and build rapport with others.
Being vulnerable helps in building trust and encourages others to be vulnerable as well.
When asking for help, what should you appeal to?
People’s self-interest.
Frame requests to highlight the benefits to the other person.
Fill in the blank: If you want money, ask for _______.
advice
Fill in the blank: If you want advice, ask for _______.
money
What does it mean to pose as a friend and work as a spy?
Learn how to gather information discreetly and use it to your advantage.
Keeping informed about the dynamics of people around you can be valuable for success.
Why is gossip considered valuable in social dynamics?
It helps in understanding how the crowd thinks and being successful in the environment around you.
This applies to both friend group dynamics and workplace interactions.
What is the main strategy in Law 15?
Be strategic and ruthless when dealing with opponents or competitors.
Do not give them hope or allow them to think the battle will continue.
What should you do if you cannot crush your enemy totally?
Remove yourself or them from your orbit.
Leave behind friends who no longer serve you, and leave toxic work environments.
How can absence be used to increase respect and honor according to Law 16?
Use the power of absence to make others appreciate your presence more.
Take unpaid leave during a critical time or go away on a trip when feeling neglected.
What is a suggested action to increase appreciation in relationships?
Take some unpaid leave at work or go away on a trip.
This helps in situations where you feel neglected.
What does Law 17 emphasize about unpredictability?
Cultivate an air of unpredictability by being flexible and adaptable.
Keep others guessing about your next move.
What are some ways to create excitement in relationships according to Law 17?
Organize a dinner, a party, or a weekend away.
Anything out of the norm will energize relationships.
What is the importance of controlling your own image in Law 18?
Learn to control how others perceive you by presenting yourself deliberately.
Be mindful of how you dress, speak, and act.
What should you consider when planning your personal and professional goals according to Law 19?
Be strategic and forward-thinking, thinking longer-term and in detail.
Make contingency plans to ensure reaching your goals.
Fill in the blank: According to Law 16, learn to use the power of _______ to make others appreciate your presence more.
absence
True or False: Law 15 suggests that you should allow your enemies to think the battle will continue.
False
Fill in the blank: Law 17 suggests that spontaneity is an excellent _______ of relationships.
energizer
What does Law 20 advise regarding commitments?
Be careful about making commitments or alliances that may limit your flexibility or independence
Recognize how commitments can restrict future goals and maintain relationships without dependency.
What is the main idea behind Law 21?
Learn to be strategic and deceptive when dealing with opponents or competitors
Allow others to underestimate you while you have the advantage.
Fill in the blank: Law 21 suggests to seem ______ than your mark.
dumber
What does Law 22 recommend regarding weaknesses?
Use your weaknesses to your advantage by acknowledging them and focusing on maximizing your strengths
Compensating for weaknesses can be more beneficial than trying to correct them.
What is the focus of Law 23?
Concentrate your energy and resources on a few key goals or initiatives
Avoid spreading yourself too thin or taking on too many projects.
What does Law 24 advise about social hierarchies?
Learn to navigate social hierarchies to gain influence and access
Understanding workplace dynamics is crucial for leveraging relationships.
True or False: Law 24 encourages compromising your integrity for social gain.
False
What does Law 25 emphasize about personal development?
Reinvent yourself periodically to stay relevant and adaptable
Taking on new roles or skills can draw power and influence.
What is the essence of Law 26?
Avoid getting entangled in unethical or illegal activities
Be mindful of your reputation and the impact your actions may have on it. Behave with integrity.
What should you be mindful of according to Law 26?
Your reputation and the impact of your actions
Avoid situations that could compromise your integrity.
What does Law 27 suggest about inspiring others?
Tap into their aspirations and ideals
Understand what drives people and their dreams.
What is the key to motivating others according to Law 27?
Understanding their dreams and aspirations
This is essential for effective motivation.
What does Law 28 emphasize about taking action?
Embrace risk and uncertainty with decisive action
Lack of courage and hesitancy are unattractive qualities.
What should you avoid when taking action according to Law 28?
Acting recklessly or without adequate preparation
Prepare thoroughly before acting decisively.
What is the focus of Law 29?
Be strategic and forward-thinking in achieving goals
Consider all steps, outcomes, and contingencies.
According to Law 29, what should you plan for?
Contingencies and longer-term goals
Plan what comes next after reaching your goal.
What does Law 30 suggest about projecting confidence?
Make accomplishments seem effortless
Project confidence without appearing arrogant.
What is the goal of projecting confidence according to Law 30?
To make hard work look easy
Like great tennis players, who work hard but make it look effortless.
What strategy does Law 31 suggest for creating advantageous situations?
Limit the choices of others
Influence people to favor your projects and restrict those you disagree with.
What is a key tactic in Law 31?
Control the options available to others
Get others to play with the cards you deal.
What should you learn to tap into to gain trust and support?
People’s desires and aspirations
This involves using individual motivation to recruit and inspire others.
What is a key caution when playing to people’s fantasies?
Do not promise more than you can deliver or create unrealistic expectations.
In personal relationships, what should you understand about your partner?
Their dreams and aspirations
You must play up the aspects that appeal to them.
What does it mean to discover each man’s thumbscrew?
Identify the weaknesses or vulnerabilities of others.
How can identifying others’ weaknesses be used positively?
Help them cover those weaknesses and address their insecurities.
What is the effect of helping others with their insecurities?
Win support and admiration both professionally and personally.
What should you project to gain respect and admiration?
Confidence, authority, and dignity.
What are some ways to project confidence and authority?
Dress well, eat well, exercise, take care of your appearance.
Why do small things matter in projecting a professional image?
Humans judge others the moment they see them.
What will people assume if you appear professional?
That you are competent and skilled.
What assumption do potential partners make if you take care of yourself?
That you have your life in order.
What is the principle behind acting like a king?
You will earn immediate respect.
What is a key strategy in mastering the art of timing?
Be patient and strategic in actions and decisions.
What is a recipe for failure in project management?
Pushing a project during an economic downturn.
What should you recognize to take advantage of opportunities?
Industry trends that align with your project.
What is the main idea of Law 36?
Accept the things you cannot control and focus on what you can achieve.
How can ignoring what you cannot have empower you?
Gains power in your mind and in the minds of others.
What do we respect about monks according to Law 36?
Their lack of possessions and clarity about what they care about.
What does Law 37 emphasize about creating spectacles?
Capture people’s attention and imagination with memorable and dramatic events.
Why are stories important in the context of Law 37?
Humans love stories, and they help people remember your work.
What is a benefit of creating memories for friends and loved ones?
They will remember you fondly associated with that memory.
What does Law 38 suggest about adapting behavior?
Adapt your behavior to fit the expectations and norms of different social contexts.
What should you be aware of when disrupting social norms?
People fear what they do not understand.
How can straying from the norm be powerful?
When done consciously, it can attract the type of person you desire.
What is a strategic approach to standing out in the market according to Law 38?
Clearly convey that you are different from your competitors.
What does Law 39 advise about creating controversy?
Create controversy or disruption to attract attention and gain influence.
What is important when making a strong stand?
Ensure your opinions are rational and justified.
What should you avoid when stirring up waters?
Creating unnecessary conflict or harming others.
What is a potential consequence of a stand backfiring?
You may be seen as argumentative and disruptive.
What should you learn to gauge before creating controversy?
The opinions of others.
What is the main principle of Law 40?
Appreciate the value of hard work and self-reliance
Recognize that a free lunch is never free and understand how you are actually ‘paying’ for it.
What should young individuals strive for according to Law 40?
To become self-sufficient as soon as possible
What does Law 41 advise regarding personal achievements?
Forge your own path and avoid being overshadowed by others’ achievements
What are some ways to step outside someone else’s shadow according to Law 41?
Choosing a different profession, starting your own company, moving to another location
What caution does Law 41 give about entering friend groups or relationships?
Beware of replacing someone who has left and being compared to previous partners
What is the focus of Law 42?
Target the leaders or influencers of a group to undermine their power
What should you do to win the favor of a group according to Law 42?
Win the favor of the leader
What does Law 42 suggest about understanding power structures?
Learn to figure out where the power lies, as it may not follow expected structures
What is the key strategy of Law 43?
Influence and persuade others by appealing to their emotions and beliefs
How should you appeal to colleagues and partners according to Law 43?
Appeal to colleagues for buy-in and to your partner’s desires for a successful relationship
Fill in the blank: A free lunch is never _______.
free
True or False: According to Law 41, it’s beneficial to follow in the footsteps of a well-known mentor.
False
What is the main tactic of Law 44?
Mirror the behaviour and tactics of your opponents to disarm and frustrate them
This also applies to those on your side to foster better relationships.
What caution should one take when mirroring others?
Do not lose sight of who you really are; mimicking can lead to embodying those behaviours permanently.
What is the key principle of Law 45?
Advocate for change while being mindful of risks and challenges; avoid implementing too much change at once.
Why should one avoid excessive change?
Humans don’t like change; they respect those who manage it carefully and successfully.
What does Law 46 emphasize about projecting oneself?
Project vulnerability and fallibility to become more relatable and approachable.
What is the risk of displaying too many faults?
People may question your competence or stability, leading to avoidance or branding as ‘too much.’
What is the essence of Law 47 regarding victory?
Recognize when you have achieved your goals and avoid overreaching or complacency.
What should you do if you win support for a project over someone else?
Work to bring them to your side, creating a friend and reinforcing future project choices.
What is advised after winning a personal battle?
Make a concession in return to prevent it from becoming a recurring battle.
What does Law 48 teach about adaptability?
Be adaptable and flexible; recognize when something isn’t working and change your approach.
What should one avoid in their personal life according to Law 48?
Avoid associating with particular tribes or beliefs that may stunt learning and development.
