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lawsofpower.txt

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+The 48 Laws Of Power 
+  
+ 
+By  
+Robert Greene 
+ 
+ 
+WISDOM IN A NUTSHELL
+The 48 Laws Of Power 
+ 
+ 
+The Big Idea 
+A comprehensive, well-researched synthesis of timeless philosophies –from Machiavelli to 
+Suntzu, as applied in real-life situations by powerful figures in history such as Queen Elizabeth I 
+and Henry Kissinger. Absorbing and entertaining, this book lends business people a wealth of 
+ideas on the subtle art of playing the power game, exercising clever cunning, and understanding 
+human weaknesses. Whether it is in the boardroom, at a power lunch, or a cocktail party– these 
+laws will make you master of the game and give you the edge over your rivals. 
+ 
+1. NEVER OUTSHINE THE MASTER. 
+•  Transgression of the Law. 
+Finance Minister Fouquet unintentionally outshone his master, King Louis XIV, making 
+the King feel insecure by throwing a lavish party that would show off Fouquet’s 
+connections, cultivated manner and charm. Thinking this move would make him an 
+indispensable asset to the king, Fouquet had actually offended his master who did not 
+like the fact people were more charmed by his finance minister than by him. The King 
+found a convenient excuse to get rid of Fouquet. 
+ 
+• Observance of the Law 
+Galileo was clever in observing this law by giving glory to his patrons. In order to solve 
+his perennial problem of funding, he dedicated his discovery of the moons of Jupiter to 
+the Medicis, since the royal symbol of the Medici family was the planet Jupiter. He then 
+commissioned an emblem for them, with each moon representing one of the sons who 
+revolved around the patriarch. The Medici family became his major patron, appointing 
+him their official court mathematician and philosopher, thereby giving him a more 
+comfortable life and a steady salary. 
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• Present your ideas in such a manner that they may be ascribed to your master, 
+or could be viewed as an echo of your master’s thoughts. 
+• If you are more intelligent than your master, act as if you are not. 
+• Never take your position for granted. 
+• Never let favors you receive go to your head. 
+• Discreet flattery is much more powerful. Make it seem like you want to seek his 
+expertise and advice. 
+
+
+
+
+ 
+2. NEVER PUT TOO MUCH TRUST IN FRIENDS, LEARN HOW TO USE 
+ENEMIES. 
+ 
+
+
+• Transgression of the Law. 
+Michael III of the Byzantine Empire in the mid-ninth century A.D. placed too much 
+trust in his friend, Basilius. This was a young man who had once saved his life, and in 
+return, was given all the privileges an emperor could bestow on a friend. Michael 
+turned the peasant Basilius into a sophisticated and educated courtier. Basilius later 
+on became greedy for more wealth and power and had his former benefactor and 
+best friend Michael III murdered. 
+ 
+ 
+• Observance of the Law 
+Emperor Sung of China in 959 A.D. was able to turn all his enemies into loyal friends. 
+He persuaded his generals to retire to a life of nobility and give up their dreams of 
+grabbing his throne one day. He spared those who conspired against him, and was 
+able to win over enemies with his generosity.  
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• Do not rely on friends. They will never be totally honest with you. They will not 
+openly disagree with you in order to avoid arguments. 
+• Enemies expect nothing so they will be surprised when you are generous. 
+• An enemy spared the guillotine will be more grateful to you than a friend. 
+• When you decide to hire a friend you will discover qualities she has kept hidden. 
+• Skill and competence are more important than friendly feelings. 
+• Hiring friends will limit your power. 
+• All working situations require a kind of distance between people. 
+• You destroy an enemy when you make a friend of him. 
+• An enemy at your heels keeps you sharp, alert, and focused. 
+
+
+ 
+3. CONCEAL YOUR INTENTIONS.
+
+
+ 
+• Transgression of the Law. 
+The Marquis de Sevigne was young and inexperienced in the art of love. He confided 
+in the infamous courtesan of seventeenth-century France, Ninon de Lenclos, to 
+instruct him on how to seduce a difficult young countess. She made him follow a plan 
+over a number of weeks, where the Marquis would be appearing in public always 
+surrounded by beautiful women, in the very places the countess would be expected 
+to see him. He was supposed to assume an air of nonchalance. This increased the 
+jealousy of the young countess, who was not sure of his interest in her. One day the 
+Marquis, unable to control his passion, broke from Ninon’s plan, and blurted out to 
+the countess that he loved her. After this admission, the countess no longer found 
+him interesting and avoided him.  
+ 
+• Observance of the Law 
+Otto von Bismarck was a deputy in the Prussian parliament at a time when many 
+fellow deputies thought it was possible to go to war against Austria and defeat it. 
+Bismarck knew the Prussian army was not prepared, so he devised a clever way to 
+keep the war at bay. He publicly stated his praises for the Austrians and talked about 
+the madness of war. Many deputies changed their votes. Had Bismarck announced 
+his real intentions, arguing it was better to wait now and fight later, he would not have 
+won. Most Prussians wanted to go to war at that moment and mistakenly believed 
+their army to be superior to the Austrians. Had he gone to the king his sincerity would 
+have been doubted. By giving misleading statements about wanting peace and 
+concealing his true purpose, Bismarck’s speech catapulted him to the position of 
+prime minister. He later led the country to war against the Austrians at the right time, 
+when he felt the Prussian army was more capable. 
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• Use decoyed objects of desire and red herrings to throw people off scent. 
+• Use smoke screens (a poker face) to disguise your actions. 
+• False sincerity is one powerful tool that will send your rivals on a wild goose 
+chase. 
+• Publicly declare your false intentions to give misleading signals. 
+• A noble gesture can be a smoke screen to hide your true intentions. 
+• Blend in and people will be less suspicious. 
+ 
+
+
+ 
+4. ALWAYS SAY LESS THAN NECESSARY. 
+The 48 Laws Of Power 
+ 
+
+ 
+• Transgression of the Law. 
+Coriolanus was a great military hero of ancient Rome. People held him in awe, until 
+he opened his mouth. He spoke his mind, hardly able to control his arrogance and 
+boastfulness. He slandered and insulted people. The more speeches he made, the 
+less people respected him. He suffered the people’s wrath and was eventually 
+banished from the city.  
+ 
+• Observance of the Law 
+Masters of enigma Andy Warhol and Marcel Duchamp knew the power of saying less 
+and keeping people guessing. The less Duchamp talked about his work, the more it 
+was talked about in the art circles. Andy Warhol recognized it was hard to talk people 
+into doing what you wanted, so when interviewed, he would give vague and 
+ambiguous answers and let the interviewer find his own interpretation.  
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Saying less will keep you from saying something foolish or even dangerous. 
+• 
+Once the words are out you cannot take them back. 
+• 
+Keeping silent makes people reveal more about themselves. This is information 
+you may be able to use against them later on. 
+ 
+5. SO MUCH DEPENDS ON REPUTATION – GUARD IT WITH YOUR 
+LIFE. 
+ 
+• 
+Observance of the Law 
+During China’s War of the Three Kingdoms (A.D.207-265), General Liang was able to 
+fool his rival Sima Yi simply by letting his track record for being an undefeated leader 
+in battle do the work for him. Liang’s troops were far outnumbered by Sima Yi’s, yet 
+he devised a clever last resort plan. Liang donned a Taoist robe and played the lute 
+upon the wall of the city he was defending. His soldiers opened the gates and hid. 
+When Sima Yi’s troops advanced upon the unguarded city, Yi recognized his 
+opponent sitting alone upon the wall. Fearing a trap, Sima Yi called his soldiers to 
+retreat. 
+ 
+P.T. Barnum was an expert at destroying his competitor’s reputation. He published 
+letters in newspapers, warning the public against buying his opponent’s stock. He 
+was a master at poking mockery at the tactics of his rivals. 
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Sow doubt and spread rumors about your rival. Even if they vehemently deny it, 
+people will still be wondering why they are so defensive. 
+• 
+Use humor or gentle mockery at your rival’s expense. 
+• 
+A solid reputation increases your presence and exaggerates your strengths 
+without your having to spend much energy. 
+• 
+Never appear desperate in your self-defense against the slander of others. 
+• 
+Be careful not to go too far in attacking another’s reputation, it draws more 
+attention to your vengefulness than to the person you are slandering. Use subtler 
+tactics like satire and ridicule. 
+ 
+ 
+6. COURT ATTENTION AT ALL COST. 
+ 
+• 
+Observance of the Law 
+The 48 Laws Of Power 
+ 
+Page 5 
+www.bizsum.com 
+© 2001, 2002 Copyright BusinessSummaries.com 
+P.T. Barnum learned about courting attention to his favor. Any form of publicity would 
+benefit his entertainment business, no matter if it were bad publicity. He promoted his 
+shows of curiosities to audiences with all kinds of gimmicks. He would offer Free 
+Music for Millions, but hire bad musicians, so the crowd would end up buying tickets 
+to the show so they could avoid the bands. He planted articles in newspapers and 
+even sent anonymous letters to keep his name in the limelight. 
+ 
+Margaretha Zelle was able to use this law to make a name for herself as the 
+mysterious exotic dancer Mata Hari. It was rumored she was from India and danced 
+in private parties, in an Eastern manner never before seen in Europe. She would 
+slowly discard her veils and sarongs for the most prominent people in Paris who 
+came to see her. Many years later it would be discovered she was just a native of 
+Holland and had worked for the Germans as a spy. 
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Surround your name with the sensational and the scandalous. 
+• 
+Create an air of mystery. 
+• 
+It is better to be attacked and slandered than ignored. 
+• 
+Make yourself appear larger than life. 
+• 
+Any sort of notoriety will bring you power. 
+ 
+7. GET OTHERS TO DO THE WORK FOR YOU, BUT ALWAYS TAKE THE 
+CREDIT. 
+• 
+Transgression and Observance of the Law 
+Nicola Tesla was a Serbian scientist who never learned how this law was used 
+against him time and again. His invention, the AC or alternating current system was 
+associated not with his name but with that of George Westinghouse, who funded his 
+research. Both Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse were ruthless 
+businessmen who took credit for Tesla’s work. In the end, Tesla was living in poverty, 
+while royalties for his life’s work went to Edison and Westinghouse. He accepted 
+small sums as buy-outs for his work, when in reality his creations could have been 
+worth millions. Even Marconi made use of a patent filed by Tesla in 1897. Tesla was 
+the real “father of radio” but received no money or credit for this invention. 
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Save time and energy by hiring others to do the work. 
+• 
+Your helpers will be forgotten and you will be remembered. 
+• 
+Borrow from history. Use the past and profit by others’ experience. 
+• 
+You can only exploit others’ talents if your position is unshakable. 
+ 
+8. MAKE OTHER PEOPLE COME TO YOU – USE BAIT IF NECESSARY. 
+• 
+Observance of the Law 
+Napoleon’s former foreign minister Talleyrand was master of this law. He knew 
+Napoleon loved the adoration of the masses, and this was the perfect bait to make 
+the former ruler play into the hands of his opponents. In 1814 Napoleon was 
+banished to a small island called Elba near Italy. Here he was given information that 
+France would embrace him again if he escaped. From Elba he was able to escape 
+and march back into Paris with a small army. The people bowed to him, and soldiers 
+changed sides to join him. The statesmen who had taken over his empire fled. 
+Talleyrand watched as his plan unfolded. Napoleon ruled France again for a hundred 
+days, but the country was bankrupt and could not sustain Napoleon’s wars any 
+longer. Napoleon was recaptured at the Battle of Waterloo and exiled to the barren 
+island St. Helena, off the west coast of Africa. This was a much further place with no 
+chance of escape, and was more to Talleyrand’s liking. 
+The 48 Laws Of Power 
+ 
+Page 6 
+www.bizsum.com 
+© 2001, 2002 Copyright BusinessSummaries.com 
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+For negotiations and meetings, it is wise to lure others into your territory, or a 
+territory of your choice. 
+• 
+Once someone suspects you are manipulating him, it will be harder to control 
+him. Making him come to you gives the illusion he is in control. 
+• 
+Most often the effective action is to stay back, keep calm, and let others be 
+frustrated by the traps you set for them. 
+ 
+9. WIN THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS, NEVER THROUGH ARGUMENT. 
+• 
+Observance of the Law 
+Michelangelo knew how to satisfy a patron while getting his way at the same time. Piero 
+Soderini, Florence’s mayor, commissioned him to transform a ruined piece of marble into 
+a statue. Soderini visited the studio one day and commented that the nose of the statue 
+(that of David with a sling in his hand) was too big. Michelangelo invited the mayor to 
+climb up a scaffolding, allowing him to look at the nose from a different perspective, while 
+the artist chiseled a bit, pretending to correct the size of the nose. The mayor was 
+convinced the nose looked much better. Michelangelo succeeded in making Soderini 
+think his comment had helped improve the work. 
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Demonstrate, do not explicate. 
+• 
+Arguing will only offend your superior. 
+• 
+Learn to demonstrate the correctness of your ideas indirectly. 
+• 
+Choose your battles carefully. 
+• 
+Don’t bother demonstrating if time and experience will eventually teach the other 
+person what you are trying to say. Save your energy and walk away. 
+• 
+No one can argue with a demonstrated proof. 
+ 
+10. INFECTION: AVOID THE UNHAPPY AND THE UNLUCKY. 
+• 
+Transgression of the Law 
+In the 1840’s Marie Gilbert, better known as Lola Montez, came to Paris to become a 
+dancer and performer. She had many husbands, and caused the ruin of many a powerful 
+man. Because of her ambition to be a dancer she “accidentally” ran into Alexandre 
+Dujarier, then the owner of France’s most popular newspaper and a drama critic himself. 
+Although still legally married to an Englishman with whom she eloped at 19, Lola kept her 
+status secret from all her husbands. Dujarier was shot dead defending her honor at a 
+duel against another drama critic. Lola went on to have several husbands, even causing 
+King Ludwig of Bavaria to abdicate. She left another man who later fell into a deep 
+depression, became a drunkard, and eventually died at a relatively young age. The man 
+who published her autobiography went bankrupt. 
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+In the game of power, the people you associate with are critical. 
+• 
+An infector can be recognized by the misfortune they draw on themselves, their 
+turbulent past, a long line of broken relationships, unstable careers, the very 
+intensity of their emotions, and the force of their character. 
+• 
+Gravitate towards prosperous, cheerful, and gregarious people.  
+• 
+Never associate with those who share your defects. 
+ 
+ 
+11. LEARN TO KEEP PEOPLE DEPENDENT ON YOU. 
+• 
+Observance of the Law 
+The 48 Laws Of Power 
+ 
+Page 7 
+www.bizsum.com 
+© 2001, 2002 Copyright BusinessSummaries.com 
+Michelangelo was able to keep his patron Pope Julius II dependent on him. When he and 
+the pope quarreled over the building of the pope’s marble tomb, Michelangelo left Rome 
+in disgust. The pope sought him out and begged the artist to stay. Michelangelo knew he 
+could always find another patron, but the pope knew he could not find another 
+Michelangelo. 
+ 
+Michelangelo’s power was intensive, depending on one skill. Henry Kissinger’s power 
+was extensive. He was so involved in so many areas of the political structure that to 
+remove him would lead to chaos. The intensive form of power provides more freedom 
+than the extensive. 
+ 
+Machiavelli said it is better to be feared than loved. Fear can be controlled; love, never. 
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Be the only one who can do what you do. Make the fate of those who hire you so 
+entwined with yours they cannot possibly get rid of you. 
+• 
+If you are ambitious, it is wiser to seek out weak masters with whom you can 
+create a relationship of dependency. 
+• 
+Possess a talent or creative skill that sets you apart from the crowd. 
+• 
+By knowing other people’s secrets and holding information they wouldn’t want 
+made public, you seal your fate with theirs. 
+ 
+12. USE SELECTIVE HONESTY AND GENEROSITY TO DISARM YOUR 
+VICTIM. 
+• 
+Observance of the Law 
+Count Victor Lustig promised Al Capone into giving him $50,000 on the terms that he 
+would double this investment in sixty days. Lustig kept the money untouched in a safety 
+deposit box. After the sixty days were up, he apologized to Capone saying he had failed 
+to double the money. Capone expected either $100,000, or nothing, what he did not 
+expect was an honest gesture of Lustig actually returning the $50,000. Al Capone was a 
+man who lived in constant mistrust of people around him, and was so touched by the 
+honest gesture he gave Lustig an extra $5,000. 
+ 
+The classic tale of the Fall of Troy is one example of hiding your ulterior motives within a 
+gift. The Trojan Horse was designed to hold soldiers that would attack the city of Troy 
+and recapture Helen who had been taken away from the Greeks by Paris. 
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+The essence of deception is distraction. An act of kindness, generosity, or 
+honesty will distract and disarm people and turn them into gullible children. 
+• 
+Give before you take. 
+• 
+Nothing in the realm of power is set in stone. Overt deceptiveness may 
+sometimes cover your tracks. If you have a history of deceit behind you, then 
+play the rogue, be consistent and this will be interpreted as you simply being 
+yourself. Your dishonesty becomes an act of honesty. 
+ 
+13. WHEN ASKING FOR HELP, APPEAL TO PEOPLE’S SELF-INTEREST, 
+NEVER TO THEIR MERCY OR GRATITUDE. 
+• 
+Observance of the Law 
+Genghis Khan was known for his greed and self-interest. When he conquered China, 
+instead of slaughtering all the citizens, his adviser Yelu Ch’u-Ts’ai persuaded him to reap 
+the benefits of their new territory by taxing its people. It was Ts’ai who also convinced 
+Khan to spare the inhabitants of Kaifeng, where China’s finest craftsmen and engineers 
+had fled. Ts’ai’s reasoning was Khan could use these people for his own benefit. 
+The 48 Laws Of Power 
+ 
+Page 8 
+www.bizsum.com 
+© 2001, 2002 Copyright BusinessSummaries.com 
+ 
+Most people are very pragmatic, and when negotiating, do not bring up the need for 
+gratitude for what you have done for others in the past. These appeals will be ignored. 
+Pragmatic people look towards the future, so it is best to emphasize how they will benefit 
+from an alliance with you.  
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Understand the other person’s motivation. 
+• 
+See things their way and offer suggestions that will advance their cause. 
+• 
+For others who want to feel superior and do not want to appear selfish, appeal to 
+their need to display their charity in the public eye.  
+ 
+14. POSE AS A FRIEND, WORK AS A SPY. 
+• 
+Observance of the Law 
+Joseph Duveen was the greatest art dealer of his time; from 1904-1940 he single-
+handedly monopolized the art-collecting market through his ingenious spying tactics. He 
+would place the household employees of his potential clients on his own payroll. These 
+spies would provide him valuable information as the tastes of his mark. He would arrange 
+“accidental” meetings in elevators, leading his prey of wealthy patrons right into his trap. 
+When clients came to visit his galleries, they found themselves surrounded by works they 
+would most likely buy. 
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Gather information at social events when people’s guards are down. 
+• 
+Use other people to give you the information you need. 
+• 
+Mislead others by giving out false information. Watch them react and base your 
+next action on what you discover. 
+ 
+15. CRUSH YOUR ENEMY TOTALLY. 
+• 
+Observance of the Law 
+The great Empress Wu of China was ruthless in her rise to power. She started out as a 
+concubine of an emperor, but did not want to follow the traditional path: that of living the 
+rest of her life in a convent after the emperor’s death. She had seduced the emperor’s 
+son in the royal urinal and befriended his wife. Because of this Wu was able to get a royal 
+edict out of the convent. She returned to the harem, became pregnant, and murdered her 
+own baby, knowing the prime suspect would be the jealous wife of the new emperor. The 
+wife was charged with murder and executed. Wu took her place and her new husband 
+handed over the reins of government to her, opting for a life of pleasure. Empress Wu 
+ruled until the age of eighty when she was forced to abdicate. Throughout her rule she 
+eliminated son after son, anyone who would challenge her throne. 
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Show no mercy. Crush your rivals or else you will give them time to regroup and 
+plot their revenge. 
+• 
+Banish enemies or plot for the best time to render them harmless. 
+• 
+Leave your enemies no options. 
+• 
+Sometimes enemies will destroy themselves.  
+• 
+Thoughts of reconciliation will open you up to attack. 
+ 
+ 
+ 
+16. USE ABSENCE TO INCREASE RESPECT AND HONOR. 
+• 
+Observance of the Law 
+The 48 Laws Of Power 
+ 
+Page 9 
+www.bizsum.com 
+© 2001, 2002 Copyright BusinessSummaries.com 
+This law is most appreciated in matters of seduction and love. Make yourself too 
+available and your presence will be taken for granted. In the Middle Ages, ladies played 
+the game of presence and absence by sending their knights off on long arduous quests. 
+Sir Guillaume de Balaun wanted to taste the joy of love after reconciliation, and twice he 
+intentionally made himself scarce, withdrawing his affections from Madame Guillelma de 
+Javiac. The first time he drove his lover wild with grief, the second time she became 
+angry and cut him off. When he wrote her begging to be let back into her favor, she 
+allowed him back only on the condition he do penance for his cruelty. 
+ 
+With business, an early retirement at the height of your career will keep people holding 
+you in high regard, and waiting to see you make a comeback. 
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Create value through scarcity. Make yourself less accessible; otherwise the aura 
+you have created around yourself will wear away. 
+ 
+17. KEEP OTHERS IN SUSPENDED TERROR: CULTIVATE AN AIR OF 
+UNPREDICTABILITY. 
+• 
+Observance of the Law 
+Bobby Fischer beat chess champion Boris Spassky using this law of unpredictability. 
+Spassky’s method of playing chess was to base his strategy on the patterns he read in 
+his opponent’s moves. Fischer unnerved him by arriving late for the first two tournaments, 
+even letting a match get forfeited. On the third game he made moves that were so 
+uncharacteristic and bold Spassky was thrown off balance. Fourteen games later 
+Spassky claimed Fischer was probably putting drugs in the orange juice they drank while 
+playing. Spassky resigned a few months later and never recovered from his defeat. 
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+A person of power instills fear by deliberately unsettling those around him to keep 
+the initiative on his side. 
+• 
+Only the terminally subordinate act in a predictable manner. 
+ 
+18. DO NOT BUILD FORTRESSES TO PROTECT YOURSELF – 
+ISOLATION IS DANGEROUS. 
+• 
+Observance of the Law 
+King Louis XIV recognized the importance of always keeping his eyes and ears on 
+everyone and everything around him. He built a palace in Versailles where all the nobility 
+could keep apartments near to his. He knew that if he were to isolate himself for one 
+moment, conspiracies would rise behind his back. The daily activities all revolved around 
+the king, leaving no one unnoticed, hundreds of visitors and attendants were always 
+present. There was not very much privacy for the king and he preferred this life to one of 
+isolation. 
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+A fortress may be impregnable, but everyone knows you are there and it may easily 
+turn into a prison. 
+• 
+Power depends on social interaction and circulation. 
+• 
+Isolation is deadly for the creative arts. Shakespeare was always producing plays for 
+the masses. He was in constant touch with reality and what people wanted. 
+• 
+Mobility and social contact protects you from plotters. 
+ 
+19. KNOW WHO YOU’RE DEALING WITH – DO NOT OFFEND THE 
+WRONG PERSON. 
+• 
+Transgression of the Law 
+The 48 Laws Of Power 
+ 
+Page 10 
+www.bizsum.com 
+© 2001, 2002 Copyright BusinessSummaries.com 
+In the early thirteenth century, Muhammad the Shah of Khwarezm made the grave 
+mistake in offending a new tribal leader who was emerging in the east. His name was 
+Genghis Khan. Khan offered to share the Silk Route with Muhammad, sending 
+ambassadors to forge a deal. After his ambassadors were beheaded, Genghis Khan 
+declared war. Eventually his forces seized the capital of the Shah’s empire, Samarkand. 
+Muhammad fled, and the Silk Route fell into the hands of Genghis Khan. 
+ 
+Learn to distinguish from opponent, sucker, and victim. The five difficult and sometimes 
+dangerous marks are: the arrogant and proud, the hopelessly insecure, the suspicious, 
+the serpent with a long memory, and the plain, unassuming, unintelligent man. 
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Measure up your opponent, but never rely on instinct. Do some research on concrete 
+facts about that person’s character and history. 
+• 
+Never trust appearances. 
+ 
+20. DO NOT COMMIT TO ANYONE. 
+• 
+Observance of the Law 
+Queen Elizabeth I managed to avoid the trap of marriage and war, by dangling the 
+possibility of marriage to all who courted her. She forged alliances with the countries 
+these suitors came from, all for the benefit of England. By keeping her independence 
+above all, Elizabeth protected her power and made herself an object of worship. 
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+By refusing to commit, but allowing yourself to be courted, you become powerful 
+because you are ungraspable. 
+• 
+As your reputation for independence grows, more people will desire you and want to 
+conquer you. 
+• 
+Politely decline. You cannot allow yourself to feel obligated to anyone. 
+• 
+Seek promises from both sides, so no matter what the outcome of an election or 
+battle, your position is secure. 
+• 
+Observe quarreling parties and stay neutral but supportive to both sides. Gain power 
+as a mediator. 
+• 
+You may commit to one to prove you are capable of attachment, but be emotionally 
+uninvolved. Preserve the unspoken option of being able to leave anytime and reclaim 
+your freedom. The friends you made while being courted will help you jump ship. 
+ 
+21. PLAY A SUCKER TO CATCH A SUCKER – SEEM DUMBER THAN 
+YOUR MARK. 
+• 
+Observance of the Law 
+In what was the biggest diamond scam of the century, prospectors Philip Arnold and 
+John Slack fooled the biggest financiers of the time, Asbury Harpending, Baron 
+Rothschild, and William Ralston into investing their millions in a fake mine site. The two 
+men played up their small town, scruffy image; convincing the sophisticated tycoons that 
+they would easily be bought out for their discovery of the mines. In the end, after the legal 
+pay-off was made to the two men, the investors realized the mine had been salted with 
+uncut gems by Arnold and Slack. Since all the business had been legal, and experts had 
+inspected the mines, there was no way to go after the two men. 
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Intelligence is an important part of people’s vanity. Subliminally reassure your 
+opponent of his superiority. 
+• 
+Playing naïve lets you see opportunities to deceive others. 
+ 
+The 48 Laws Of Power 
+ 
+Page 11 
+www.bizsum.com 
+© 2001, 2002 Copyright BusinessSummaries.com 
+22. USE THE SURRENDER TACTIC: TRANSFORM WEAKNESS INTO 
+POWER. 
+• 
+Observance of the Law 
+German writer Bertolt Brecht was called to appear before the US Congress’s House of 
+Un-American Activities Committee during the heyday of the Communist investigations. 
+Unlike his companions in the Hollywood 19, (other producers, directors and writers who 
+espoused communism in their scripts) he chose to be respectful to the committee. Subtly 
+he mocked them by offering vague but polite answers, used an interpreter to run circles 
+around them when asked about the lines from his poems, and was summarily dismissed. 
+He was free to leave America and continue writing as he pleased, while his friends in 
+Hollywood lost valuable working years as a result of being blacklisted. 
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Do not fight aggression with aggression. Put your opponent off-guard by yielding, and 
+in effect have more control over the situation. 
+• 
+Surrender is a way of mocking your enemies. 
+• 
+Surrender disguises your real motives and allows time to plan your next move. 
+ 
+23. CONCENTRATE YOUR FORCES. 
+• 
+Observance of the Law 
+The Rothschild banking family concentrated its wealth within a very tight-knit structure. 
+Five brothers each controlled a part of the empire from Paris, Frankfurt, Vienna, Naples, 
+to London. They established themselves as a powerful force in business and politics, 
+keeping the secrets of the family business by exchanging internal communications only in 
+code or Frankfurt Yiddish. Family policy ruled and their children intermarried, all of them 
+first cousins. 
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Single-mindedness of purpose and total concentration on one goal will overwhelm 
+the enemy every time. 
+• 
+A single patron appreciates your loyalty and becomes dependent on your services. 
+• 
+In the arts, being too single-minded can make you an intolerable bore. 
+ 
+24. PLAY THE PERFECT COURTIER. 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Avoid ostentation. Talk less about yourself. Modesty is generally preferable. 
+• 
+Practice nonchalance. All your hard work must come off as effortless. 
+• 
+Be frugal with flattery.  
+• 
+Arrange to be noticed. 
+• 
+Alter your style and language according to the person you are dealing with. 
+• 
+Never be the bearer of bad news. 
+• 
+Never affect friendliness and intimacy with your master. 
+• 
+Never criticize those above you directly. 
+• 
+Be frugal in asking those above you for favors. 
+• 
+Never joke about appearances or taste. 
+• 
+Do not be the court cynic. 
+• 
+Be self-observant. 
+• 
+Master your emotions. 
+• 
+Fit the spirit of the times. 
+• 
+Be a source of pleasure. 
+ 
+25. RE-CREATE YOURSELF. 
+Observance of the Law 
+The 48 Laws Of Power 
+ 
+Page 12 
+www.bizsum.com 
+© 2001, 2002 Copyright BusinessSummaries.com 
+Julius Caesar always incorporated drama and theatrics in his speeches and daily 
+appearances. He was a great public showman, timing his entrances and exits, 
+sponsoring extravagant spectacles, gladiator shows and theatrical events. The masses 
+loved him, but his rivals feared him. 
+ 
+Aurore Dupin Dudevant left her husband and family in the provinces to become a writer in 
+Paris, something unheard of and almost impossible for a woman to do in 1831. For the 
+publication of her novel Indiana, she assumed the pseudonym George Sand. She 
+dressed in men’s breeches, smoked cigars, and expressed herself in conversation like a 
+man. She even carried on affairs with the most famous artists of Europe - Musset, Liszt, 
+and Chopin - living with freedom and independence unlike any other female writer before 
+her. 
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Control your appearances and emotions. Play sincere, but not necessarily be 
+sincere. 
+• 
+Create a memorable character. Do not limit yourself to the role society assigns to 
+you. 
+ 
+26. KEEP YOUR HANDS CLEAN. 
+Observance of the Law: 
+Cleopatra was always able to get people to do her bidding without them realizing she was 
+manipulating them.  She was able to charm Julius Caesar into restoring her to the throne 
+of Egypt, and playing her siblings against each other. Marc Antony was seduced by her, 
+and had her younger sister Arsinoe executed, ridding Cleopatra of any threats to her 
+place as Queen. 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Conceal your mistakes. Your good name and reputation depends more on what you 
+conceal than on what you reveal. 
+• 
+Always have a convenient scapegoat. 
+• 
+Never do the dirty work yourself. 
+ 
+27. PLAY ON PEOPLE’S NEED TO BELIEVE TO CREATE A CULT-LIKE 
+FOLLOWING. 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Keep it simple; keep it vague. Create new words for vague concepts. 
+• 
+Emphasize the visual and sensual over the intellectual. 
+• 
+Borrow the forms of organized religion to structure the group. Create rituals. Use 
+names and ranks and titles. Ask them to make sacrifices and give alms. Act like a 
+guru or a prophet. 
+• 
+Disguise your source of income. 
+• 
+Set up an us-versus-them dynamic. Keep followers united by identifying outsiders as 
+a devious enemy. 
+• 
+The tendency to doubt and reason is broken down when we join a group. 
+ 
+28. ENTER ACTION WITH BOLDNESS. 
+Ivan the Terrible waited five years before executing his first major bold move. After years 
+of persecution by the Shuisky family, the poisoning of his mother Helena, and the 
+banishment of his only friend Vorontsov, the thirteen year-old Ivan invited his rival Prince 
+Andrei Shuisky into his room. No one feared the young boy and the boyars often ridiculed 
+him. When the guards were suddenly ordered to seize Prince Andrei and execute him, no 
+one saw it coming. This one swift and bold act secured Ivan’s power for decades to 
+come. 
+ 
+The 48 Laws Of Power 
+ 
+Page 13 
+www.bizsum.com 
+© 2001, 2002 Copyright BusinessSummaries.com 
+Ivan initially lay low, showing neither ambition nor discontent. He waited until he had won 
+over the palace guards to his side. They had come to hate the cruelty of the Shuiskys 
+over the years, and the time was at hand to strike boldly and swiftly. 
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+The bolder the lie, the better. 
+• 
+Lions circle the hesitant prey. 
+• 
+Boldness strikes fear; Fear creates authority. 
+• 
+Going halfway digs the deeper grave. Do not negotiate if you opponent will more 
+likely take the opportunity to destroy you. 
+• 
+Hesitation creates gaps. Boldness obliterates them. Move swiftly and surely. 
+• 
+Audacity separates you from the herd. 
+ 
+29. PLAN ALL THE WAY TO THE END. 
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Take into account all possible obstacles and circumstances that may prevent you 
+from achieving your goal, and plan how you will overcome them. 
+• 
+When you see several steps ahead, you will no longer need to improvise along the 
+way, and risk deviating from your plan. 
+• 
+Prepare alternatives and be open to adapt new routes to your goal. 
+ 
+ 
+30. MAKE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS SEEM EFFORTLESS. 
+Observance of the Law: 
+Sen no Rikyu was an important tea master and adviser on aesthetic and political matters 
+to the Emperor Hideyoshi. He despised hosts who looked like they were trying to hard.  
+Cha-no-yu, or the Japanese tea ceremony, is an art form, from the preparation to the 
+serving; the whole process must look natural and easy. Accidental grace and beauty 
+were Rikyu’s specialty. On the night before the Emperor was to visit him for a tea 
+ceremony, he artfully laid cushions in the snow on each stepping-stone to his house. In 
+the morning, he removed the cushions revealing the pattern of the stepping-stones like a 
+perfect mold within the snow. This was just one of Rikyu’s clever aesthetic tricks which 
+impressed the Emperor, never calling attention to the work gone into it, but implying a 
+polite gesture in itself. 
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+What imitates nature by appearing effortless and natural approximates nature’s 
+power. 
+• 
+Never show your work until it is finished. When people see the effort and time it takes 
+to make it, and if they witness a work-in-progress, the magic of the finished piece is 
+spoiled. 
+ 
+31. CONTROL THE OPTIONS: GET OTHERS TO PLAY WITH THE CARDS 
+YOU DEAL. 
+Observance of the Law: 
+Seventeenth-century French courtesan Ninon de Lenclos needed to devise a way of 
+maintaining her lifestyle while having the freedom no woman could achieve in her day. 
+She gave her lovers and suitors three choices, a payeur would pay for her services, but 
+she would only sleep with him when she liked, a martyr would not have to pay, and be 
+part of her harem of men, and from the martyrs she would choose a favori, or one man to 
+whom she would abandon herself to totally until she was tired of him. The payeurs were 
+able to finance her needs while she enjoyed complete freedom, independence, and 
+variety from her lovers. She had the equality to men no married woman of the time could 
+possess. 
+The 48 Laws Of Power 
+ 
+Page 14 
+www.bizsum.com 
+© 2001, 2002 Copyright BusinessSummaries.com 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Make people your puppets and give them options to let them feel they have control. 
+Force them to choose between the lesser of two evils, both of which serve your 
+purpose. 
+• 
+Present options but color the one you prefer as the best solution. 
+• 
+Force the resister into “choosing” to do what you want by appearing to advocate the 
+opposite. 
+• 
+Alter the playing field so the only options available are the ones you offer. 
+• 
+Shrinking options force people to buy in now or else the goods won’t be available 
+tomorrow. 
+• 
+The weak man must be propelled into action through fear and terror. 
+• 
+Involving your victim in your scheme with the threat of their exposure later will keep 
+them tied to you. They cannot expose you because they will be found out as well. 
+• 
+Use the horns of a dilemma: whichever way they choose, there is no escape. 
+ 
+32. PLAY TO PEOPLE’S FANTASIES. 
+Observance of the Law: 
+In the 1700s, a mysterious stranger named George Psalmanazar came to fame with his 
+books and lectures on the language, culture and history of the island of Formosa (now 
+Taiwan).  After his death, it was revealed that he was in fact a Frenchman with a rich 
+imagination who played on the British need for the exotic and strange. He had invented 
+everything he had professed to be an expert on, having capitalized on it with best-selling 
+books and having been a favorite guest at many royal dinners. 
+ 
+Abraham Lincoln created an image of himself as the homespun country lawyer with a 
+beard. He played to the fantasy of the common man’s president. 
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+People need a fantasy to escape from the humdrum of everyday life. The more 
+vague and exotic, the more captivating. 
+• 
+Promise a pot of gold and instant gratification, rather than a gradual improvement 
+through hard work. 
+• 
+Keep your distance so the fantasy remains intact. 
+ 
+33. DISCOVER EACH MAN’S THUMBSCREW. 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Every person has a weakness or insecurity you can use to your advantage. 
+• 
+Train yourself to probe for weaknesses in everyday conversation. 
+• 
+Find the childhood need that went unfulfilled, supply it, and your victim will be unable 
+to resist you. 
+• 
+People’s weaknesses are the opposite of the qualities they reveal to you. The shy 
+person is actually dying for attention; a prude may be hiding a lascivious soul, etc. 
+• 
+Find the weak link or the one person in a group who will bend under pressure. 
+• 
+Feed on uncontrollable emotions or motive – paranoia, lust, greed, vanity, or hatred.  
+• 
+When searching for suckers, always look for the unhappy, insecure and dissatisfied. 
+ 
+34. BE ROYAL IN YOUR OWN FASHION: ACT LIKE A KING TO BE 
+TREATED LIKE ONE. 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+How you carry yourself reflects what you think of yourself. Exude confidence and the 
+feeling you were destined for greatness. 
+The 48 Laws Of Power 
+ 
+Page 15 
+www.bizsum.com 
+© 2001, 2002 Copyright BusinessSummaries.com 
+• 
+Do not confuse regal bearing with arrogance. 
+• 
+Dignity is the mask you assume under difficult circumstances. Act like nothing can 
+affect you and you have all the time in the world to respond. 
+• 
+Set your price high and do not waver. 
+• 
+Deal with the highest person in the building. 
+• 
+A gift is an equalizer. You do not beg but ask for help in a dignified way. 
+ 
+35. MASTER THE ART OF TIMING. 
+Time as a human-made concept 
+There are three kinds of time we deal with when building power: the Long Time is the 
+years-long period of waiting for the right opportunity while creating a strong foundation or 
+base to work from. Forced Time is upsetting the timing of others and setting their 
+deadlines for them. The opponent will be more likely to make mistakes because of the 
+need to hurry, or in the case of business, will be forced to buy whatever you offer 
+because the time to make a decision is limited. End Time is when we execute a plan with 
+speed and absolutely no hesitation. 
+ 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Never look as though you are in a hurry. It betrays a lack of control. 
+• 
+Learn to stand back and be patient. Strike only when the time is right. 
+• 
+Anticipate events and work with the spirit of the times. 
+• 
+Recognizing the prevailing winds does not necessarily mean running with them. 
+ 
+36. DISDAIN THINGS YOU CANNOT HAVE: IGNORING THEM IS THE 
+BEST REVENGE. 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+The more attention you pay an enemy, the stronger you make him. The less interest you 
+show, the more superior you seem. 
+• 
+Remember: You choose to let things bother you. You can just as easily choose to 
+consider the matter trivial and unworthy of your interest. That is the powerful move. 
+• 
+If it is impossible to ignore, then secretly get rid of it. Sometimes threats just go away by 
+themselves. 
+ 
+37. CREATE COMPELLING SPECTACLES. 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Never neglect the way you arrange things visually. 
+• 
+Associate yourself with colors, images and symbols that communicate strong 
+messages. 
+• 
+People are always impressed by the superficial appearance of things, the grand, and 
+the spectacular, what is larger than life. 
+ 
+38. THINK AS YOU LIKE BUT BEHAVE LIKE OTHERS. 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Wise and clever people learn early on that they can display conventional behavior 
+and mouth conventional ideas without having to believe in them. 
+• 
+Put on the mask appropriate to the group you are joining. 
+ 
+39. STIR UP WATERS TO CATCH FISH. 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Anger and emotion are strategically unproductive. Make your enemies angry but stay 
+calm yourself. 
+The 48 Laws Of Power 
+ 
+Page 16 
+www.bizsum.com 
+© 2001, 2002 Copyright BusinessSummaries.com 
+• 
+Angry people usually end up looking ridiculous. 
+• 
+Nothing in the game of power is personal. 
+• 
+An occasional outburst may be powerful, but use anger too often and it loses its 
+power. 
+40. DESPISE THE FREE LUNCH. 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+By paying your own way you stay free of gratitude. What is offered for free normally 
+has a hidden obligation. 
+• 
+Generosity is a sign of power. Most powerful people spend freely and are not misers. 
+• 
+Use money as a way to give pleasure to others and win them over. 
+ 
+41. AVOID STEPPING INTO A GREAT MAN’S SHOES. 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Choose a different path and personal style if you are the daughter or son of a great 
+person. You will forever be in your predecessor’s shadow unless you find a way to 
+shine on your own. 
+• 
+Only after the father figure has been done away with will there be space to establish 
+a new order. 
+• 
+Do not become complacent once you reach success and security. Prosperity makes 
+us lazy. Writers like Tennessee Williams and Fyodor Dostoyevsky preferred the 
+struggle to security; the way poverty or emotional difficulties pushed them to create 
+good work. 
+ 
+42. STRIKE THE SHEPHERD AND THE SHEEP WILL SCATTER. 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Within any group, trouble can be traced to a single source, the unhappy, 
+chronically unsatisfied one who stirs up dissension and infects the group. 
+Recognize troublemakers by their complaining nature. Separate him from the 
+group. 
+• 
+In every group power is concentrated in the hands of one or two people. Human 
+nature shows people will orbit around a single strong personality. 
+ 
+43. WORK ON THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF OTHERS. 
+Transgression of the Law 
+Marie-Antoinette was put to death by guillotine in 1793, after the French monarchy was 
+ended by the revolution. Not a single soul came to her defense. Marie-Antoinette brought 
+upon herself the hatred of all. Her jewelry, wardrobe, hair, and masked balls, her lavish 
+lifestyle had been more important to her than the needs of her people. 
+  
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Aim at the primary emotions: love, hate, and jealousy. Be alert to people’s 
+individual psychologies and their basic emotional responses. 
+• 
+Maintain a stable of writers, artists, or intellectuals who are very good at 
+appealing to people’s hearts and minds. 
+ 
+44. DISARM AND INFURIATE WITH THE MIRROR EFFECT. 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+The neutralizing effect: Do what your enemies do, follow their actions and they 
+will not see what you are up to. When you mirror them, if mocks and humiliates 
+them. Mimicry infuriates. 
+• 
+The Shadow effect: Shadow your opponents’ every move, gather information, 
+and gain insight to their routines and habits without them seeing you. 
+The 48 Laws Of Power 
+ 
+Page 17 
+www.bizsum.com 
+© 2001, 2002 Copyright BusinessSummaries.com 
+• 
+The Mirror effect: Show you understand by reflecting their innermost feelings. 
+• 
+The Moral effect: Teach others a lesson by giving them a taste of their own 
+medicine. 
+• 
+The Hallucinatory effect: offer a perfect copy of an object, place or person and 
+see how people take the bait. 
+ 
+45. PREACH THE NEED FOR CHANGE, BUT NEVER REFORM TOO 
+MUCH AT ONCE. 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Make change and reform seem like a gentle improvement on the past. People 
+are creatures of habit and the sudden change will cause some to rebel. 
+• 
+Disguise change by dressing it in tradition. 
+ 
+46. NEVER APPEAR TOO PERFECT. 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+Never underestimate the power of envy. Occasionally reveal a weakness, defect, 
+or anxiety, or find new friends. It is the people in your own circle of peers who will 
+be the first to envy your success. 
+• 
+Envy is often a problem for people who have great natural talent. You may think 
+you are charming people with your natural talent when in fact they are coming to 
+hate you for it. 
+• 
+To deflect envy, employ a display of weakness, or a harmless vice. 
+• 
+Envy is disguised sometimes as excessive praise, or slander and criticism. Win 
+your revenge by ignoring the envious. 
+• 
+Reversal: Display the utmost disdain for those who envy you. Instead of hiding 
+your perfection, make it obvious. Make every triumph an opportunity to make the 
+envious squirm. 
+ 
+47. DO NOT GO PAST THE MARK YOU AIMED FOR; IN VICTORY, LEARN 
+WHEN TO STOP. 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+• 
+The powerful know that the essence of strategy is controlling what comes next. 
+• 
+There is no better time to stop and walk away than after a victory. 
+ 
+48. ASSUME FORMLESSNESS. 
+Wisdom in a nutshell: 
+Accept the fact that nothing is certain and no law is fixed. Be as fluid and formless as 
+water, adapting and moving with change naturally. The powerful are creative in 
+expressing something new. This feminine, formless style of ruling as practiced by 
+Elizabeth of England and Catherine of Russia, allows flexibility and makes subjects feel 
+less coerced. Play the chameleon but break your enemy from the inside. Morph and 
+adapt but keep your long-term strategy in mind at all times. 
+