49th Emperor

1 - Never Outshine the Master

1 - Never Outshine the Master

Always make those above you feel superior.

2 - Never Put Too Much Trust in Friends, Learn How to Use Enemies

Be wary of friends; use former enemies to your advantage.

3 - Conceal Your Intentions

Keep people off balance by never revealing the purpose behind your actions.

4 - Always Say Less Than Necessary

The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish.

5 - So Much Depends on Reputation – Guard It with Your Life

Your reputation is the cornerstone of power.

6 - Court Attention at All Costs

Stand out and attract attention to assert your dominance.

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

Use others to do the work but claim the rewards for yourself.

8 - Make Other People Come to You – Use Bait if Necessary

Force others to act on your terms.

9 - Win Through Your Actions, Never Through Argument

Demonstrate, don’t debate.

10 - Infection

Avoid the Unhappy and Unlucky

11 - Learn to Keep People Dependent on You

Make others reliant on you to maintain control.

12 - Use Selective Honesty and Generosity to Disarm Your Victim

Honest acts can create trust and open opportunities for manipulation.

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

Frame your requests in terms of what’s in it for them.

14 - Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy

Gather information about your rivals by being observant or using indirect channels.

15 - Crush Your Enemy Totally

Don’t give enemies a chance to recover; eliminate all threats to your power.

16 - Use Absence to Increase Respect and Honor

By withdrawing occasionally, you increase your value and demand.

17 - Keep Others in Suspended Terror

Cultivate an Air of Unpredictability

18 - Do Not Build Fortresses to Protect Yourself – Isolation Is Dangerous

Isolation cuts you off from valuable information; stay connected to maintain control.

19 - Know Who You’re Dealing With – Do Not Offend the Wrong Person

Some people will seek revenge; be careful who you antagonize.

20 - Do Not Commit to Anyone

Stay independent and use others’ need for allegiance to your advantage.

21 - Play a Sucker to Catch a Sucker – Seem Dumber Than Your Mark

Make people believe they are smarter than you so they underestimate your power.

22 - Use the Surrender Tactic

Transform Weakness into Power

23 - Concentrate Your Forces

Focus your energy and resources on a single source of power to achieve maximum effect.

24 - Play the Perfect Courtier

Be smooth, adaptable, and master the art of flattery to gain influence.

25 - Re-Create Yourself

Always be willing to change your image and control how others perceive you.

26 - Keep Your Hands Clean

Avoid being blamed for controversial actions by using others as scapegoats.

27 - Play on People’s Need to Believe to Create a Cult-like Following

Appeal to the desires and beliefs of others to make them follow you.

28 - Enter Action with Boldness

Take decisive, bold action to intimidate your enemies and impress your allies.

29 - Plan All the Way to the End

Think through your strategy to its conclusion to avoid unforeseen consequences.

30 - Make Your Accomplishments Seem Effortless

Hide the effort behind your success to make it appear more impressive.

31 - Control the Options

Get Others to Play with the Cards You Deal

32 - Play to People’s Fantasies

People prefer to believe in fantasies rather than the harsh truth; give them illusions to follow.

33 - Discover Each Man’s Thumbscrew

Find people’s weaknesses and use them to your advantage.

34 - Be Royal in Your Own Fashion

Act Like a King to Be Treated Like One

35 - Master the Art of Timing

Be patient, and act only when the time is right.

36 - Disdain Things You Cannot Have

Ignoring Them Is the Best Revenge

37 - Create Compelling Spectacles

Use visual and dramatic events to attract attention and influence perception.

38 - Think as You Like but Behave Like Others

To avoid scrutiny, blend in with the crowd while pursuing your own goals.

39 - Stir Up Waters to Catch Fish

Create confusion and chaos in your enemies' plans to weaken their position.

40 - Despise the Free Lunch

Nothing is free; value what you pay for and be wary of offers that come with hidden costs.

41 - Avoid Stepping into a Great Man’s Shoes

Carve your own path; don’t simply follow in the footsteps of those before you.

42 - Strike the Shepherd and the Sheep Will Scatter

Eliminate the source of trouble, and those under their influence will fall apart.

43 - Work on the Hearts and Minds of Others

Win people over by understanding their emotions and desires.

44 - Disarm and Infuriate with the Mirror Effect

Reflect your opponents' actions back at them to confuse or anger them.

45 - Preach the Need for Change, but Never Reform Too Much at Once

People fear sudden changes; introduce reforms gradually.

46 - Never Appear Too Perfect

Display some flaws to avoid envy and make others feel more comfortable.

47 - Do Not Go Past the Mark You Aimed For; In Victory, Learn When to Stop

Don’t let success lead to overconfidence; know when to quit.

48 - Assume Formlessness

Be adaptable and ever-changing to avoid being controlled or defeated.