48 Laws of Power

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Law 1

Never outshine the master

Law 2

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

Law 3

Conceal your intentions

Law 4

Say less than necessary

Law 5

So much depends on your reputation, gaurd it with your life

Law 6

Court attention at all costs

Law 7

Get Others to Do the Work for You, But Always Take the Credit

Law 8

Make Other People Come to You — Use Bait if Necessary

Law 9

Win Through Your Actions, Never Through Argument

Law 10

Infection: Avoid the Unhappy and Unlucky

Law 11

Learn to Keep People Dependent on You

Law 12

Use Selective Honesty and Generosity to Disarm Your Victim

Law 13

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

Law 14

Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy

Law 15

Crush Your Enemy Totally

Law 16

Use Absence to Increase Respect and Honor

Law 17

Keep Others in Suspended Terror: Cultivate an Air of Unpredictability

Law 18

Do Not Build Fortresses to Protect Yourself – Isolation is Dangerous

Law 19

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

Law 20

Do Not Commit to Anyone

Law 21

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

Law 22

Use the Surrender Tactic: Transform Weakness into Power

Law 23

Concentrate Your Forces

Law 24

Play the Perfect Courtier

Law 25

Re-Create Yourself

Law 26

Keep Your Hands Clean

Law 27

Play on People’s Need to Believe to Create a Cultlike Following

Law 28

Enter Action with Boldness

Law 29

Plan All the Way to the End

Law 30

Make Your Accomplishments Seem Effortless

Law 31

Control the Options: Get Others to Play with the Cards You Deal

Law 32

Play to People’s Fantasies

Law 33

Discover Each Man’s Thumbscrew

Law 34

Be Royal in Your Own Fashion: Act Like a King to Be Treated Like One

Law 35

Master the Art of Timing

Law 36

Disdain Things You Cannot Have: Ignoring Them is the Best Revenge

Law 37

Create Compelling Spectacles

Law 38

Think as You Like But Behave Like Others

Law 39

Stir Up Waters to Catch Fish

Law 40

Despise the Free Lunch

Law 41

Avoid Stepping into a Great Man’s Shoes

Law 42

Strike the Shepherd and the Sheep Will Scatter

Law 43

Work on the Hearts and Minds of Others

Law 44

Disarm and Infuriate with the Mirror Effect

Law 45

Preach the Need for Change, But Never Reform Too Much at Once

Law 46

Never Appear Too Perfect

Law 47

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

Law 48

Assume Formlessness