The 48 laws of power are a set of principles that can be used to gain and maintain power and influence. Developed by Robert Greene in his book of the same name, these laws can be applied to a variety of situations, from business and politics to personal relationships. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at each of the 48 laws and explain how to apply them in different contexts.
Law 1: Never Outshine the Master
This law advises against drawing attention to yourself in a way that threatens the person in charge. If you want to be successful, it’s important to remember that the person in power should always appear to be in control. When you’re in a position of authority, it’s important to remember that you are the one setting the example and leading the way.
Law 2: Never Put Too Much Trust in Friends, Learn How to Use Enemies
Friends can become rivals or betray you, while enemies can be valuable allies. To protect yourself and your interests, it’s important to be aware of the power dynamics in any situation and to be prepared to use others to your advantage.
Law 3: Conceal Your Intentions
Don’t reveal what you’re planning to do until you’re ready to execute. By keeping your plans and strategies secret, you can maintain the element of surprise and gain an advantage in any situation.
Law 4: Always Say Less Than Necessary
Speaking too much and divulging too many details can be detrimental to your interests. By saying less than necessary, you can maintain an air of mystery and keep others guessing. This can be a powerful tool in negotiations and decision-making.
Law 5: So Much Depends on Reputation, Guard It with Your Life
Your reputation is one of your most valuable assets, so it’s important to protect it at all costs. If your reputation is damaged, it can be difficult to regain it.
Law 6: Court Attention at All Cost
Seeking attention and recognition can bring power and influence. This law encourages you to strive for attention by any means necessary, as long as it doesn’t damage your reputation or integrity.
Law 7: Get Others to Do the Work for You, But Always Take the Credit
This law encourages you to use others to accomplish your goals and make sure you get the credit for their work. It’s important to remember that your success is not only due to your own efforts, but also to the efforts of others.
Law 8: Make Other People Come to You, Use Bait If Necessary
This law advises against going to others, but instead making them come to you. You can do this by using something attractive to draw them in.
Law 9: Win Through Your Actions, Never Through Argument
Actions speak louder than words, so focus on what you do rather than what you say. This law encourages you to back up your words with action and to lead by example.
Law 10: Infection: Avoid the Unhappy and Unlucky
Negativity is contagious, so it’s important to avoid those who are unhappy or unlucky. This law encourages you to surround yourself with positive, successful people in order to achieve success.
Law 11: Learn to Keep People Dependent on You
Make others reliant on you so they will do what you want. This law encourages you to cultivate relationships and create dependencies in order to gain power and influence.
Law 12: Use Selective Honesty and Generosity to Disarm Your Victim
Be honest and generous when it suits your purposes, as it can disarm others and make them more pliable. This law encourages you to use honesty and generosity as tools to gain an advantage in any situation.
Law 13: When Asking for Help, Appeal to People’s Self-Interest, Never to Their Mercy or Gratitude
People are more likely to help you if they see how it will benefit them. This law encourages you to focus on the advantages of helping you rather than on the emotions of mercy or gratitude.
Law 14: Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy
Pretend to be someone’s friend to gain their trust and gather information. This law encourages you to use deception and manipulation to your advantage.
Law 15: Crush Your Enemy Totally
Show no mercy to your enemies and aim to completely defeat them. This law encourages you to be ruthless and relentless in achieving your goals.
Law 16: Use Absence to Increase Respect and Honor
Absence can make the heart grow fonder, so use it to your advantage. This law encourages you to take time away from a situation in order to increase your influence and power.
Law 17: Keep Others in Suspended Terror: Cultivate an Air of Unpredictability
Keep others off-balance by being unpredictable and behaving in unexpected ways. This law encourages you to use surprise and confusion as tools to gain an advantage in any situation.
Law 18: Do Not Build Fortresses to Protect Yourself, Isolation Is Dangerous
Don’t isolate yourself, as it makes you vulnerable. Instead, build strong relationships and networks. This law advises against relying too heavily on yourself and encourages you to cultivate relationships that can help you in times of need.
Law 19: Know Who You’re Dealing With, Do Not Offend the Wrong Person
Know your audience and be aware of what they can and cannot handle. This law encourages you to be mindful of the people you interact with and to tailor your approach accordingly.
Law 20: Do Not Commit to Anyone
Don’t make commitments to anyone, as it limits your options and puts you at a disadvantage. This law encourages you to remain flexible and open to different possibilities.
Law 21: Play a Sucker to Catch a Sucker, Seem Dumber Than Your Mark
Pretend to be naive or uninformed to get the upper hand in a situation. This law encourages you to use deception and manipulation to gain an advantage.
Law 22: Use the Surrender Tactic: Transform Weakness into Power
Surrendering in certain situations can actually increase your power and influence. This law encourages you to be open to surrendering in order to gain an advantage in a situation.
Law 23: Concentrate Your Forces
Focus your efforts and resources on one thing at a time rather than spreading yourself thin. This law encourages you to focus on one task or goal and to use all your resources to achieve it.
Law 24: Play the Perfect Courtier
Flatter and serve those in power to win their favor. This law encourages you to be gracious and courteous to those in positions of authority in order to gain their favor.
Law 25: Re-create Yourself
Don’t be afraid to reinvent yourself and try new things. This law encourages you to be open to change and to be willing to take risks in order to achieve success.
Law 26: Keep Your Hands Clean
Avoid dirty or unethical actions, as they can come back to haunt you. This law advises against engaging in unethical behavior, as it can have long-term repercussions.
Law 27: Play on People’s Need to Believe to Create a Cult-Like Following
This law encourages you to appeal to people’s emotions and desires in order to gain their support. By tapping into people’s need to believe, you can create a devoted following.
Law 28: Enter Action with Boldness
Don’t hesitate or second-guess yourself, but instead act with confidence and conviction. This law encourages you to be decisive and to take action without hesitation.
Law 29: Plan All the Way to the End
Think through the long-term consequences of your actions. This law encourages you to consider the long-term implications of your decisions and to plan for the future.
Law 30: Make Your Accomplishments Seem Effortless
Don’t brag or draw attention to your efforts, but let your successes speak for themselves. This law encourages you to be humble and to let your accomplishments speak for themselves.
Law 31: Control the Options: Get Others to Play with the Cards You Deal
Control the choices available to others to guide them towards the outcomes you want. This law encourages you to be strategic in the options you provide others and to use those options to your advantage.
Law 32: Play to People’s Fantasies
Appeal to people’s desires and dreams to win their support. This law encourages you to tap into people’s fantasies and dreams in order to gain their loyalty.
Law 33: Discover Each Man’s Thumbscrew
Find out what motivates or pressures each person and use it to your advantage. This law encourages you to be aware of the motivations and pressures of those around you in order to gain an advantage.
Law 34: Be Royal in Your Own Fashion: Act Like a King to Be Treated Like One
Conduct yourself with dignity and confidence, and you will be treated with respect. This law encourages you to project an air of confidence and authority in order to gain respect and admiration.
Law 35: Master the Art of Timing
Choose the right moment to act for maximum impact. This law encourages you to be aware of the timing of your decisions and to use it to your advantage.
Law 36: Disdain Things You Cannot Have: Ignoring Them Is the Best Revenge
Don’t waste time and energy on things you can’t have, but instead focus on what you can control. This law encourages you to focus on the things you can control rather than wasting energy on things you have no control over.
Law 37: Create Compelling Spectacles
Use dramatic displays or performances to attract attention and influence others. This law encourages you to use theatrics and spectacle to gain an advantage.
Law 38: Think as You Like But Behave Like Others
Don’t stand out or challenge the norms, but instead blend in and follow the crowd. This law encourages you to conform to established norms in order to gain acceptance.
Law 39: Stir Up Waters to Catch Fish
Create chaos or confusion to take advantage of the resulting opportunities. This law encourages you to use disruption and confusion to your advantage.
Law 40: Despise the Free Lunch
Don’t accept anything for free, as it puts you in someone else’s debt. This law encourages you to be independent and to refuse anything that may put you in someone else’s debt.
Law 41: Avoid Stepping into a Great Man’s Shoes
Don’t try to follow in someone else’s footsteps, but instead forge your own path. This law encourages you to be original and to create your own path to success.
Law 42: Strike the Shepherd and the Sheep Will Scatter
Target the leader or central figure in a group to disrupt and defeat it. This law encourages you to identify and target the most influential person in a group in order to achieve your goals.
Law 43: Work on the Hearts and Minds of Others
Don’t just focus on what people do, but also try to influence their beliefs and emotions. This law encourages you to focus on influencing people’s beliefs and emotions, as well as their actions.
Law 44: Disarm and Infuriate with the Mirror Effect
Reflect back someone’s own words or actions to disarm or frustrate them. This law encourages you to use someone’s own words or actions against them to gain an advantage.
Law 45: Preach the Need for Change, But Never Reform Too Much at Once
Advocate for change, but be careful not to overhaul too much at once as it can be destabilizing. This law encourages you to be mindful of the consequences of change and to be careful not to make too many changes at once.
Law 46: Never Appear Too Perfect
Don’t try to be perfect, as it makes you vulnerable to criticism and attacks. This law encourages you to be aware of your imperfections and to be prepared to accept criticism.
Law 47: Do Not Go Past the Mark
Don’t push your luck or risk too much, as it can be detrimental to your interests. This law encourages you to be aware of your limits and to be prepared to accept failure rather than trying to push your luck too far.
Law 48: Assume Formlessness
Be flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances. This law encourages you to be open to change and to be prepared to adjust your strategies and tactics as needed.