The 48 Laws of Power
The Laws
• Law 1Never Outshine the Master
• Law 2
Never put too Much Trust in Friends, Learn how to use Enemies
•
Law 3
Conceal your Intentions
• Law 4Always Say Less than Necessary
• Law 5So Much epends on !eputation " #uard it with your Li$e
• Law 6
Court Attention at all Cost
• Law 7
#et others to do the %or& $or you, 'ut Always Ta&e the Credit
• Law 8Ma&e other (eople come to you " use )ait i$ Necessary
• Law 9%in throu*h your Actions, Never throu*h Ar*ument
• Law 10
In$ection+ Avoid the nhappy and nluc&y
• Law 11
Learn to -eep (eople ependent on .ou
•
Law 12
se Selective /onesty and #enerosity to isarm your 0ictim
• Law 13%hen As&in* $or /elp, Appeal to (eople1s Sel$2Interest, Never to their
Mercy or #ratitude
• Law 14
(ose as a Friend, %or& as a Spy
•
Law 15
Crush your Enemy Totally
• Law 16se A'sence to Increase !espect and /onor
• Law 17-eep Others in Suspended Terror+ Cultivate an Air o$ npredicta'ility
• Law 18
o Not )uild Fortresses to (rotect .oursel$ " Isolation is an*erous
• Law 19
-now %ho .ou1re ealin* with " o Not O$$end the %ron* (erson
There are many di$$erent &inds o$ people in the world, and you can never assume
that everyone will react to your strate*ies in the same way3 eceive or outmaneuver some
people and they will spend the rest o$ their lives see&in* reven*e3 They are wolves in
lam's1 clothin*3 Choose your victims and opponents care$ully, then " never o$$end or
deceive the wron* person3
• Law 20o Not Commit to Anyone
• Law 21(lay a Suc&er to Catch a Suc&er " Seem um'er than your Mar&
• Law 22
se the Surrender Tactic+ Trans$orm %ea&ness into (ower
•
Law 23
Concentrate .our Forces
• Law 24(lay the (er$ect Courtier
• Law 25!e2Create .oursel$
• Law 26
-eep .our /ands Clean
• Law 27
(lay on (eople1s Need to )elieve to Create a Cultli&e Followin*
• Law 28Enter Action with )oldness
• Law 29(lan All the %ay to the End
• Law 30Ma&e your Accomplishments Seem E$$ortless
• Law 31
Control the Options+ #et Others to (lay with the Cards you eal
•
Law 32
(lay to (eople1s Fantasies
• Law 33iscover Each Man1s Thum'screw