LastOneLeftInTheCounty Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 (edited) 1st of 48 laws of power Never outshine the master Always make those above you feel comfortably superior. In your desire to please or impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite, to inspire fear and insecurity. Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power. 2nd of 48 laws of power Never put too much trust in friends, learn how to use enemies Be wary of friends-they will betray you more quickly, for they are easily aroused to envy. They also become spoiled and tyrannical. But hire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a friend, because he has more to prove. In fact, you have more to fear from friends than from enemies. If you have no enemies, find a way to make them. 3rd of 48 laws of power Conceal your intentions Keep people off-balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions. If they have no clue what you are up to, they cannot prepare a defense. Guide them far enough down the wrong path, envelope them in enough smoke, and by the time they realize your intentions, it will be too late. 4th of 48 laws of power Always say less than necessary When you are trying to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear, and the less in control. Even if you are saying something banal, it will seem original if you make it vague, open-ended, and sphinx-like. Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less. The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish. 5th of 48 laws of power So much depends on reputation, guard it with your life Reputation is the cornerstone of power. Through reputation alone you can intimidate and win; once you slip, however, you are vulnerable, and will be attacked on all sides. Make your reputation unassailable. Always be alert to potential attacks and thwart them before they happen. Meanwhile, learn to destroy your enemies by opening holes in their own reputations. Then stand aside and let public opinion hang them. 6th of 48 laws of power Court attention at all cost Everything is judged by its appearance; what is unseen counts for nothing. Never let yourself get lost in the crowd, then, or buried in oblivion. Stand out. Be conspicuous, at all cost. Make yourself a magnet of attention by appearing larger, more colorful, more mysterious, than the bland and timid masses. 7th of 48 laws of power Get others to do the work for you, but always take the credit Use the wisdom, knowledge, and legwork of other people to further your own cause. Not only will such assistance save you valuable time and energy, it will give you a godlike aura of efficiency and speed. In the end your helpers will be forgotten and you will be remembered. Never do yourself what others can do for you. 8th of 48 laws of power Make other people come to you, use bait if necessary When you force the other person to act, you are the one in control. It is always better to make your opponent come to you, abandoning his own plans in the process. Lure him with fabulous gains – then attack. You hold the cards. 9th of 48 laws of power Win through your actions, never through argument Any momentary triumph you think gained through argument is really a Pyrrhic victory. The resentment and ill will you stir up is stronger and lasts longer than any momentary change of opinion. It is much more powerful to get others to agree with you through your actions, without saying a word. Demonstrate, do not explicate. 10th of 48 laws of power Infection, avoid the unhappy and unlucky You can die from someone else’s misery – emotional states are as infectious as disease. You may feel you are helping the drowning man but you are only precipitating your own disaster. The unfortunate sometimes draw misfortune on themselves; they will also draw it on you. Associate with the happy and fortunate instead. 11th of 48 laws of power Learn to keep people dependent on you To maintain your independence you must always be needed and wanted. The more you are relied on, the more freedom you have. Make people depend on you for their happiness and prosperity and you have nothing to fear. Never teach them enough so that they can do without you. 12th of 48 laws of power Use selective honesty and generosity to disarm your victim One sincere and honest move will cover over dozens of dishonest ones. Open-hearted gestures of honesty and generosity bring down the guard of even the most suspicious people. Once your selective honesty opens a hole in their armor, you can deceive and manipulate them at will. A timely gift – a Trojan horse – will serve the same purpose. 13th of 48 laws of power When asking for help, appeal to people’s self-interest, never to their mercy or gratitude If you need to turn to an ally for help, do not bother to remind him of your past assistance and good deeds. He will find a way to ignore you. Instead, uncover something in your request, or in your alliance with him, that will benefit him, and emphasize it out of all proportion. He will respond enthusiastically when he sees something to be gained for himself. 14th of 48 laws of power Pose as a friend, work as a spy Knowing about your rival is critical. Use spies to gather valuable information that will keep you a step ahead. Better still, play the spy yourself. In polite social encounters, learn to probe. Ask indirect questions to get people to reveal their weaknesses and intentions. There is no occasion that is not an opportunity for artful spying. 15th of 48 laws of power Crush your enemy totally All great leaders since Moses have known that a feared enemy must be crushed completely. Sometimes they have learned this the hard way. If one ember is left alight, no matter how dimly it smolders, a fire will eventually break out. More is lost through stopping halfway than through total annihilation. The enemy will recover, and will seek revenge. Crush him, not only in body but in spirit. 16th of 48 laws of power Use absence to increase respect and honor Too much circulation makes the price go down. The more you are seen and heard from, the more common you appear. If you are already established in a group, temporary withdrawal from it will make you more talked about, even more admired. You must learn when to leave. Create value through scarcity. 17th of 48 laws of power Keep others in suspended terror, cultivate an air of unpredictability Humans are creatures of habit with an insatiable need to see familiarity in other people’s actions. Your predictability gives them a sense of control. Turn the tables, be deliberately unpredictable. Behavior that seems to have no consistency or purpose will keep them off-balance, and they will wear themselves out trying to explain your moves. Taken to an extreme, this strategy can intimidate and terrorize. 18th of 48 laws of power Do not build fortresses to protect yourself, isolation is dangerous The world is dangerous and enemies are everywhere – everyone has to protect themselves. A fortress seems the safest. But isolation exposes you to more dangers than it protects you from, it cuts you off from valuable information, it makes you conspicuous and an easy target. Better to circulate among people find allies, mingle. You are shielded from your enemies by the crowd. 19th of 48 laws of power Know who you’re dealing with, do not offend the wrong person There are many different kinds of people in the world, and you can never assume that everyone will react to your strategies in the same way. Deceive or outmaneuver some people and they will spend the rest of their lives seeking revenge. They are wolves in lambs’ clothing. Choose your victims and opponents carefully, then – never offend or deceive the wrong person. 20th of 48 laws of power Do not commit to anyone It is the fool who always rushes to take sides. Do not commit to any side or cause but yourself. By maintaining your independence, you become the master of others – playing people against one another, making them pursue you. 21st of 48 laws of power Play a sucker to catch a sucker, seem dumber than your mark No one likes feeling stupider than the next persons. The trick, is to make your victims feel smart – and not just smart, but smarter than you are. Once convinced of this, they will never suspect that you may have ulterior motives. 22nd of 48 laws of power Use the surrender tactic, transform weakness into power When you are weaker, never fight for honor’s sake; choose surrender instead. Surrender gives you time to recover, time to torment and irritate your conqueror, time to wait for his power to wane. Do not give him the satisfaction of fighting and defeating you – surrender first. By turning the other cheek you infuriate and unsettle him. Make surrender a tool of power. 23rd of 48 laws of power Concentrate your forces Conserve your forces and energies by keeping them concentrated at their strongest point. You gain more by finding a rich mine and mining it deeper, than by flitting from one shallow mine to another – intensity defeats extensity every time. When looking for sources of power to elevate you, find the one key patron, the fat cow who will give you milk for a long time to come. 24th of 48 laws of power Play the perfect courtier The perfect courtier thrives in a world where everything revolves around power and political dexterity. He has mastered the art of indirection; he flatters, yields to superiors, and asserts power over others in the most oblique and graceful manner. Learn and apply the laws of courtiership and there will be no limit to how far you can rise in the court. 25th of 48 laws of power Re-create yourself Do not accept the roles that society foists on you. Re-create yourself by forging a new identity, one that commands attention and never bores the audience. Be the master of your own image rather than letting others define it for you. Incorporate dramatic devices into your public gestures and actions – your power will be enhanced and your character will seem larger than life. 26th of 48 laws of power Keep your hands clean You must seem a paragon of civility and efficiency, your hands are never soiled by mistakes and nasty deeds. Maintain such a spotless appearance by using others as scapegoats and cat’s-paws to disguise your involvement. 27th of 48 laws of power Play on people’s need to believe to create a cult-like following People have an overwhelming desire to believe in something. Become the focal point of such desire by offering them a cause, a new faith to follow. Keep your words vague but full of promise; emphasize enthusiasm over rationality and clear thinking. Give your new disciples rituals to perform, ask them to make sacrifices on your behalf. In the absence of organized religion and grand causes, your new belief system will bring you untold power. 28th of 48 laws of power Enter action with boldness If you are unsure of a course of action, do not attempt it. Your doubts and hesitations will infect your execution. Timidity is dangerous, better to enter with boldness. Any mistakes you commit through audacity are easily corrected with more audacity. Everyone admires the bold; no one honors the timid. 29th of 48 laws of power Plan all the way to the end The ending is everything. Plan all the way to it, taking into account all the possible consequences, obstacles, and twists of fortune that might reverse your hard work and give the glory to others. By planning to the end you will not be overwhelmed by circumstances and you will know when to stop. Gently guide fortune and help determine the future by thinking far ahead. 30th of 48 laws of power Make your accomplishments seem effortless Your actions must seem natural and executed with ease. All the toil and practice that go into them, and also all the clever tricks, must be concealed. When you act, act effortlessly, as if you could do much more. Avoid the temptation of revealing how hard you work – it only raises questions. Teach no one your tricks or they will be used against you. 31st of 48 laws of power Control the options, get others to play with the cards you deal The best deceptions are the ones that seem to give the other person a choice. Your victims feel they are in control, but are actually your puppets. Give people options that come out in your favor whichever one they choose. Force them to make choices between the lesser of two evils, both of which serve your purpose. Put them on the horns of a dilemma and they are gored wherever they turn. 32nd of 48 laws of power Play to people’s fantasies The truth is often avoided because it is ugly and unpleasant. Never appeal to truth and reality unless you are prepared for the anger that comes for disenchantment. Life is so harsh and distressing that people who can manufacture romance or conjure up fantasy are like oases in the desert, everyone flocks to them. There is great power in tapping into the fantasies of the masses. 33rd of 48 laws of power Discover each man’s thumbscrew Everyone has a weakness, a gap in the castle wall. That weakness is usually an insecurity, an uncontrollable emotion or need; it can also be a small secret pleasure. Either way, once found, it is a thumbscrew you can turn to your advantage. 34th of 48 laws of power Be royal in your own fashion, act like a king to be treated like one The way you carry yourself will often determine how you are treated; In the long run, appearing vulgar or common will make people disrespect you. For a king respects himself and inspires the same sentiment in others. By acting regally and confident of your powers, you make yourself seem destined to wear a crown. 35th of 48 laws of power Master the art of timing Never seem to be in a hurry – hurrying betrays a lack of control over yourself, and over time. Always seem patient, as if you know that everything will come to you eventually. Become a detective of the right moment; sniff out the spirit of the times, the trends that will carry you to power. Learn to stand back when the time is not yet ripe, and to strike fiercely when it has reached fruition. 36th of 48 laws of power Disdain things you cannot have, ignoring them is the best revenge By acknowledging a petty problem you give it existence and credibility. The more attention you pay an enemy, the stronger you make him; and a small mistake is often made worse and more visible when you try to fix it. It is sometimes best to leave things alone. If there is something you want but cannot have, show contempt for it. The less interest you reveal, the more superior you seem. 37th of 48 laws of power Create compelling spectacles Striking imagery and grand symbolic gestures create the aura of power – everyone responds to them. Stage spectacles for those around you, then full of arresting visuals and radiant symbols that heighten your presence. Dazzled by appearances, no one will notice what you are really doing. 38th of 48 laws of power Think as you like but behave like others If you make a show of going against the times, flaunting your unconventional ideas and unorthodox ways, people will think that you only want attention and that you look down upon them. They will find a way to punish you for making them feel inferior. It is far safer to blend in and nurture the common touch. Share your originality only with tolerant friends and those who are sure to appreciate your uniqueness. 39th of 48 laws of power Stir up waters to catch fish Anger and emotion are strategically counterproductive. You must always stay calm and objective. But if you can make your enemies angry while staying calm yourself, you gain a decided advantage. Put your enemies off-balance, find the chink in their vanity through which you can rattle them and you hold the strings. 40th of 48 laws of power Despise the free lunch What is offered for free is dangerous – it usually involves either a trick or a hidden obligation. What has worth is worth paying for. By paying your own way you stay clear of gratitude, guilt, and deceit. It is also often wise to pay the full price – there is no cutting corners with excellence. Be lavish with your money and keep it circulating, for generosity is a sign and a magnet for power. 41st of 48 laws of power Avoid stepping into a great man’s shoes What happens first always appears better and more original than what comes after. If you succeed a great man or have a famous parent, you will have to accomplish double their achievements to outshine them. Do not get lost in their shadow, or stuck in a past not of your own making. Establish your own name and identity by changing course. Slay the overbearing father, disparage his legacy, and gain power by shining in your own way. 42nd of 48 laws of power Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter Trouble can often be traced to a single strong individual – the stirrer, the arrogant underling, the poisoned of goodwill. If you allow such people room to operate, others will succumb to their influence. Do not wait for the troubles they cause to multiply, do not try to negotiate with them – they are irredeemable. Neutralize their influence by isolating or banishing them. Strike at the source of the trouble and the sheep will scatter. 43rd of 48 laws of power Work on the hearts and minds of others Coercion creates a reaction that will eventually work against you. You must seduce others into wanting to move in your direction. A person you have seduced becomes your loyal pawn. And the way to seduce others is to operate on their individual psychologies and weaknesses. Soften up the resistant by working on their emotions, playing on what they hold dear and what they fear. Ignore the hearts and minds of others and they will grow to hate you. 44th of 48 laws of power Disarm and infuriate with the mirror effect The mirror reflects reality, but it is also the perfect tool for deception. When you mirror your enemies, doing exactly as they do, they cannot figure out your strategy. The mirror effect mocks and humiliates them, making them overreact. By holding up a mirror to their psyches, you seduce them with the illusion that you share their values; by holding up a mirror to their actions, you teach them a lesson. Few can resist the power of mirror effect. 45th of 48 laws of power Preach the need for change, but never reform too much at once Everyone understands the need for change in the abstract, but on the day-to-day level people are creatures of habit. Too much innovation is traumatic, and will lead to revolt. If you are new to a position of power, or an outsider trying to build a power base, make a show of respecting the old way of doing things. If change is necessary, make it feel like a gentle improvement on the past. 46th of 48 laws of power Never appear too perfect Appearing better than others is always dangerous, but most dangerous of all is to appear to have no faults or weaknesses. Envy creates silent enemies. It is smart to occasionally display defects, and admit to harmless vices, in order to deflect envy and appear more human and approachable. Only gods and the dead can seem perfect with impunity. 47th of 48 laws of power In victory, learn when to stop The moment of victory is often the moment of greatest peril. In the heat of victory, arrogance and overconfidence can push you past the mark you had aimed for, and by going too far, you make more enemies than you defeat. Do not allow success to go to your head. There is no substitute for strategy and careful planning. Set a goal, and when you reach it, stop. 48th of 48 laws of power Assume formlessness By taking a shape, by having a visible plan, you open yourself to attack. Instead of taking a form for your enemy to grasp, keep yourself adaptable and on the move. Accept the fact that nothing is certain and no law is fixed. The best way to protect yourself is to be as fluid and formless as water; never bet on stability or lasting order. Everything changes. Edited June 1 by LastOneLeftInTheCounty 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truthblast Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 1 hour ago, LastOneLeftInTheCounty said: 1st of 48 laws of power Never outshine the master Always make those above you feel comfortably superior. In your desire to please or impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite, to inspire fear and insecurity. Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power. 2nd of 48 laws of power Never put too much trust in friends, learn how to use enemies Be wary of friends-they will betray you more quickly, for they are easily aroused to envy. They also become spoiled and tyrannical. But hire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a friend, because he has more to prove. In fact, you have more to fear from friends than from enemies. If you have no enemies, find a way to make them. 3rd of 48 laws of power Conceal your intentions Keep people off-balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions. If they have no clue what you are up to, they cannot prepare a defense. Guide them far enough down the wrong path, envelope them in enough smoke, and by the time they realize your intentions, it will be too late. 4th of 48 laws of power Always say less than necessary When you are trying to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear, and the less in control. Even if you are saying something banal, it will seem original if you make it vague, open-ended, and sphinx-like. Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less. The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish. 5th of 48 laws of power So much depends on reputation, guard it with your life Reputation is the cornerstone of power. Through reputation alone you can intimidate and win; once you slip, however, you are vulnerable, and will be attacked on all sides. Make your reputation unassailable. Always be alert to potential attacks and thwart them before they happen. Meanwhile, learn to destroy your enemies by opening holes in their own reputations. Then stand aside and let public opinion hang them. 6th of 48 laws of power Court attention at all cost Everything is judged by its appearance; what is unseen counts for nothing. Never let yourself get lost in the crowd, then, or buried in oblivion. Stand out. Be conspicuous, at all cost. Make yourself a magnet of attention by appearing larger, more colorful, more mysterious, than the bland and timid masses. 7th of 48 laws of power Get others to do the work for you, but always take the credit Use the wisdom, knowledge, and legwork of other people to further your own cause. Not only will such assistance save you valuable time and energy, it will give you a godlike aura of efficiency and speed. In the end your helpers will be forgotten and you will be remembered. Never do yourself what others can do for you. 8th of 48 laws of power Make other people come to you, use bait if necessary When you force the other person to act, you are the one in control. It is always better to make your opponent come to you, abandoning his own plans in the process. Lure him with fabulous gains – then attack. You hold the cards. 9th of 48 laws of power Win through your actions, never through argument Any momentary triumph you think gained through argument is really a Pyrrhic victory. The resentment and ill will you stir up is stronger and lasts longer than any momentary change of opinion. It is much more powerful to get others to agree with you through your actions, without saying a word. Demonstrate, do not explicate. 10th of 48 laws of power Infection, avoid the unhappy and unlucky You can die from someone else’s misery – emotional states are as infectious as disease. You may feel you are helping the drowning man but you are only precipitating your own disaster. The unfortunate sometimes draw misfortune on themselves; they will also draw it on you. Associate with the happy and fortunate instead. 11th of 48 laws of power Learn to keep people dependent on you To maintain your independence you must always be needed and wanted. The more you are relied on, the more freedom you have. Make people depend on you for their happiness and prosperity and you have nothing to fear. Never teach them enough so that they can do without you. 12th of 48 laws of power Use selective honesty and generosity to disarm your victim One sincere and honest move will cover over dozens of dishonest ones. Open-hearted gestures of honesty and generosity bring down the guard of even the most suspicious people. Once your selective honesty opens a hole in their armor, you can deceive and manipulate them at will. A timely gift – a Trojan horse – will serve the same purpose. 13th of 48 laws of power When asking for help, appeal to people’s self-interest, never to their mercy or gratitude If you need to turn to an ally for help, do not bother to remind him of your past assistance and good deeds. He will find a way to ignore you. Instead, uncover something in your request, or in your alliance with him, that will benefit him, and emphasize it out of all proportion. He will respond enthusiastically when he sees something to be gained for himself. 14th of 48 laws of power Pose as a friend, work as a spy Knowing about your rival is critical. Use spies to gather valuable information that will keep you a step ahead. Better still, play the spy yourself. In polite social encounters, learn to probe. Ask indirect questions to get people to reveal their weaknesses and intentions. There is no occasion that is not an opportunity for artful spying. 15th of 48 laws of power Crush your enemy totally All great leaders since Moses have known that a feared enemy must be crushed completely. Sometimes they have learned this the hard way. If one ember is left alight, no matter how dimly it smolders, a fire will eventually break out. More is lost through stopping halfway than through total annihilation. The enemy will recover, and will seek revenge. Crush him, not only in body but in spirit. 16th of 48 laws of power Use absence to increase respect and honor Too much circulation makes the price go down. The more you are seen and heard from, the more common you appear. If you are already established in a group, temporary withdrawal from it will make you more talked about, even more admired. You must learn when to leave. Create value through scarcity. 17th of 48 laws of power Keep others in suspended terror, cultivate an air of unpredictability Humans are creatures of habit with an insatiable need to see familiarity in other people’s actions. Your predictability gives them a sense of control. Turn the tables, be deliberately unpredictable. Behavior that seems to have no consistency or purpose will keep them off-balance, and they will wear themselves out trying to explain your moves. Taken to an extreme, this strategy can intimidate and terrorize. 18th of 48 laws of power Do not build fortresses to protect yourself, isolation is dangerous The world is dangerous and enemies are everywhere – everyone has to protect themselves. A fortress seems the safest. But isolation exposes you to more dangers than it protects you from, it cuts you off from valuable information, it makes you conspicuous and an easy target. Better to circulate among people find allies, mingle. You are shielded from your enemies by the crowd. 19th of 48 laws of power Know who you’re dealing with, do not offend the wrong person There are many different kinds of people in the world, and you can never assume that everyone will react to your strategies in the same way. Deceive or outmaneuver some people and they will spend the rest of their lives seeking revenge. They are wolves in lambs’ clothing. Choose your victims and opponents carefully, then – never offend or deceive the wrong person. 20th of 48 laws of power Do not commit to anyone It is the fool who always rushes to take sides. Do not commit to any side or cause but yourself. By maintaining your independence, you become the master of others – playing people against one another, making them pursue you. 21st of 48 laws of power Play a sucker to catch a sucker, seem dumber than your mark No one likes feeling stupider than the next persons. The trick, is to make your victims feel smart – and not just smart, but smarter than you are. Once convinced of this, they will never suspect that you may have ulterior motives. 22nd of 48 laws of power Use the surrender tactic, transform weakness into power When you are weaker, never fight for honor’s sake; choose surrender instead. Surrender gives you time to recover, time to torment and irritate your conqueror, time to wait for his power to wane. Do not give him the satisfaction of fighting and defeating you – surrender first. By turning the other cheek you infuriate and unsettle him. Make surrender a tool of power. 23rd of 48 laws of power Concentrate your forces Conserve your forces and energies by keeping them concentrated at their strongest point. You gain more by finding a rich mine and mining it deeper, than by flitting from one shallow mine to another – intensity defeats extensity every time. When looking for sources of power to elevate you, find the one key patron, the fat cow who will give you milk for a long time to come. 24th of 48 laws of power Play the perfect courtier The perfect courtier thrives in a world where everything revolves around power and political dexterity. He has mastered the art of indirection; he flatters, yields to superiors, and asserts power over others in the most oblique and graceful manner. Learn and apply the laws of courtiership and there will be no limit to how far you can rise in the court. 25th of 48 laws of power Re-create yourself Do not accept the roles that society foists on you. Re-create yourself by forging a new identity, one that commands attention and never bores the audience. Be the master of your own image rather than letting others define it for you. Incorporate dramatic devices into your public gestures and actions – your power will be enhanced and your character will seem larger than life. 26th of 48 laws of power Keep your hands clean You must seem a paragon of civility and efficiency, your hands are never soiled by mistakes and nasty deeds. Maintain such a spotless appearance by using others as scapegoats and cat’s-paws to disguise your involvement. 27th of 48 laws of power Play on people’s need to believe to create a cult-like following People have an overwhelming desire to believe in something. Become the focal point of such desire by offering them a cause, a new faith to follow. Keep your words vague but full of promise; emphasize enthusiasm over rationality and clear thinking. Give your new disciples rituals to perform, ask them to make sacrifices on your behalf. In the absence of organized religion and grand causes, your new belief system will bring you untold power. 28th of 48 laws of power Enter action with boldness If you are unsure of a course of action, do not attempt it. Your doubts and hesitations will infect your execution. Timidity is dangerous, better to enter with boldness. Any mistakes you commit through audacity are easily corrected with more audacity. Everyone admires the bold; no one honors the timid. 29th of 48 laws of power Plan all the way to the end The ending is everything. Plan all the way to it, taking into account all the possible consequences, obstacles, and twists of fortune that might reverse your hard work and give the glory to others. By planning to the end you will not be overwhelmed by circumstances and you will know when to stop. Gently guide fortune and help determine the future by thinking far ahead. 30th of 48 laws of power Make your accomplishments seem effortless Your actions must seem natural and executed with ease. All the toil and practice that go into them, and also all the clever tricks, must be concealed. When you act, act effortlessly, as if you could do much more. Avoid the temptation of revealing how hard you work – it only raises questions. Teach no one your tricks or they will be used against you. 31st of 48 laws of power Control the options, get others to play with the cards you deal The best deceptions are the ones that seem to give the other person a choice. Your victims feel they are in control, but are actually your puppets. Give people options that come out in your favor whichever one they choose. Force them to make choices between the lesser of two evils, both of which serve your purpose. Put them on the horns of a dilemma and they are gored wherever they turn. 32nd of 48 laws of power Play to people’s fantasies The truth is often avoided because it is ugly and unpleasant. Never appeal to truth and reality unless you are prepared for the anger that comes for disenchantment. Life is so harsh and distressing that people who can manufacture romance or conjure up fantasy are like oases in the desert, everyone flocks to them. There is great power in tapping into the fantasies of the masses. 33rd of 48 laws of power Discover each man’s thumbscrew Everyone has a weakness, a gap in the castle wall. That weakness is usually an insecurity, an uncontrollable emotion or need; it can also be a small secret pleasure. Either way, once found, it is a thumbscrew you can turn to your advantage. 34th of 48 laws of power Be royal in your own fashion, act like a king to be treated like one The way you carry yourself will often determine how you are treated; In the long run, appearing vulgar or common will make people disrespect you. For a king respects himself and inspires the same sentiment in others. By acting regally and confident of your powers, you make yourself seem destined to wear a crown. 35th of 48 laws of power Master the art of timing Never seem to be in a hurry – hurrying betrays a lack of control over yourself, and over time. Always seem patient, as if you know that everything will come to you eventually. Become a detective of the right moment; sniff out the spirit of the times, the trends that will carry you to power. Learn to stand back when the time is not yet ripe, and to strike fiercely when it has reached fruition. 36th of 48 laws of power Disdain things you cannot have, ignoring them is the best revenge By acknowledging a petty problem you give it existence and credibility. The more attention you pay an enemy, the stronger you make him; and a small mistake is often made worse and more visible when you try to fix it. It is sometimes best to leave things alone. If there is something you want but cannot have, show contempt for it. The less interest you reveal, the more superior you seem. 37th of 48 laws of power Create compelling spectacles Striking imagery and grand symbolic gestures create the aura of power – everyone responds to them. Stage spectacles for those around you, then full of arresting visuals and radiant symbols that heighten your presence. Dazzled by appearances, no one will notice what you are really doing. 38th of 48 laws of power Think as you like but behave like others If you make a show of going against the times, flaunting your unconventional ideas and unorthodox ways, people will think that you only want attention and that you look down upon them. They will find a way to punish you for making them feel inferior. It is far safer to blend in and nurture the common touch. Share your originality only with tolerant friends and those who are sure to appreciate your uniqueness. 39th of 48 laws of power Stir up waters to catch fish Anger and emotion are strategically counterproductive. You must always stay calm and objective. But if you can make your enemies angry while staying calm yourself, you gain a decided advantage. Put your enemies off-balance, find the chink in their vanity through which you can rattle them and you hold the strings. 40th of 48 laws of power Despise the free lunch What is offered for free is dangerous – it usually involves either a trick or a hidden obligation. What has worth is worth paying for. By paying your own way you stay clear of gratitude, guilt, and deceit. It is also often wise to pay the full price – there is no cutting corners with excellence. Be lavish with your money and keep it circulating, for generosity is a sign and a magnet for power. 41st of 48 laws of power Avoid stepping into a great man’s shoes What happens first always appears better and more original than what comes after. If you succeed a great man or have a famous parent, you will have to accomplish double their achievements to outshine them. Do not get lost in their shadow, or stuck in a past not of your own making. Establish your own name and identity by changing course. Slay the overbearing father, disparage his legacy, and gain power by shining in your own way. 42nd of 48 laws of power Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter Trouble can often be traced to a single strong individual – the stirrer, the arrogant underling, the poisoned of goodwill. If you allow such people room to operate, others will succumb to their influence. Do not wait for the troubles they cause to multiply, do not try to negotiate with them – they are irredeemable. Neutralize their influence by isolating or banishing them. Strike at the source of the trouble and the sheep will scatter. 43rd of 48 laws of power Work on the hearts and minds of others Coercion creates a reaction that will eventually work against you. You must seduce others into wanting to move in your direction. A person you have seduced becomes your loyal pawn. And the way to seduce others is to operate on their individual psychologies and weaknesses. Soften up the resistant by working on their emotions, playing on what they hold dear and what they fear. Ignore the hearts and minds of others and they will grow to hate you. 44th of 48 laws of power Disarm and infuriate with the mirror effect The mirror reflects reality, but it is also the perfect tool for deception. When you mirror your enemies, doing exactly as they do, they cannot figure out your strategy. The mirror effect mocks and humiliates them, making them overreact. By holding up a mirror to their psyches, you seduce them with the illusion that you share their values; by holding up a mirror to their actions, you teach them a lesson. Few can resist the power of mirror effect. 45th of 48 laws of power Preach the need for change, but never reform too much at once Everyone understands the need for change in the abstract, but on the day-to-day level people are creatures of habit. Too much innovation is traumatic, and will lead to revolt. If you are new to a position of power, or an outsider trying to build a power base, make a show of respecting the old way of doing things. If change is necessary, make it feel like a gentle improvement on the past. 46th of 48 laws of power Never appear too perfect Appearing better than others is always dangerous, but most dangerous of all is to appear to have no faults or weaknesses. Envy creates silent enemies. It is smart to occasionally display defects, and admit to harmless vices, in order to deflect envy and appear more human and approachable. Only gods and the dead can seem perfect with impunity. 47th of 48 laws of power In victory, learn when to stop The moment of victory is often the moment of greatest peril. In the heat of victory, arrogance and overconfidence can push you past the mark you had aimed for, and by going too far, you make more enemies than you defeat. Do not allow success to go to your head. There is no substitute for strategy and careful planning. Set a goal, and when you reach it, stop. 48th of 48 laws of power Assume formlessness By taking a shape, by having a visible plan, you open yourself to attack. Instead of taking a form for your enemy to grasp, keep yourself adaptable and on the move. Accept the fact that nothing is certain and no law is fixed. The best way to protect yourself is to be as fluid and formless as water; never bet on stability or lasting order. Everything changes. Horrible stuff. But yes, it describes THEM perfectly. They are so untalented that they have to live this way. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macnamara Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 (edited) The sad thing is these strategies likely will gain you greater power and influence but i suppose the question is whether or not someone who lives by such a code is someone that will be good for everyone else to have in a position of power and influence or if they will just create a toxic world in their own image Edited June 1 by Macnamara 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LastOneLeftInTheCounty Posted June 1 Author Share Posted June 1 1 hour ago, Truthblast said: Horrible stuff. But yes, it describes THEM perfectly. They are so untalented that they have to live this way. 55 minutes ago, Macnamara said: The sad thing is these strategies likely will gain you greater power and influence but i suppose the question is whether or not someone who lives by such a code is someone that will be good for everyone else to have in a position of power and influence or if they will just create a toxic world in their own image Yes this is toxic upper management behaviour, seen it a dozen times used by a dozen different ‘professionals’, businessmen etc. Your soul will take a hit if you live like this. One of my old friends is basically this. Like a shell, no empathy, macabre. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truthblast Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 20 minutes ago, LastOneLeftInTheCounty said: Yes this is toxic upper management behaviour, seen it a dozen times used by a dozen different ‘professionals’, businessmen etc. Your soul will take a hit if you live like this. One of my old friends is basically this. Like a shell, no empathy, macabre. Express elevator to hell. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanityisgone Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 1 hour ago, Macnamara said: The sad thing is these strategies likely will gain you greater power and influence but i suppose the question is whether or not someone who lives by such a code is someone that will be good for everyone else to have in a position of power and influence or if they will just create a toxic world in their own image Honestly I was about to say I needed this post more than ever, but what a way to live life. I don't want to work construction anymore, I just can't be controlled at all, and they don't like that I'm always right. Makes me realise actually how articulate and academic I am. I should have gone to uni and become a physio/chiro and be earning 75k plus working for myself by now So I'm 28 now and such a crossroads I'm young enough to get out, but so deep I could go to the top of my industry. In reality I'd much prefer helping people and not answering to somebody who is constantly trying to manipulate everything to their own advantage. They withhold things thinking they got you, but fail because they don't know I can see straight through them... Think I answer my own questions maybe just need to get out while I'm still young and more than able.. What a place we live in, maybe I should have started off farming in hindsight I think I would have liked the solitude and the people more and probably been happier and married to a real one by now. Nevermind, it's been one hell of a ride and I believe in myself now finally I feel I can do anything I want to. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanityisgone Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 (edited) 45 minutes ago, LastOneLeftInTheCounty said: Yes this is toxic upper management behaviour, seen it a dozen times used by a dozen different ‘professionals’, businessmen etc. Your soul will take a hit if you live like this. One of my old friends is basically this. Like a shell, no empathy, macabre. Mum and I were talking about this upper management behavior, they know they aren't doing things right and their companies are failing, so they take it out on the staff which just puts them in a worse position So many companies are hiring these idiot managers now though, they abuse the oldest members of the team because they work the hardest or pick on the hardest workers because they know they are the only ones who can make a difference Edited June 1 by Sanityisgone 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LastOneLeftInTheCounty Posted June 1 Author Share Posted June 1 1 hour ago, Sanityisgone said: Mum and I were talking about this upper management behavior, they know they aren't doing things right and their companies are failing, so they take it out on the staff which just puts them in a worse position So many companies are hiring these idiot managers now though, they abuse the oldest members of the team because they work the hardest or pick on the hardest workers because they know they are the only ones who can make a difference You’ve got it in one. They are so incompetent and afraid someone will take over their role they will use all of these tactics and more to keep hold of their power. I lasted 3 months in my previous job before I was worked into the ground, bullied and gangstalked out of the job. They tested me for a management position, the manager gave me unclear ambiguous instructions then lambasted me in front of everyone for not getting it right, if I ever asked about the workings of the business they would get all cagey and go silent. My talent and understanding for the creative side of the business scared them, they stole all my ideas and promoted them as their own (see law number 7) and fearing for their jobs, they turned the screws on the abuse, so much so that if I approached any of my colleagues or tried to have a conversation they would turn their back to me and walk off, turning around to see if I was reacting. No one talked to me and they stopped giving me work, exactly the same chain of events and bullying tactics that forced me out of my last full time job 17 years ago. It’s like a template they use. For me anyway, it’s near impossible to earn a living in this electronic gulag. Im glad you’re realising your true potential. Work for yourself, it’s much better. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaleP Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 (edited) 2 hours ago, LastOneLeftInTheCounty said: Your soul will take a hit if you live like this. What if you live like the laws of power? The placed you worked was clearly not for you so it was good you didn't stick around. The society is going to get worse and when a zombie apocalypse happens, we need to become like an EMP. This is my realisation today. Guns are not allowed in the UK so what you have to do is..... make them unconscious just by looking or thinking about them. You can have a go at one person at a time or a group of them. Make them all fall over unconscious. I think your work situation is already a zombified scenario without blood. Mind has been corrupted that they don't care to treat others like this. It has become common. Only those that enjoys sadistic nature will get on but even then, they will end up killing each other. Edited June 1 by DaleP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LastOneLeftInTheCounty Posted June 1 Author Share Posted June 1 11 minutes ago, DaleP said: What if you live like the laws of power? The placed you worked was clearly not for you so it was good you didn't stick around. The society is going to get worse and when a zombie apocalypse happens, we need to become like an EMP. This is my realisation today. Guns are not allowed in the UK so what you have to do is..... make them unconscious just by looking or thinking about them. You can have a go at one person at a time or a group of them. Make them all fall over unconscious. Hmm, as long as your ok with that happening to you too then it should be ok to try. By zombies do you mean like horror film zombies or just the typical twats you get in general society, you know, jabbed up loudmouthed normie buffoons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaleP Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 3 minutes ago, LastOneLeftInTheCounty said: Hmm, as long as your ok with that happening to you too then it should be ok to try. By zombies do you mean like horror film zombies or just the typical twats you get in general society, you know, jabbed up loudmouthed normie buffoons. But take the laws number 1 for example. It is wise to do this if you want to learn anything. I even agree with Number 2 too. Hell, use your enemy to your advantage, never waste! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LastOneLeftInTheCounty Posted June 1 Author Share Posted June 1 3 minutes ago, DaleP said: But take the laws number 1 for example. It is wise to do this if you want to learn anything. I even agree with Number 2 too. Hell, use your enemy to your advantage, never waste! I have to admit I have used some of the laws in the past, as my ‘friends’ are far more dangerous than my enemies, but a lot of it doesn’t sit right with me because it’s how I’ve been messed with too. At least I know, which is why I posted it, to help others to see how they are being manipulated 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaleP Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 2 minutes ago, LastOneLeftInTheCounty said: I have to admit I have used some of the laws in the past, as my ‘friends’ are far more dangerous than my enemies, but a lot of it doesn’t sit right with me because it’s how I’ve been messed with too. At least I know, which is why I posted it, to help others to see how they are being manipulated I don't agree with every thing though. Like taking a credit of someone else's effort seems cut throat. But take a look at No.22, transform weakness into power Absolutely! Whatever the unfavourable situation you are in....being disabled and on a wheelchair could be turned into power. It's all to do with perspective. Never waste your weakness. Honour it like demons. They need your attention...love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macnamara Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 3 hours ago, Sanityisgone said: So I'm 28 now and such a crossroads I'm young enough to get out, but so deep I could go to the top of my industry. you can always learn your trade within their organisations and then take what you've learned to set up your own business 3 hours ago, Sanityisgone said: What a place we live in, maybe I should have started off farming why not do both. Commercial farming sounds like a real drag due to all the red tape the government is wrapping farmers up in but if you do things small scale for yourself you could maybe manage to get the best out of both worlds which is to say run your own construction business with a little small holding project on the side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macnamara Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 1 hour ago, LastOneLeftInTheCounty said: I have to admit I have used some of the laws in the past, as my ‘friends’ are far more dangerous than my enemies, but a lot of it doesn’t sit right with me because it’s how I’ve been messed with too. At least I know, which is why I posted it, to help others to see how they are being manipulated there was a guy called napoleon hill and he interviewed a whole bunch of powerful people to ask them their keys to success and then he compiled them all in a book. You might be interested in looking into that one too 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macnamara Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 4 hours ago, LastOneLeftInTheCounty said: Your soul will take a hit if you live like this. its a mindset of being in a kind of perpetual war against everyone else where you are trying to constantly outwit and get one over on everyone else. How can a person like that find love....if they can't trust? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truthblast Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 38 minutes ago, Macnamara said: its a mindset of being in a kind of perpetual war against everyone else where you are trying to constantly outwit and get one over on everyone else. How can a person like that find love....if they can't trust? Psychopaths love themselves. They are their own significant other. Everyone else is inferior. In no way worthy of love. Unless its another psychopath. Psycho-Pathology. Their mental illness is completely incurable. No psychopath has ever been cured. Their delusions are permanent. Nothing works - medication, electroconvulsive therapy, hypnosis. Perma-fucked minds forever fucking with other people. Most are dumb fucks who get ahead with trickery and cheating. Then they go to hell. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anti Facts Sir Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 1 hour ago, Macnamara said: its a mindset of being in a kind of perpetual war against everyone else where you are trying to constantly outwit and get one over on everyone else. How can a person like that find love....if they can't trust? Yeah, fuck all that for a game of soldiers! But I saw signs of this even back at school when I was 8 or 9. No doubt many of those kids turned into lovely sociopaths. I instinctively felt repelled by it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LastOneLeftInTheCounty Posted June 2 Author Share Posted June 2 11 hours ago, Anti Facts Sir said: No doubt many of those kids turned into lovely sociopaths Highly successful, rich popular sociopaths. But inside they hold dark secrets, with souls black as the night sky. F**k those psychos! Think how heavy their hearts will be when they die, they’ll be so retarded they’ll spend eternity wandering around here thinking they’re still alive 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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