Laws of Power

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Mariuslol Norway. Mar 09 2011 09:31. Posts 4742

Looked through them, some I felt are lol, and some I didn't quite get. Here's a few bits about the laws that I felt were interesting.

Law 1
NEVER OUTSHINE THE MASTER

Always make those above you feel comfortably superior. In your desire to please and impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite - insire fear and insecurity. Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power.

Law 2
NEVER PUT TOO MUCH TRUST IN FRIENDS, LEARN TO USE ENEMIES

Be wary of friends - they will betray you more quickly, for they are easily aroused to envy. They also become spoilted 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 enemies.

Law 4
ALWAYS SAY LESS THAN NECESSARY

When we 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 sphinxlike. Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less. The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish.

Law 5
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 it slips, however, you are vulnerable, and will be attacked on all sides.

Law 9
WIN THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS, NEVER THROUGH ARGUMENT

Any momentary triumph you think you have 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.

Law 10
INFECTION: AVOID THE UNHAPPY AND UNLUCKY

You can die from someone else's misery - emotional states are as infectious as diseases. 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.

Law 13
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.

Law 16
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 withdrawl from it will make you more talked about, evne more admired. You must learn when to leave. Create value through scarcity.

Law 20
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.

Law 29
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.

Law 30
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.

Law 35
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 strike fiercly when it has reached fruition.

Law 46
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.

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VanDerMeyde Norway. Mar 09 2011 10:22. Posts 5113

"Law 4
ALWAYS SAY LESS THAN NECESSARY"

This is true for most bw gosu's i ever knew :D

"mm" (u said something they agreed too, like "Nazgul is good pvz"
"k" (u asked them for 1v1)
"-_-" (u told them a bad joke, like "even I can beat your on Dire Straits"

is usually the respond u got from them :D

:D	Last edit: 09/03/2011 10:32

k4ir0s Canada. Mar 09 2011 13:01. Posts 3478

On March 09 2011 08:31 Mariuslol wrote:
Law 10
INFECTION: AVOID THE UNHAPPY AND UNLUCKY

You can die from someone else's misery - emotional states are as infectious as diseases. 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.

This is so true. My father and brother are very pessimistic people, when I lived with them I only found it to be contageous. I really hate being around miserable or pessimistic people, it only brings your mood down :/

I dont know what a dt drop is. Is it a wrestling move? -Oly

k4ir0s Canada. Mar 09 2011 13:16. Posts 3478

On March 09 2011 08:31 Mariuslol wrote:
Law 4
ALWAYS SAY LESS THAN NECESSARY

When we 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 sphinxlike. Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less. The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish.

this one reminds me of Seinfeld, and how george learns to leave on a high note lol

I dont know what a dt drop is. Is it a wrestling move? -Oly

OpticWhite United States. Mar 09 2011 15:15. Posts 5

Really good book. The historical examples are great. My favorite is Law 15: Crush your enemy totally.

Xervean United States. Mar 09 2011 23:04. Posts 682

I have all of Robert Greenes books.. great stuff!

YoMeR United States. Mar 10 2011 00:27. Posts 12438

seems like a lot of these "laws" are common sense.

of course someone that is constantly bitching/whining/miserable will be bad/miserable/counter productive to be around. or the "win through actions not argument" pretty common knowledge that actions speak much louder than words yo.

some of em are kinda interesting like the reputation one. but again it seems pretty self explanatory. someone with a reputation for being a back stabbing, scheming scumbag willhave much less success in life than vs someone who's know to be straight up, legit, and very trust worthy.

eZ Life.

Mariuslol Norway. Mar 10 2011 13:57. Posts 4742

Agree Yomer =]

Xervean United States. Mar 10 2011 17:28. Posts 682

The entire purpose of the book is to teach you how to be a backstabbing scheming scumbag and have everyone else think you are straight up, legit and very trustworthy! LOL

edit: Or rather to teach you how other people who are successful do it so that you don't fall victim to it.

Last edit: 10/03/2011 17:29

Mariuslol Norway. Mar 10 2011 19:27. Posts 4742

Yeah, it was a bit over the top for my taste. Felt I came in the second category you described xD

*fingers crossed*

NeillyJQ United States. Mar 12 2011 22:01. Posts 8947

i think this post is pretty cool :-)

Just remember you need to be god damn sure about their tendencies. -Artanis11 http://www.pocketfives.com/profiles/neillyaa/

Baalim Mexico. Mar 13 2011 00:19. Posts 34262

agreed with Xervean, this is fucking bullshit teaching you to be a backstaving douchebag

Ex-PokerStars Team Pro Online

DvoBoardRider Afghanistan. Mar 13 2011 21:00. Posts 849

On March 12 2011 23:19 Baal wrote:
agreed with Xervean, this is fucking bullshit teaching you to be a backstaving douchebag

i agree too. but i don't think these are meant to use them on your friends/family/average people around you. i mean LOL what kind of loser does this.

this is meant for politicians imo. they need this to get on top/survive. and i don't blame them... backstabbing little shits.

YoMeR United States. Mar 13 2011 23:22. Posts 12438

^ lol man if anyone used these ideas and put em to use around their friends/family/etc then they have it comin to em hardcore. And see how long they'll have their friends/family and the like.

eZ Life.