New York Times bestselling author Robert Greene’s The 48 Laws of Power has sold over a million copies in the United States. The book looks at powerful people throughout history and shows the “laws” that have proven to be true when it comes to attaining and maintaining power over 

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New York Times bestselling author Robert Greene’s The 48 Laws of Power has sold over a million copies in the United States. The book looks at powerful people throughout history and shows the “laws” that have proven to be true when it comes to attaining and maintaining power over

Law 1 - Never outshine the master. Making your superiors appear better is the best way to improve your own standing. Making those over you feel insecure for any reason may get you cut off or as history as shown, perhaps even killed.

Law 1 - Never outshine the master. Making your superiors appear better is the best way to improve your own standing. Making those over you feel insecure for any reason may get you cut off or as history as shown, perhaps even killed.

Law 2 - Use your Enemies. Friends can be less trustworthy than enemies. Enemies have something to prove, whereas friends may be less honest to keep the peace and expect special treatment.

Law 2 - Use your Enemies. Friends can be less trustworthy than enemies. Enemies have something to prove, whereas friends may be less honest to keep the peace and expect special treatment.

Law 3 - Conceal your intentions. Keeping your purposes concealed will make thwarting your efforts much more complicated.

Law 3 - Conceal your intentions. Keeping your purposes concealed will make thwarting your efforts much more complicated.

Law 4 - Say Less than necessary. The more words you use the more likely they are to be foolish. Even banal statements can sound wise by using fewer words and keeping things open ended.

Law 4 - Say Less than necessary. The more words you use the more likely they are to be foolish. Even banal statements can sound wise by using fewer words and keeping things open ended.

Law 5 - Guard your reputation with your life. Your reputation is the cornerstone of your power. Everything depends on it. It can both serve as offense and defense against others. Any slip will make you vulnerable and open to attack.

Law 5 - Guard your reputation with your life. Your reputation is the cornerstone of your power. Everything depends on it. It can both serve as offense and defense against others. Any slip will make you vulnerable and open to attack.

Law 6 - Get attention at all costs. Make yourself appear to be more than the average person in every way --- bigger, more colorful, confident, mysterious. By welcoming attention you are positioning yourself for power.

Law 6 - Get attention at all costs. Make yourself appear to be more than the average person in every way --- bigger, more colorful, confident, mysterious. By welcoming attention you are positioning yourself for power. 

Law 7 - Delegate but take credit. Never do yourself what others can do for you. Build your reputation by accomplishing more than what is achievable by a single person by mobilizing everyone around you towards efforts you champion.

Law 7 - Delegate but take credit. Never do yourself what others can do for you. Build your reputation by accomplishing more than what is achievable by a single person by mobilizing everyone around you towards efforts you champion.

Law 8 - Make them come to you. Rather than being the first to attack, make your enemies come to you, even baiting them if necessary.

Law 8 - Make them come to you. Rather than being the first to attack, make your enemies come to you, even baiting them if necessary. 

Law 9 - Win through actions not argument. It’s pointless to explain and argue with others because it stirs up resentment that will outlast any point you have proven. Instead, demonstrate your point and allow people to come to your conclusion for themselves.

Law 9 - Win through actions not argument. It’s pointless to explain and argue with others because it stirs up resentment that will outlast any point you have proven. Instead, demonstrate your point and allow people to come to your conclusion for themselves.

Laws 1-9

Law 10 - Avoid the unhappy and unlucky. Destructive emotional states are contagious and can be as fatal as disease. Avoid those constantly mired in misery, otherwise their misfortune and distaste will eventually become your own.

Law 10 - Avoid the unhappy and unlucky. Destructive emotional states are contagious and can be as fatal as disease. Avoid those constantly mired in misery, otherwise their misfortune and distaste will eventually become your own.


Law 11 - Keep people dependent on you. Others' need for you gives you independence. The more you are required for the happiness, success and well-being of others, the more indispensable you become.

Law 11 - Keep people dependent on you. Others' need for you gives you independence. The more you are required for the happiness, success and well-being of others, the more indispensable you become.


Law 13 - Use selective honesty and generosity. One honest act of sincerity will cover dozens of dishonest ones. It disarms suspicions and distracts from true intentions.

Law 13 - Use selective honesty and generosity. One honest act of sincerity will cover dozens of dishonest ones. It disarms suspicions and distracts from true intentions. 


Law 14 - Pose as a friend, work as a spy. You can gain advantage over competitors by artfully infiltrating their ranks as a friend. Secretly learn valuable information to keep you a step ahead.

Law 14 - Pose as a friend, work as a spy. You can gain advantage over competitors by artfully infiltrating their ranks as a friend. Secretly learn valuable information to keep you a step ahead.


Law 15 - Crush your enemy totally. Leaders since Moses have understood that even a slight ember left lit, no matter how dim, will smolder and burn. For that reason opponents must be rendered completely nonexistent.

Law 15 - Crush your enemy totally. Leaders since Moses have understood that even a slight ember left lit, no matter how dim, will smolder and burn. For that reason opponents must be rendered completely nonexistent.


Law 16 - Use absence to increase respect and honor. Create value for yourself through scarcity. Know when to leave. Anything too easily accessible or around too long inundates everyone and causes disdain.

Law 16 - Use absence to increase respect and honor. Create value for yourself through scarcity. Know when to leave. Anything too easily accessible or around too long inundates everyone and causes disdain.


Law 17 - Keep others in suspense. Predictability gives a sense of familiarity to the point that it gives others the illusion of control over you. Keep an air of enigma and surprise. Nothing is more intimidating than sudden and inexplicable moves.

Law 17 - Keep others in suspense. Predictability gives a sense of familiarity to the point that it gives others the illusion of control over you. Keep an air of enigma and surprise. Nothing is more intimidating than sudden and inexplicable moves.


Law 18 - Avoid isolation. Though it’s tempting to build an emotional fortress to protect yourself, isolation is dangerous. Kings, popes and other leaders recognized that isolation should only be a last resort. You lose access to people and information, and you’re easier to target.

Law 18 - Avoid isolation. Though it’s tempting to build an emotional fortress to protect yourself, isolation is dangerous. Kings, popes and other leaders recognized that isolation should only be a last resort. You lose access to people and information, an

Law 19 - Know who you’re dealing with. Study your opponent well. Avoid crossing someone that will exert much time, energy and resources at retaliating against you. Recognize these types and avoid them at all cost.

Law 19 - Know who you’re dealing with. Study your opponent well. Avoid crossing someone that will exert much time, energy and resources at retaliating against you. Recognize these types and avoid them at all cost.


Law 20 - Do not commit to anyone. Only take your own side, your own cause and advocate only for yourself. Maintain your independence by refusing to commit to any person, group or cause. Be ungraspable rather than succumbing to groupthink.

Law 20 - Do not commit to anyone. Only take your own side, your own cause and advocate only for yourself. Maintain your independence by refusing to commit to any person, group or cause. Be ungraspable rather than succumbing to groupthink.


Laws 10-20

Law 21 - Play a sucker to catch one. The appearance of naivete can be an effective means of avoiding accusations of being after power. This technique is particularly effective when you’re able to get your mark to believe they’re smarter than you, which builds trust.

Law 21 - Play a sucker to catch one. The appearance of naivete can be an effective means of avoiding accusations of being after power. This technique is particularly effective when you’re able to get your mark to believe they’re smarter than you, which bu

Law 22 - The surrender tactic turns weakness into power. Surrender in the face of a stronger opponent is always preferable to martyrdom. It can also distract and conceal great power by allowing you time to rebuild and restrategize. Surrender is also better than giving the victory of defeat.

Law 22 - The surrender tactic turns weakness into power. Surrender in the face of a stronger opponent is always preferable to martyrdom. It can also distract and conceal great power by allowing you time to rebuild and restrategize. Surrender is also bette

Law 23 - Concentrate your forces. Always choose intensity over extensity. Power is best attained deeply and strategically in one specific area rather than broadly over many areas but with shallow roots.

Law 23 - Concentrate your forces. Always choose intensity over extensity. Power is best attained deeply and strategically in one specific area rather than broadly over many areas but with shallow roots.


Law 24 - Play the perfect courtier. Old aristocratic court modeled how to subtly rise the ranks of power while outwardly appearing elegant and refined. Make indirect moves rather than overt ones in order to seduce, charm and deceive your way into being several steps ahead.

Law 24 - Play the perfect courtier. Old aristocratic court modeled how to subtly rise the ranks of power while outwardly appearing elegant and refined. Make indirect moves rather than overt ones in order to seduce, charm and deceive your way into being se

Law 25 - Re-Create Yourself. Do not accept roles given to you. Craft your own public identity, attach your name to a reputation of quality and image that is larger than life.

Law 25 - Re-Create Yourself. Do not accept roles given to you. Craft your own public identity, attach your name to a reputation of quality and image that is larger than life.


Law 26 - Keep your hands clean. Maintain your reputation as an upstanding citizen who is civil and efficient. Get others to do the dirty work so you can remain spotless. Conceal your mistakes and involvements in anything less than reputable.

Law 26 - Keep your hands clean. Maintain your reputation as an upstanding citizen who is civil and efficient. Get others to do the dirty work so you can remain spotless. Conceal your mistakes and involvements in anything less than reputable.


Law 27 -  Create a cult-like following. A large following is a huge asset as they will defend and adore you and believe you are incapable of doing wrong. Humans desperately need to believe in something. Capitalize on this with a cause and vague promises and you’ll have untold power.

Law 27 -  Create a cult-like following. A large following is a huge asset as they will defend and adore you and believe you are incapable of doing wrong. Humans desperately need to believe in something. Capitalize on this with a cause and vague promises a

Law 28 - Enter action with boldness. Timidity never wins. Use boldness as your tactic behind any action you take. It will cover any mistakes and gain admiration. If you are hesitant or uncertain about any action it is better not to do it. Instead act boldly and with confidence behind every decision you make.

Law 28 - Enter action with boldness. Timidity never wins. Use boldness as your tactic behind any action you take. It will cover any mistakes and gain admiration. If you are hesitant or uncertain about any action it is better not to do it. Instead act bold

Law 29 - Plan all the way to the end. Keep yourself ahead of the game by thinking through every plan to its ultimate end. Think of as many possible scenarios, twists and turns as possible so that you’re not caught off guard and can better determine your own fate.

Law 29 - Plan all the way to the end. Keep yourself ahead of the game by thinking through every plan to its ultimate end. Think of as many possible scenarios, twists and turns as possible so that you’re not caught off guard and can better determine your o

Law 30 - Make your accomplishments seem effortless. No matter how hard you work or how much you accomplish, make it appear natural, effortless and graceful. Seeing the toil of another can be ostentatious. Instead allow others to respect you more for the ease at which you achieve.

Law 30 - Make your accomplishments seem effortless. No matter how hard you work or how much you accomplish, make it appear natural, effortless and graceful. Seeing the toil of another can be ostentatious. Instead allow others to respect you more for the e

Laws 21-30

Law 31 - Control the options. Give others the illusion of control, while in actuality limiting their choices to that which best serves your purposes. Allow them to only play with cards with you have dealt.

Law 31 - Control the options. Give others the illusion of control, while in actuality limiting their choices to that which best serves your purposes. Allow them to only play with cards with you have dealt.


Law 32 - Play to people’s fantasies. Be a source of pleasure to those around you by playing into the fantasies all people have but few can ever truly attain. People naturally want to believe fantasies of the masses, so any semblance of truth around them makes them irresistible.

Law 32 - Play to people’s fantasies. Be a source of pleasure to those around you by playing into the fantasies all people have but few can ever truly attain. People naturally want to believe fantasies of the masses, so any semblance of truth around them m

Law 33 - Discover each man’s thumbscrew. Carefully guarded secrets, weaknesses, insecurities, even fantasies - any of these can be the thumbscrew you need which you can leverage to your advantage. Find them and use them to assert power.

Law 33 - Discover each man’s thumbscrew. Carefully guarded secrets, weaknesses, insecurities, even fantasies - any of these can be the thumbscrew you need which you can leverage to your advantage. Find them and use them to assert power.


LAW 34 - Be royal in your own fashion. Carry yourself like a king, separate from the “commoners”. Being vulgar or too much like those around you will eventually lead others to disrespect you. Royal demeanor will keep you seemingly head and shoulders above the rest.

LAW 34 - Be royal in your own fashion. Carry yourself like a king, separate from the “commoners”. Being vulgar or too much like those around you will eventually lead others to disrespect you. Royal demeanor will keep you seemingly head and shoulders above

Law 35 - Master the art of timing. Convey patience and self control by never seeming to be in a hurry. Hurry indicates lack of control. Truly powerful people never seem rushed or overburdened. Do your best to seem at leisure and you will make your opponents hurry.

Law 35 - Master the art of timing. Convey patience and self control by never seeming to be in a hurry. Hurry indicates lack of control. Truly powerful people never seem rushed or overburdened. Do your best to seem at leisure and you will make your opponen

Law 36 - Disdain things you cannot have. Ignore everything that is beyond your grasp. Complaining about that which you cannot have is the worst thing you can do. It draws attention to your disappointment and gives something power over you. It is better to feign disinterest.

Law 36 - Disdain things you cannot have. Ignore everything that is beyond your grasp. Complaining about that which you cannot have is the worst thing you can do. It draws attention to your disappointment and gives something power over you. It is better to

Law 37 - Create compelling spectacles. Public spectacle and entertainment are excellent devices that can be used to conceal your true intentions. Luxury and visually stunning displays keep people distracted and amazed, thereby keeping you in a position of power.

Law 37 - Create compelling spectacles. Public spectacle and entertainment are excellent devices that can be used to conceal your true intentions. Luxury and visually stunning displays keep people distracted and amazed, thereby keeping you in a position of

Law 38 - Think as you like but behave like others. Seeming to always have audacious ideas or being entirely counter-cultural can make people feel inferior and put off. It is better to blend in as best as you can, only using your uniqueness as a tool for those guaranteed to be swayed by it.

Law 38 - Think as you like but behave like others. Seeming to always have audacious ideas or being entirely counter-cultural can make people feel inferior and put off. It is better to blend in as best as you can, only using your uniqueness as a tool for t

Law 39 - Stir up waters to catch fish. Strong emotions like anger and bitterness will only hold you back. Use this to your advantage by stirring these up in others, while you manage to stay calm, cool and collected.

Law 39 - Stir up waters to catch fish. Strong emotions like anger and bitterness will only hold you back. Use this to your advantage by stirring these up in others, while you manage to stay calm, cool and collected.


Law 40 - Despise the free lunch. There is no such thing as a “free lunch”. Anything worth having is worth paying for. Do not stumble into arrangements based on assumptions or guilt. Generosity is attractive to others and a symbol of power.

Law 40 - Despise the free lunch. There is no such thing as a “free lunch”. Anything worth having is worth paying for. Do not stumble into arrangements based on assumptions or guilt. Generosity is attractive to others and a symbol of power.


Laws 31-40

Law 41 - Avoid stepping into a great man’s shoes. Whoever is first will always seem to be the greatest. Do your best to craft your own identity, otherwise you will have to double the accomplishments of your predecessor. Chart your own unique course for total power and credit.

Law 41 - Avoid stepping into a great man’s shoes. Whoever is first will always seem to be the greatest. Do your best to craft your own identity, otherwise you will have to double the accomplishments of your predecessor. Chart your own unique course for to

Law 42 - Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter. Search for those who are high in power and isolated. When you separate them from their followers they lose all power, credibility and standing. Isolate or banish them and their flock will scatter.

Law 42 - Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter. Search for those who are high in power and isolated. When you separate them from their followers they lose all power, credibility and standing. Isolate or banish them and their flock will scatter.


Law 43 - Work on the hearts and minds of others. If you ignore people’s two primary motives in life - love and fear - eventually they will ignore and/or resent you. Instead, seduce them into moving towards you by working with their emotions. This way they become your willing pawns.

Law 43 - Work on the hearts and minds of others. If you ignore people’s two primary motives in life - love and fear - eventually they will ignore and/or resent you. Instead, seduce them into moving towards you by working with their emotions. This way they

Law 44 - Disarm and infuriate with the mirror effect. Mirror your opposition and it will make it nearly impossible for them to understand your motives. Do exactly as they do and they will feel unsettled, infuriated and undermined. By appearing to hold shared values you throw them off.

Law 44 - Disarm and infuriate with the mirror effect. Mirror your opposition and it will make it nearly impossible for them to understand your motives. Do exactly as they do and they will feel unsettled, infuriated and undermined. By appearing to hold sha

Law 45 - Preach change but reform little. People are creatures of habit by nature. No matter how much they understand the need for change they are still resistant to it. Too many changes at once can cause a revolt. Show respect to familiar ways and change them slowly and one at a time.

 Law 45 - Preach change but reform little. People are creatures of habit by nature. No matter how much they understand the need for change they are still resistant to it. Too many changes at once can cause a revolt. Show respect to familiar ways and chang

Law 46 - Never appear too perfect. Appearing better than others will create envy. Envy creates silent enemies. To avoid this occasionally display defects. Pick a harmless, minor vice and leverage this to gain empathy and distract your opponents away from your bigger issues.

Law 46 - Never appear too perfect. Appearing better than others will create envy. Envy creates silent enemies. To avoid this occasionally display defects. Pick a harmless, minor vice and leverage this to gain empathy and distract your opponents away from 

Law 47 - In victory, learn when to stop. Do not fall prey to arrogance or overconfidence. After achieving a goal, stop before you go too far and create enemies instead of admirers. Celebrate wins and don’t let the moment of victory push past the original plan.

Law 47 - In victory, learn when to stop. Do not fall prey to arrogance or overconfidence. After achieving a goal, stop before you go too far and create enemies instead of admirers. Celebrate wins and don’t let the moment of victory push past the original 

Law 48 - Assume formlessness. Stay flexible without a visible plan so that anyone opposing you cannot grasp your plans and ruin them. The best defense is staying fluid and adapting whenever needed.

Law 48 - Assume formlessness. Stay flexible without a visible plan so that anyone opposing you cannot grasp your plans and ruin them. The best defense is staying fluid and adapting whenever needed.


Greene pulls no punches with these laws. They are brutally honest, they make no attempt at feigning morality, class or integrity. These are not leadership best practices. Rather they are emergent trends on how the most powerful people on the planet have historically gained power.

Greene pulls no punches with these laws. They are brutally honest, they make no attempt at feigning morality, class or integrity. These are not leadership best practices. Rather they are emergent trends on how the most powerful people on the planet have h

Rasputin, Genghis Kahn, Ulysses S. Grant, King Henry VIII, Emperor Sung,  Alexander the Great, Ivan the Terrible - across the globe and over the course of thousands of years these laws have proven themselves over and over. They may not win you friends, but they have shown to win power.

Rasputin, Genghis Kahn, Ulysses S. Grant, King Henry VIII, Emperor Sung,  Alexander the Great, Ivan the Terrible - across the globe and over the course of thousands of years these laws have proven themselves over and over. They may not win you friends, bu

Laws 41-48

The 48 Laws of Power

Laws of Power

Throughout history, what power dynamics have proven to be successful?

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