Law 1-7: Watch your words and actions
Law 1: Do not overshadow your master
Let your master know they know more. Trying to outshine them can make them insecure. But acknowledging their brilliance will give you power. Flatter them discreetly to gain control. When your master is secure in their higher position, you’ll never fall victim to their insecurity.
Law 2: Be careful to trust friends and use your enemies
An old Chinese saying warns us that friends are like the teeth of a dangerous animal — if you’re careless, they might chew you up.
While it’s tempting to work alongside a friend, they might not be completely honest with you for the sake of your relationship. On the other hand, keeping your enemy close makes you alert and mindful because conflict pushes progress.
“Lord, protect me from my friends; I can take care of my enemies.”
Robert Greene
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Law 3: Never reveal your intentions
Most believe honesty to be the best strategy, but in fact, sincerity might offend people and make you predictable.
Try not to make the mistake of being silent in an attempt to conceal your desires; it makes you look secretive. Instead, paint a detailed picture of your wishes, but false ones.
Law 4: In conversation, less is more
⚡️Rambling on makes you seem insecure and ups your chances of saying something foolish. Saying less appears more mysterious and powerful.
What you say is incredibly important, so you must learn to control your words. You cannot take them back.
Law 5: Protect your reputation
Your reputation doubles your power. Once you establish and spread it, people will know to respect you before they meet you. But be careful not to slip. Even one mistake will make your reputation very difficult to build back up.
Law 6: Stand out to get their attention
People believe they have power over those they deem mediocre. So, you need to create an appearance bound to attract attention, whether it’s your clothing style or personality traits, and renew it to avoid predictability.
Law 7: Make others do the legwork for you
Don’t burden yourself with tedious tasks. Instead, try forwarding them to your assistants. Assigning tasks will free up your valuable time and make you look efficient. Many politicians delegate things like speech writing for this exact reason.