Laws 18-24: Mask your intentions and obtain valuable intel
Law 18: Isolation won’t protect you
You might think that isolating yourself from everyone is the best protection. But this puts a bigger target on you. You must stay connected to access information and find allies.
Law 19: Choose your social circle carefully
Picking who you work with is crucial and must be a calculated decision. Some people may pretend to be someone else, and your instincts may miss that.
Law 20: Commit to yourself only
Stay away from committing yourself to someone or something, and you’ll gain an aura of respectability. It’s not about your inability to commit but your selectiveness that will lure people.
Law 21: Look dumber, be smarter
No one likes to think their opponent is more intelligent. Acting dumber will put them at ease and hide your true strength.
Your intentions will remain secret.
Law 22: Turning the other cheek is more powerful than defeat
In the face of aggression, our instinct is to fight back, but in the realm of power, giving in yields better results. However, it would be best if you still stayed strong inside.
⚡️When your enemy thinks they won, you can act and come out on top. It is the essence of the surrender tactic.
Law 23: Focus your energy where it matters
In the modern world, a million things pull our attention simultaneously. But you must collect your strength and direct it toward a specific goal. Know your purpose and concentrate your efforts to find success.
Law 24: Be an exemplary courtier
While the royal court that existed to please the king is a historical concept, the same rituals exist today because they revolve around power. You need to follow a set of rules to thrive in such an environment:
- Do not flaunt your wealth.
- Make your work look effortless.
- Pay only a few compliments.
- Be noticeable.
- Adapt your language according to the speaker.
- Bring only good news.
- Have control over your emotions.
- Be self-aware.
- Never joke about appearances.
- Do not criticize your master or ask them for too many favors.
Did you know? Italian diplomat and courtier Baldassare Castiglione wrote The Book of Courtier, in which he uses the term sprezzatura — the ability to make the most challenging work look nonchalant.