Laws 41-48: Destroy your enemy and reach greatness
Law 41: Do not mirror a great person; become one
⚡️While learning about another person’s experience is worthwhile, never try to copy them. The original is cherished more than its copy.
Craft your own identity by innovating. Otherwise, you’ll get lost in the past.
Law 42: Fight the cause, not the symptoms
You can often trace the problem’s source — the leader who stirs things up. By neutralizing it, you’ll root out the trouble.
Avoid wasting time on the pawns; isolate the king and destroy him.
Law 43: Win over hearts and minds
Wanting to be seen is in human nature. People hate those who ignore them, and you can win them over by softening them up emotionally with symbolic gestures. Then, it will be easier to persuade them, especially when you are aware of their intellectual weak spots.
Law 44: Defuse your enemy with the Mirror Effect
Make your enemy believe you share views. You will gain their trust and disguise your true intentions. Mirroring your enemy gives you immense power to unsettle them with no suspicion.
Law 45: Advocate for change but make subtle improvements
People stick to their habits even when the need for change is blatant. Radical reform might create outrage. When in place of power, show respect for the old ways and implement change in small increments.
Law 46: Be great, not perfect
Appearing to have no flaws causes distrust and envy, which can lead to dire consequences. You must admit to having imperfections to remain approachable.
“Only gods and the dead can seem perfect with impunity.”
Robert Greene
Law 47: Stop when you reach your goal
The moment of victory can be intoxicating, thus making you arrogant. No matter how tempted you are, you must learn to stop, or you might lose it all. Victory is a time to reflect, ground yourself, and examine the laws of power again.
Law 48: Stay flexible
The best way to protect yourself from enemies is to avoid taking a distinct shape. Adapt to circumstance, and your enemy won’t be able to know your next move or attack you.
Stability is a mirage, so you must rely on adapting to reality quickly.