3000 years of history, diplomacy and military tactics make up Robert Greene’s The 48 Laws of Power. Described as cunning, ruthless and genius, The 48 Laws of Power contains many strategies which can be employed in day-to-day life to swing the advantage to your side.

Learn how to influence people and gain more control over every area of your life.

48 Laws of Power: Strategies for Gaining Ultimate Power

1. Never Outshine The Master

Avoid victory over superiors – it will cost you more than it is worth.

2. Never Put Too Much Trust In Friends

People are selfish and pursue their own interests. There are sturdier ships than friendship. Former opponents make more loyal and stronger friends.

3. Conceal Your Intentions

Never reveal everything you know, you are giving away your power.

4. Always Say Less Than Necessary

Only speak when you have something meaningful to say. When you speak, people will know they must listen.

5. So Much Depends On Your Reputation: Guard It With Your Life

Your reputation precedes you.. Protect and build your reputation carefully, it can sway people even before you meet them.

6. Court Attention At All Cost

It is better to remembered than forgotten. “All publicity is good publicity.” – Pierre Choderlos de Laclos

7. Get Others To Do The Work For You | 48 Laws of Power

The greatest business minds all have one thing in common: They didn’t do everything themselves.. Enlist the best people in each area of business, if you’re just starting out learn from the best people in each area before you are ready to lead from the front.

8. Make People Come To You

Be proactive not reactive. Force your opponent to react to your moves and you will always be on the front foot.

9. Win Through Actions Not Words

Let success make the noise. Don’t argue with superiors, agree and then demonstrate.

10. Infection: Avoid The Unhappy & Unlucky

Cut out the fire-starters, try to help them instead, and you will burn along side them. Surround yourself with those that are where you want to be or have a clear conviction to get there otherwise you will damage your own progression.

11. Learn To Keep People Dependant On You

Become the master of a task no-one wants to do, or understands & you will never be replaced.

12. Use Selective Honesty To Disarm Your Victim

Be honest when people expect you to be dishonest and they will trust you for life.

13. When Asking For Help Appeal To People’s Self Interest

When negotiating don’t mention debts or reasons why something is owed to you, instead draw attention to the mutual benefits that may be procured, they will be much more likely to accept your proposal.

14. Pose As A Friend – Work As A Spy

Test people’s honesty, before you consider trusting them. People will reveal much more to a friend, than an adversary. You can then use the information gathered to your advantage.

15. Crush Your Enemy Totally

Don’t just beat your enemy, finish them off or they will return stronger.

16. Absence Increases Respect And Honor

When we lose something, we discover how valuable it is. Speak and appear less frequently and only appear when something important is at hand, you will received with much more respect.

17. Cultivate An Air Of Unpredictability

When you don’t know what to expect it is much harder to prepare. Keep people guessing and never reveal all of your moves, the fear of the unknown will drive people to keep you on side.

18. Isolation Is Dangerous | 48 Laws of Power

Introverted or not, isolation will see you develop tunnel vision within your own thoughts, we all need other’s opinions, even if we think they are wrong. Other view points will help strengthen our own vision.

Remember: If someone is trying to coerce you to remove friends and family from your life they are trying to gain more control over you.

19. Do Not Offend The Wrong Person

You never know who you are dealing with.. Unnecessarily offending people is not a wise move, you create additional problems by speaking.. When it’s more to your benefit to say nothing.

20. Do Not Commit To Anyone

Committing yourself to someone means more obligations and less control. Keep your options open.

21. Play A Sucker To Catch A Sucker

Sometimes you may have to play a fool, to fool a fool. Playing dumb can be of great benefit in the right situation.

22. Surrender Tactic: Transform Weakness Into Power | 48 Laws of Power

Don’t be stubborn. You should always concede a battle, to stay in the war. Don’t sacrifice everything for pride, live to fight another day so you can achieve ultimate victory.

23. Concentrate Your Forces

Focus on your most important task until it is mastered.

24. Play The Perfect Courtier

Whether you like it or not you are part of the game so you must learn to be good at it. Never reveal all of your cards but be ready with moves other are not expecting. Be nice to everyone you may need them one day.

25. Recreate Yourself

“Other people’s opinion of you does not have to become your reality.” – Les Brown

26. Keep Your Hands Clean

Retain your integrity, always have an answer for taking a certain course of action.

27. Create A Cult: Prey On People’s Need To Believe

Think for yourself. Never invest yourself fully into any belief or you give it the power to destroy you.

28. Enter Action With Boldness | 48 Laws of Power

Self-Belief is powerful, if others see your resolve towards an outcome, even if you know less than a competitor, they will take your side. Be fearless.

29. Plan All The Way To The End

Before you take action, envisage the big picture. Plan for the future not for the moment.

30. Make Your Accomplishments Seem Effortless

Boast how much work went into something and it’s natural allure will diminish. Let people believe you are capable of effortless genius.

31. Get Others To Play With The Cards That You Deal

People like to think they have a choice. Present them with two options, both of which benefit you.

32. Play To People’s Fantasies

If it sounds too good to be true it probably is.

33. Discover Each Man’s Thumbscrew

Know the weakness’ of others and you can control them. Never reveal your weakness or you risk being controlled.

34. Act Like A King

You’re a King in your own right. Act like it. When people are seeking a King, you will be ready and looked upon favourably.

35. Master The Art Of Timing

Any action performed at the perfect moment is much more effective. Master the art of timing to increase your effectiveness.

36. Disdain Things You Cannot Have

When you ignore someone they cannot influence you.

37. Create Compelling Spectacles

When you do something, do it big. People’s natural curiosity is easily invoked.

38. Think As You Like, But Behave Like Others

Try to fit in, especially if you have different views from others, it’s always easier to make moves from within rather than from outside.

39. Stir Up Waters To Catch Fish | 48 Laws of Power

Mice desire cheese so much, the don’t even notice the metal contraption attached to it. Tempt people with what they want and you can control their movements.

40. Despise The Free Lunch

It pays to be generous. If you could have a coffee with a genius, but the coffee costs $50, even though it’s 10x more expensive, the investment is well worth it.

41. Avoid Stepping Into A Great Mans Shoes

Don’t make it your life mission to be better than someone else. Go your own way & create a new legacy.

42. Strike The Shepard & The Sheep Will Scatter

Every organisation has structurally weak points. You can topple an empire by silencing a few select people.

43. Work On The Hearts & Minds Of Others

Be humble, or be humbled. If you see yourself above others, you have further to fall..

44. Disarm And Infuriate With The Mirror Effect

Match people’s energy, ideas and persuasions and they will let their guard down. If they can see themselves in you they will accept you as one of their own.

45. Preach Change But Never Reform Quickly

People idealise change, but don’t actually want to change. Preach of better outcomes but make changes gradually to keep people interested.

46. Never Appear Too Perfect

If you appear too perfect, people will fear you and begin planning your demise. Stay close to power but try not to become the face of it.

47. In Victory Learn When To Stop

Know when to take a loss and move on, you will last longer in the long run.

48. Assume Formlessness

Always be ready to adapt and improvise. “You must be shapeless, formless, like water, when you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. When you pour water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can drip and it can crash. Be water my friend.” – Bruce Lee