Part 1 of the 48 laws of power: https://saragawde.com/the-48-laws-of-power-part-1/#google_vignette
Greetings reader, I hope you have been well. This next part of the book incorporates laws 7 to 12 of power as promised.
7. Get others to do the work for you, but always take the credit: The key described here is, quoted, “never do yourself what others can do for you”. Following this law saves you resources and energy, while making you seem exceptionally efficient. This can prove especially effective if you do not have the skills to do the task yourself. There are three ways to do this: Credit yourself more than you will credit them, steal their work, or choose your source as a victim of the past. The first two are self explanatory, while the third directs you in the path that Newton described as “standing on the shoulders of giants”- Shakespeare did it too. Using ideas from the ancient past that have proved extremely successful leads to a consequence of the fact that history repeats itself.
Analysis: The first two methods described let down on morale too much to be considered, personally. Talent cannot be hidden, and crediting yourself or stealing someone’s work entirely will eventually bring on your downfall once the real talent gets its hands on the controls- which could be anywhere in the world. They will serve as competition, and seeing your past with them, ruthless competition. The third method seems a sensible alternative if you plan to apply this law. A milder way to put it is to take inspiration from the past: classics, forgotten classics, etc. This law is one to highly consider if you are lacking talent- but you should know that skill can indeed make up for talent, and in the long term it can even prove to be more useful even if talent still gives a head start. Best part is, skill can be built.
8. Make other people come to you- use bait if necessary: Settings include meetings, negotiations etc. This keeps you in control of the situation because it psychologically unnerves those coming to you to begin with. They know they need you, even if it’s hard to accept- this gives you power over them. Secondly, it might subtly put your enemy on the defensive which can make them overly paranoid if played upon. Thirdly, providing them the chance to be the one that makes the decision of taking up your help can give some the illusion that they are in control- an illusion easy to destroy and hence claim power. These are the three kinds of reactions people will have when they come to you, you must know how to play each one in your advantage. The law works especially well when you attract people because of their greed, making them easy to control. Two ways to practice this law are to push on other people’s anger while never getting angry yourself, and leading fights to yourself instead of chasing them. Stay in control every time by planning your moves beforehand.
Analysis: This law is a sure way to gain power, without upsetting your moral compass. It builds your reputation, and is a stepping stone to becoming the elegant beast all powerful people are.
9. Win through your actions, never through argument: To add to law 8’s advice, the ninth law claims that demonstrations and spectacles change minds and hearts, not argument. Give them a vision, make them believe, and they will follow you as their leader. This method is also more persuasive than arguing because of three reasons. People argue back out of habit (even when they know you’re right), you may offend someone powerful and declare an enemy, people might agree with you only to revert back to their habits later on. It is proven then, changing their minds is more difficult, most of the time, and less effective than changing their hearts. This law also teaches you to not bother with petty arguments. How a spectacle can be conducted will be discussed in law 37.
Analysis: Law 9 is absolutely rudimentary if you plan for power, it is also usually the most overlooked one and hence learnt through failures and experience. It is brilliant of Robert Greene to have mentioned this small thumbscrew that could effectively change every important interaction you have, and turn you into a beacon of the people. More on how to build a loyal community will be mentioned in law 27, but this is indeed a first step in influencing not only the common public but the powerful that sit legions above and at level to you.
10. Avoid the unhappy and unlucky: You become a reflection of those you spend time with, whether you choose to or not is never considered. People soaked in misery take up energy and time because of their unending needs. To identify these culprits, judge them on how they affect the world. In a way, do they wilt newly bloomed flowers in seconds? Prefer to spend your time with happy people, you will soon feel the same; and even better, associate with people that lack the flaws you have- they neutralize your defects comfortably.
Analysis: Avoiding unhappy people is a good idea. It preserves your mental well being, and forces you to value yourself as more than a charity. An important consideration is how important this presently miserable person is to you, if it’s a family member, or a close friend, take into light just how much energy you are willing to spend to take care of them during this time. Hanging out with happy people makes you happy which can help your functioning in many aspects of life, this can help your effectiveness and quality of work. Thirdly, being with people lacking your flaws will help you improve yourself, a thing people are always keeping an eye out for and will hail you up for if you do.
11. Learn to keep people dependent on you: Being indispensable makes you valued above all, this gives you power itself whether that be through fear in those that require you or appreciation. The point is, they need you, this gives you control over them and their work. If you are any less than indispensable, you will be rid at the first chance for someone less threatening. It is indeed a tough reputation to maintain. To be indispensable, learn to create situations where nobody can succeed as well as you for your master- but you, you can find another master any day. This secures your master’s loyalty to you.
Analysis: This is a very useful law if you are someone struggling because of any one particular factor in the work world, whether that be your age, your gender, your experience, your health. By making yourself irreplaceable, you force them to disregard your ‘flaws’. It is a sorry world that this is how we must change our methods, but you must make yourself important to secure a stable position if you are ever going to ever reach true power. This is also a useful law to latch onto a position of power so they can’t get rid of you even if they would like to.
12. Use selective honesty and generosity to disarm your victim: Both these factors serve as distractions for your enemy, allowing you the time and space to plot more vengeful acts. These also build your reputation as someone kind and selfless, and later on- ruthless. A way to practice this law is to make a good first impression- with honesty and a convincing reputation that puts you as a moral person (which you hopefully are). If you can’t make your kindness seem genuine, don’t do it.
Analysis: Take into mind, morale and friendship are two different things. Being kind to someone does not promise your loyalty to them, so technically, you are only practicing a reputation not a commitment. You shouldn’t feel guilty when you rise to power, and this rise includes letting down someone you were kind to in the past. You came up because of their support, an important thing to remember and acknowledge every once in a while to prevent severe hostility.
That concludes laws 7 to 12 of the 48 laws of power. If you have any questions, please put them down in the comments and I will answer to them as soon as possible. Overall, I think these laws can be pinned as quite useful again, but you should remember to only reference them instead of setting them down in steel. After all, they are advice, and your own model thinking and morals should be the priority because that is the only truly reliable thing in a rapidly changing world. These laws make for rudimentary and easily forgotten considerations that can serve as hard lessons, hence better learnt early and practiced soon.
Summary and analyses of the next 6 laws, laws 13 to 18 will be uploaded soon.