Analyzing the 48 Laws of "Power"

There was a book that a friend introduced me to that has a lot of wisdom in it.  He said it completely changed his life and opened his eyes to how some people can be; the games people might play on others.

It is called the 48 Laws of Power.

I will share ones here that I actually like and comment on ones I don't really like. :) And somewhat comment on what the Bible would have to say about each of them etc.

Either way you can learn a lot by reading them; about people, about con artists, about how people manipulate other people. Maybe you will see some tactics in here that were used on you at some point. 

As a disclaimer I will say: the whole philosophy in all these "laws of power" is to act like you love people even though you are playing them, which bothers me of course. Why not actually love people and then you won't have to act like you do? Eventually people will see behind the mask, so all of this will only work for a time, until the people you are trying to have power over get smarter and see past your games. 

 

This will not work forever. People can only be played for so long. Like a parent/child relationship or friendship, when the child grows up, they realize they no longer need the parent. These rules are all about treating people like children and fooling them. Well what about when they psychologically grow up and become smarter or as smart as you? Then what? Then the person has to start from square one with a new set of gullible people. 

 

This can be seen if you read Huck Finn by Mark Twain with the con artists who constantly move from town to town trying to fool people and take all their money. People can only be fooled for so long before they grow wiser. 

 

Or look at the movie "Catch Me if You Can." That shows that the mind of a con-artist is never at rest because they know their whole life is a lie. They know that at any moment they might be caught. These laws do not bring power but rather enslavement. Why? Because anyone who tells a lie is then a slave to that lie. Lies build upon lies like a web trapping you inside the lies until you are caught. Most of these laws will not work and are quite unrealistic. They are lies from Satan.

 

But you will still grow wiser if you read them and learn the schemes people try to play on other people. 

The 48 Laws of "Power"

by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers

Law 1

Never Outshine the Master

Always make those above you feel comfortably superior.In your desire to please or impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite – inspire fear and insecurity.Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power.

(I agree with this one. Whenever someone tries to tell their boss at work what to do, they are fired shortly after that, or at least the boss then becomes set against him or her. The Christian way to state this would be to stay humble at work and don't try to tell your boss what to do. Submit to those in authority over you. I like this one.)

Law 2

Never put too Much Trust in Friends, Learn how to use Enemies

Be wary of friends-they will betray you more quickly, for they are easily aroused to envy.They also become spoiled and tyrannical. But hire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a friend, because he has more to prove.In fact, you have more to fear from friends than from enemies.If you have no enemies, find a way to make them.

(Sad but true. It is always our friends who betray us and it is those closest to us that usually are the ones who end up hurting us the most. I don't know about making enemies though; that sounds a bit funny. The Bible says, "So long as it depends on you live at peace with all men," which I think is most wise of course. :)

Law 3

Conceal your Intentions

Keep people off-balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions.If they have no clue what you are up to, they cannot prepare a defense.Guide them far enough down the wrong path, envelope them in enough smoke, and by the time they realize your intentions, it will be too late.

(I suppose this could be good if someone is going for a promotion at work. Of course you would not want to let your co-workers know in case they try to under cut, or go for, what you are trying for.)

Law 4

Always Say Less than Necessary

When you are trying to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear, and the less in control.Even if you are saying something banal, it will seem original if you make it vague, open-ended, and sphinx like.Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less.The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish.

(I loved this one so much and it reminded me of my college classes. The book of proverbs shows this wisdom. "Never use two words when one will do" right? Yes. There is some other quote, "It is better to remain silent and let everyone think you are wise than to open your mouth and remove all doubt." lol so funny. :)

Law 5

So Much Depends on Reputation – Guard it with your Life

Reputation is the cornerstone of power.Through reputation alone you can intimidate and win; once you slip, however, you are vulnerable, and will be attacked on all sides.Make your reputation unassailable.Always be alert to potential attacks and thwart them before they happen.Meanwhile, learn to destroy your enemies by opening holes in their own reputations.Then stand aside and let public opinion hang them.

(I don't like the idea of attacking someone else, but yes, it is important to keep up a good reputation. If someone knows your flaws they have things to pick on you about. Better to let most believe that you do very little that is wrong. We are to be honest to God and maybe two other people, but the rest of the world does not need to know the dirt on us. "Don't air your dirty laundry in public" yes? Yes.)

Law 6

Court Attention at all Cost

Everything is judged by its appearance; what is unseen counts for nothing.Never let yourself get lost in the crowd, then, or buried in oblivion.Stand out.Be conspicuous, at all cost.Make yourself a magnet of attention by appearing larger, more colorful, more mysterious, than the bland and timid masses.

(There was a book based on this topic titled "Dress to Impress." This is why those who are climbing the corporate ladder wear certain clothes and appear a certain way. They want people to think they are larger or better than they really are. To succeed often involves putting up this mask and making yourself look better than you really are. This is why I have never tried to climb a ladder at any job I had, because I don't like this putting on a show or having to be fake. But if you want to succeed in the world, it would seem this is what people have to do.)

Law 7

Get others to do the Work for you, but Always Take the Credit

Use the wisdom, knowledge, and legwork of other people to further your own cause.Not only will such assistance save you valuable time and energy, it will give you a godlike aura of efficiency and speed.In the end your helpers will be forgotten and you will be remembered.Never do yourself what others can do for you.

(haha THAT is a funny one. So be lazy but act like you are doing tons of work. Yes that is a great idea. This, of course, is the opposite of what Jesus said. "Whoever wants to become great must become the servant of all.")

Law 8

Make other People come to you – use Bait if Necessary

When you force the other person to act, you are the one in control.It is always better to make your opponent come to you, abandoning his own plans in the process.Lure him with fabulous gains – then attack.You hold the cards.

(This makes sense and is good. If you are always going to others you will most likely be taken advantage of or walked on like a doormat. It is ideal to have people come to you. Make others pursue you rather than you pursue them. If more women did this in marriage they would have better marriages. Instead often women sulk and try to run after their husbands when these men most need space. This will cause the opposite result of what they want. Rather the women need to play it cool and let their husbands come to them whenever they are ready to.)

Law 9

Win through your Actions, Never through Argument

Any momentary triumph you think gained through argument is really a Pyrrhic victory:The resentment and ill will you stir up is stronger and lasts longer than any momentary change of opinion.It is much more powerful to get others to agree with you through your actions, without saying a word.Demonstrate, do not explicate.

(I am not totally sure what he is talking about here. Except that "people cannot change people." Nagging others will not accomplish a result; it will only make the other person resent you for nagging them. Rather you need them to think this change is the best idea and is in their best interest. Then they might change. People do not change by what we say but by what we do. We cannot control others; we can only control ourselves and how we react to them. If you want someone else to change; change yourself.)

Law 10

Infection: Avoid the Unhappy and Unlucky

You can die from someone else’s misery – emotional states are as infectious as disease.You may feel you are helping the drowning man but you are only precipitating your own disaster.The unfortunate sometimes draw misfortune on themselves; they will also draw it on you.Associate with the happy and fortunate instead.


(This is a sad one, but he has a valid point. Jesus helped the unlucky all the time. That was what his whole ministry was about. However, he had his disciples. Secondly, we are not Jesus. Often times people who are miserable can bring us down.

I had a great analogy shown to me by a youth leader. I stood on a chair and he demonstrated how much easier it was for him to pull me down than for me to pull him up. The point being, certain people will bring us down and we need to try to avoid those people or at least set boundaries with these people. You can't take care of anyone else if you aren't taking care of yourself. So this law would apply to substance abusers or abusive people. We need to protect ourselves first and foremost in order to help others.)

Law 11

Learn to Keep People Dependent on You

To maintain your independence you must always be needed and wanted.The more you are relied on, the more freedom you have.Make people depend on you for their happiness and prosperity and you have nothing to fear.Never teach them enough so that they can do without you.


(This somewhat make sense. This is why at work you want to be cross trained in as many different things as possible, thereby making yourself somewhat indispensable. The more things you know how to do, the harder it will be to replace you.

However we should never want people to be completely dependent on us. This would be to create a leech in an inter-personal relationship. It is good for people to be independent and have their own capabilities. Otherwise it would be more like being friends with a child. So the second part of this does not seem to make sense.)

Law 12

Use Selective Honesty and Generosity to Disarm your Victim

One sincere and honest move will cover over dozens of dishonest ones.Open-hearted gestures of honesty and generosity bring down the guard of even the most suspicious people.Once your selective honesty opens a hole in their armor, you can deceive and manipulate them at will.A timely gift – a Trojan horse – will serve the same purpose.


(I really don't like this one. Obviously according to the Bible we are to always be honest, no matter, and white lies are NOT ok. Besides, if you lie to others then they are most likely lying to you as well.

People reap what they sow. Someone can't go on lying and expect that to improve their life in the long run. They may have short term benefits to lying, but it will catch up with them in the end. Either way, they have to live with themselves knowing that they are a liar.)

Law 13

When Asking for Help, Appeal to People’s Self-Interest,

Never to their Mercy or Gratitude

If you need to turn to an ally for help, do not bother to remind him of your past assistance and good deeds.He will find a way to ignore you.Instead, uncover something in your request, or in your alliance with him, that will benefit him, and emphasize it out of all proportion.He will respond enthusiastically when he sees something to be gained for himself.


(Of course to a completely worldly person this makes the most sense. People are by nature selfish and are only interested in doing things that will benefit themselves.

But when we are regenerated by the Holy Spirit we are capable of doing selfless acts and can expect other Christians to do selfless acts for us. Not because of anything we did for them, but because of what Jesus did for them. Jesus died for us so that we can live for others. :) Amen? Yes.)

Law 14

Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy

Knowing about your rival is critical.Use spies to gather valuable information that will keep you a step ahead.Better still: Play the spy yourself.In polite social encounters, learn to probe.Ask indirect questions to get people to reveal their weaknesses and intentions.There is no occasion that is not an opportunity for artful spying.


(This would make sense in a political campaign, if you were competing against the other person. In such a situation of course people try to get as much dirt on the other person as possible to make themselves look better. But in Christian circles and with friends we of course want to be out for every other person's good, not their destruction.)

Law 15

Crush your Enemy Totally

All great leaders since Moses have known that a feared enemy must be crushed completely.(Sometimes they have learned this the hard way.)If one ember is left alight, no matter how dimly it smolders, a fire will eventually break out.More is lost through stopping halfway than through total annihilation:The enemy will recover, and will seek revenge.Crush him, not only in body but in spirit.


(This is true and makes sense. It always bothers me in Batman movies that he does not kill the villain. I understand he doesn't want to act out of anger but it would be just in those circumstances to do away with the evil person. But he never does and the person always shows up again to try and kill him. In real life we cannot kill our enemies obviously, but it is most wise to get as far away as you can from any evil person you have ever known, or anyone who has tried to hurt you. There is a good quote, "When you finally move away from your problems, don't give them a forwarding address" or something like that. If you don't want to be hurt again, don't open yourself up to be. Forgiving someone is not the same as continuously giving them darts to throw at you. No, you need to remove yourself from their life completely. If anyone is abusive towards you and seems intent to only harm or hurt you, don't talk to them again, unless they seem to have completely changed.)

Law 16

Use Absence to Increase Respect and Honor

Too much circulation makes the price go down:The more you are seen and heard from, the more common you appear.If you are already established in a group, temporary withdrawal from it will make you more talked about, even more admired.You must learn when to leave.Create value through scarcity.

(I like this one and this is very true. No one likes someone who wears out their company. A good guest knows when it's time to leave. A good friend knows how to not be a burden on their friend.

Isn't it always true that it is the prodigal son or friend who gets the most attention? Why? Because they are never heard from. So when they finally do come around everyone gets really excited.

The more we are around people the more they get used to us and start to take us for granted. The saddest case is that someone may start to abuse someone else because they seem to think they can. The person is always there, has no one where else to go, and seems to be completely attached to this other person.

We are to unconditionally love people but not to the extent that we let them hurt us. The less seldom we you around people, the more respect they will show you when you are around, because they value the time more that they get to be with you.

I love a country song a husband sings to his wife, "How can I miss you if you won't go away." lol Sad but true.

We need to give people the chance to miss us. If we are always there, always trying to make contact with them, we become less special, and they begin to care less or even worse, become annoyed.

This is what happens often in dating. The woman sometimes will make herself too available to the guy from the very beginning so he starts to loose interest? Why? Because guys like the chase; they like girls to be hard to get.

The same is true for any relationship. The less you see of someone, the better your interactions are when you do see them because you value that time more. So learn to be more scarce and I do agree you will then be respected and honored more.)

Law 17

Keep Others in Suspended Terror: Cultivate an Air of Unpredictability

Humans are creatures of habit with an insatiable need to see familiarity in other people’s actions.Your predictability gives them a sense of control.Turn the tables: Be deliberately unpredictable.Behavior that seems to have no consistency or purpose will keep them off-balance, and they will wear themselves out trying to explain your moves.Taken to an extreme, this strategy can intimidate and terrorize.


(I don't think it's a good idea to terrorize people obviously. But this tactic I'm sure is used by many dictators and controlling people. They are all over the place. People never know what person they are going to get. This does not endear someone to you however, at all. It instead makes people never want to be around you. If someone makes others not feel safe why would people want to be around that person? So I don't like this one.

However a good way this probably has been used is in the case of war strategy. It used to be that battles were fought just out in the open. But I think we Americans were the first in the Revolutionary War to start hiding in forests and randomly ambushing the British. This was a good example of this tactic used well, being unpredictable. The British then never knew when they were going to be attacked and I'm sure that did intimidate them and terrorize them.)

Law 18

Do Not Build Fortresses to Protect Yourself – Isolation is Dangerous

The world is dangerous and enemies are everywhere – everyone has to protect themselves.A fortress seems the safest. But isolation exposes you to more dangers than it protects you from – it cuts you off from valuable information, it makes you conspicuous and an easy target.Better to circulate among people find allies, mingle.You are shielded from your enemies by the crowd.


(This reminds me of the quote from Gladiator "strength in numbers!" And that is very true. The more people you have on your team, obviously the more successful you will be.

As Christians we have God on our side so that is the greatest asset and team mate anyone could have anyways. "If my God be for me, then who can be against me." Amen? Amen! :)

It is important to make as many friends as possible. However what did Jesus say, "Narrow is the road that leads to life and few find it." Meaning we won't be the most popular when we are trying to follow Jesus. And Proverbs says, "A man of many friends comes to ruin, but there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother."

Also this law seems to contradict an earlier one about being cautious of friends because they might betray you. I agree more with being cautious of people and friends rather than trying to rally as many around you as you can. You never know when one on your team may hurt you the most. But our faith is in God, not man, amen? No matter what happens to us, God will protect us. :)

Law 19

Know Who You’re Dealing with – Do Not Offend the Wrong Person

There are many different kinds of people in the world, and you can never assume that everyone will react to your strategies in the same way.Deceive or outmaneuver some people and they will spend the rest of their lives seeking revenge.They are wolves in lambs’ clothing.Choose your victims and opponents carefully, then – never offend or deceive the wrong person.


(An example of this would be, do not offend someone who may have power over you somehow in the future.

This law also just goes to show though that people reap what they sow. If someone does all these laws and plays games on people, yes, certain people will see through it because they are smarter and thus it will backfire on the one trying to play these games with people.

Some people do not see through things like this, but some do. So if someone is trying to play these games, he or she needs to be careful of who they try to play with, cause some people don't play. lol :) Some people will outsmart them and get back at them, like when the player is played himself. Not all people can be fooled and toyed with. Ideally no one should be, but some are because they do not see through these games. But may God help us all to be "as wise as serpents but as innocent as doves." :)

Law 20

Do Not Commit to Anyone's Side

It is the fool who always rushes to take sides.Do not commit to any side or cause but yourself.By maintaining your independence, you become the master of others – playing people against one another, making them pursue you.


(I don't like the end of this, but the beginning is logical. In other words, don't get in the mess of two people who are pitted against each other. Stay out of it. Don't stick your nose in or it may get cut off so to speak. Just let nature run its course. It will be resolved without you doing anything to try and control the situation. Stay out of anything that does not concern you and you will be much happier. :)

Law 21

Play a Sucker to Catch a Sucker – Seem Dumber than your Mark

No one likes feeling stupider than the next persons.The trick, is to make your victims feel smart – and not just smart, but smarter than you are.Once convinced of this, they will never suspect that you may have ulterior motives.


(This is funny and interesting. I have seen this often in movies that the hero will play dumb in order to be unsuspecting to the villain. If your enemy thinks you are not smart they will not think they need to waste their time with you. But if you show yourself to be wise, you pose a threat and they might come after you. So be careful who you reveal your intelligence to. :)

Law 22

Use the Surrender Tactic: Transform Weakness into Power

When you are weaker, never fight for honor’s sake; choose surrender instead.Surrender gives you time to recover, time to torment and irritate your conqueror, time to wait for his power to wane.Do not give him the satisfaction of fighting and defeating you – surrender first.By turning the other check you infuriate and unsettle him.Make surrender a tool of power.

(haha, nice. Don't give the other person the satisfaction of winning. I can understand that. I cannot think of any examples of this though.)

Law 23

Concentrate Your Forces

Conserve your forces and energies by keeping them concentrated at their strongest point.You gain more by finding a rich mine and mining it deeper, than by flitting from one shallow mine to another – intensity defeats extensity every time.When looking for sources of power to elevate you, find the one key patron, the fat cow who will give you milk for a long time to come.


(I have done the opposite of this in my whole life. I tried to get involved in choir and sports and debate teams and getting good grades, but when it came down to it I was only half good at all of them.

It is better to focus on one thing and be amazing at that one thing. Master something. Find something that you love and master it.

The only consistency in my life has been working with kids. I have worked with kids since I was 14, so for 14 years, and I do think as a result I am very good with kids, which will help in raising my own kids. Praise God. :)

Law 24

Play the Perfect Courtier

The perfect courtier thrives in a world where everything revolves around power and political dexterity.He has mastered the art of indirection; he flatters, yields to superiors, and asserts power over others in the most oblique and graceful manner.Learn and apply the laws of courtier ship and there will be no limit to how far you can rise in the court.


(Of course everyone likes to be flattered. Everyone likes someone who will make them feel good. Therefore, if you can master this you will be able to get most people to do what you want them to.

Until they find out you are just playing them; by acting loving even though you don't love them, then the game is over.

However, if you genuinely care about people you will probably win many friends, generally. Although some people will be mean to you no matter how nice you are to them.)

Law 25

Re-Create Yourself

Do not accept the roles that society foists on you.Re-create yourself by forging a new identity, one that commands attention and never bores the audience.Be the master of your own image rather than letting others define it for you.Incorporate dramatic devices into your public gestures and actions – your power will be enhanced and your character will seem larger than life.


(haha, this one is funny. But I do like the idea of being the master of your own image and not letting others define you. Many people may want to discourage you or tell you what to do, but don't let them run your life or control you. You are ultimately the one in control of your life. Don't give the steering wheel to someone else, except God.)

Law 26

Keep Your Hands Clean

You must seem a paragon of civility and efficiency: Your hands are never soiled by mistakes and nasty deeds.Maintain such a spotless appearance by using others as scapegoats and cat’s-paws to disguise your involvement.

(
Interesting. Or just don't do the things you would need a scapegoat for. That's what Jesus would say. :) God and sin no more.)

Law 27

Play on People’s Need to Believe to Create a Cultlike Following

People have an overwhelming desire to believe in something.Become the focal point of such desire by offering them a cause, a new faith to follow.Keep your words vague but full of promise; emphasize enthusiasm over rationality and clear thinking.Give your new disciples rituals to perform, ask them to make sacrifices on your behalf.In the absence of organized religion and grand causes, your new belief system will bring you untold power.


(Wow....this one is scary. I hope no one actually does this because that would be an abomination to God obviously. This law is basically saying, "become like God or try to be a god. Make people worship you." Obviously I don't like this one at all.)

Law 28

Enter Action with Boldness

If you are unsure of a course of action, do not attempt it.Your doubts and hesitations will infect your execution.Timidity is dangerous:Better to enter with boldness.Any mistakes you commit through audacity are easily corrected with more audacity.Everyone admires the bold; no one honors the timid.


(lol that is true. This one is good. Be assertive. Know what you want. The Bible would say we are not to be timid or afraid. We are to be bold and courageous. Why? Because God is on our side. Amen. :)

Law 29

Plan All the Way to the End

The ending is everything.Plan all the way to it, taking into account all the possible consequences, obstacles, and twists of fortune that might reverse your hard work and give the glory to others.By planning to the end you will not be overwhelmed by circumstances and you will know when to stop.Gently guide fortune and help determine the future by thinking far ahead.


(This one is pretty much impossible. Someone cannot think up all the possible scenarios that might happen as a result of one action. Life is unpredictable. We never know what is going to happen next and we can't control things for the most part, so why try?)

Law 30

Make your Accomplishments Seem Effortless

Your actions must seem natural and executed with ease.All the toil and practice that go into them, and also all the clever tricks, must be concealed.When you act, act effortlessly, as if you could do much more.Avoid the temptation of revealing how hard you work – it only raises questions.Teach no one your tricks or they will be used against you.


(This one is good and quite clever. Don't complain. Act like everything is effortless for you and you will gain more respect. I do like this one and mostly agree. :)

Law 31

Control the Options: Get Others to Play with the Cards you Deal

The best deceptions are the ones that seem to give the other person a choice:Your victims feel they are in control, but are actually your puppets.Give people options that come out in your favor whichever one they choose.Force them to make choices between the lesser of two evils, both of which serve your purpose.Put them on the horns of a dilemma:They are gored wherever they turn.


(Wow lol the guy writing this is so competitive. But this makes sense. If you are only out for your own gain, then yes you would want to do this. People like to feel that they have options, so giving someone options will always endear them to you.)

Law 32

Play to People’s Fantasies

The truth is often avoided because it is ugly and unpleasant.Never appeal to truth and reality unless you are prepared for the anger that comes from disenchantment.Life is so harsh and distressing that people who can manufacture romance or conjure up fantasy are like oases in the desert:Everyone flocks to them. There is great power in tapping into the fantasies of the masses.


(haha this one is funny. "The truth shall set you free." But many people like to live with their head in the sand. I know I have preferred this way of living most times actually. I don't like watching the news for this reason. I don't like to think about how evil the world really is. I like to live in my own little happy world and not think about the suffering going on all around me. I like to think that everyone has things as good as I do for the most part. I don't like to think about people dying of starvation in Africa or houses being bombed all the time in the middle east.

"Ignorance is bliss" right? So we all go about our day and live in our dream world ignoring the real world. It is how we survive and keep from going mad though really. The mind can only take so much, so much pain and sadness. So most of the time we hide in routine or movies or books. We don't want to see the truth about the world.

This was the whole basis for the movie The Matrix. That movie also showed that we are put into a coma in a sense also so that we will not see reality. We are put to sleep with football and sports and movies and games and money and success so that we will not see the truth of how messed up things really are. We are made blind so that we will not see.

Satan blinds us, but God wants to show us the light and the truth. He also gives us courage to face the truth, by knowing that "He's got the whole world in His hands." Right? So we can look into reality but still have peace. That is the goal.)

Law 33

Discover Each Man’s Thumbscrew

Everyone has a weakness, a gap in the castle wall.That weakness is usually an insecurity, an uncontrollable emotion or need; it can also be a small secret pleasure.Either way, once found, it is a thumbscrew you can turn to your advantage.


(This would be again if you were out to get the other person. But we are to build others up not tear them down right? Therefore it does us no good to figure out what their weak spot is, except to know how to pray for them.)

Law 34

Be Royal in your Own Fashion:Act like a King to be treated like one

The way you carry yourself will often determine how you are treated; In the long run, appearing vulgar or common will make people disrespect you.For a king respects himself and inspires the same sentiment in others.By acting regally and confident of your powers, you make yourself seem destined to wear a crown.


(I agree with this one. Our lives are self fulfilling prophecies. Whatever we think will happen to us usually does end up happening. There is power in the way we think and expect things to turn out. If we expect that we will meet someone wonderful and fall in love then we probably will. If we think that will never happen to us then it probably won't. We dictate our own future by how we think, since our thinking dictates our actions, and our actions dictate our future. It's true. And how we perceive ourselves is how others will perceive us and treat us. If we think we are scum, most likely others will treat us like scum. If we think we are special, others will treat us like we are special. We must first learn to love ourselves in order to be loved by others.)

Law 35

Master the Art of Timing

Never seem to be in a hurry – hurrying betrays a lack of control over yourself, and over time.Always seem patient, as if you know that everything will come to you eventually.Become a detective of the right moment; sniff out the spirit of the times, the trends that will carry you to power.Learn to stand back when the time is not yet ripe, and to strike fiercely when it has reached fruition.


(This is good. It is good to know when the timing is right for something. And I agree about not being in a hurry. Always try to be early to anything and give yourself margin in life and time. Or if you are late, don't stress about. The world is not going to end because you are late. Fear over being late denotes a fear of man that is not necessary. "Fear of man will prove to be a snare." Therefore, don't worry about being late, but aim to always be early and you will have nothing to worry about. :)

Law 36

Disdain Things you cannot have:Ignoring them is the best Revenge

By acknowledging a petty problem you give it existence and credibility.The more attention you pay an enemy, the stronger you make him; and a small mistake is often made worse and more visible when you try to fix it.It is sometimes best to leave things alone.If there is something you want but cannot have, show contempt for it.The less interest you reveal, the more superior you seem.


(This is funny. Act like you didn't want something when you can't have it. This would be good for relationships that don't work out. Pretend like you never were interested to begin with to save yourself the pain of the loss. This also is like the serenity prayer, "God grant me the courage to change the things I can and the serenity to accept the things I cannot." Jesus tells us to shake the dust off our sandals with anyone who won't receive us. This means, don't let losses get to you. Just pick yourself back up and move on. There will be other opportunities. Don't get hung up on the ones that don't work out. "Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead" right? Also, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past." Amen? Amen. :)

Law 37

Create Compelling Spectacles

Striking imagery and grand symbolic gestures create the aura of power – everyone responds to them. Stage spectacles for those around you, then full of arresting visuals and radiant symbols that heighten your presence. Dazzled by appearances, no one will notice what you are really doing.

(This can be seen in the charismatic movement with leaders like Benny Hinn.  He is great at creating compelling spectacles to make people follow Him.  They are fake or by the power of black magic, but they seem to work on and fool massive groups of people.  He has a very large following.  Why?  Because people want to see great things.  They want to be dazzled.  And people are quick to look only at these outer things and forget about the heart, or what someone is really about.  People can be easily fooled, if they let themselves be, by outer appearances.  For example, someone may look really attractive on the outside but on the inside they have a black heart of stone.  But most people don't care about this.  They are drawn to the shell and don't see the evil on the inside.  Appearances fool people all the time; in dating, in churches, in every aspect of life.)

Law 38

Think as you like but Behave like others

If you make a show of going against the times, flaunting your unconventional ideas and unorthodox ways, people will think that you only want attention and that you look down upon them. They will find a way to punish you for making them feel inferior. It is far safer to blend in and nurture the common touch. Share your originality only with tolerant friends and those who are sure to appreciate your uniqueness.

(If you don't want to start a revival or a revolution yes, it would make more sense to blend in with the crowd.  But Jesus calls us to stir things up a bit.  He was quite the revolutionary in His day.  He did not blend in by any means.  He said he did not come to bring peace but the sword.  We cannot, as Christians, just behave like everyone else.  That would be to disobey God.  This is why, though, many Christians come off as arrogant, because we think we live better lives than everyone else.  Well the truth is, we do, but not by our own power, but by the power of the Holy Spirit in our hearts who renews our minds.  This is the good news that Jesus wants us to share with as many people as we can.  That this gift of salvation and the Holy Spirit is free and available to anyone.  "Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."  That is not just special people, anyone.  Don't just act like everyone else.  Be different.  Be a light.)

Law 39

Stir up Waters to Catch Fish

Anger and emotion are strategically counterproductive. You must always stay calm and objective. But if you can make your enemies angry while staying calm yourself, you gain a decided advantage. Put your enemies off-balance: Find the chink in their vanity through which you can rattle them and you hold the strings.

(This does make sense.  For example, in creation/evolution debates, if the person debating the creation side stays calm, just that alone will win him the debate.  Generally the evolutionist will get heated and angry.  This lack of composure alone makes him loose.  Why?  Because if someone knows the truth and is confident that they know the truth they will remain calm, which will earn him respect.  It is insecure people who get angry easily.  Confident people know how to keep their cool and remain unaffected for the most part.)

Law 40

Despise the Free Lunch
 

What is offered for free is dangerous – it usually involves either a trick or a hidden obligation. What has worth is worth paying for. By paying your own way you stay clear of gratitude, guilt, and deceit. It is also often wise to pay the full price – there is no cutting corners with excellence. Be lavish with your money and keep it circulating, for generosity is a sign and a magnet for power.

(lol this one is funny but true.  Very rarely will someone give something without expecting something back in return.  They may say you don't need to repay them, but really they would like you to in some way repay them.  This is why there is the phrase, "There is no such thing as a free lunch."  Usually someone will do something for us only if we will do something for them.  But this is why society keeps functioning.  If people did always do things without expecting anything back they would probably be enabling bad habits, for example when someone keeps giving a drug addict money.  That is just stupidity.  That is enabling their bad behavior.  People will not learn a lesson until they learn it the hard way, often times.  This is called tough love.  But tough love really is love.  "A father who loves his son disciplines him."  A friend who loves their friend will let them go through something hard if they know that person will come out better in the end.  In the same regard, do not accept too many gifts from someone else or they may start to grow resentful of you if you do not pay them back somehow.)

Law 41

Avoid Stepping into a Great Man’s Shoes

What happens first always appears better and more original than what comes after.If you succeed a great man or have a famous parent, you will have to accomplish double their achievements to outshine them.Do not get lost in their shadow, or stuck in a past not of your own making:Establish your own name and identity by changing course.Slay the overbearing father, disparage his legacy, and gain power by shining in your own way.

(haha this one is intense.  I have seen this often where someone has a genius parent and then they feel like they can never measure up.  The problem is that they are trying to be exactly like the parent when they really should pursue something completely different, as this law says.  If your parent was good in sports, don't try to be better and always compete with them, excel in something else like academics.  Bottom line it's best if we never compare ourselves with others, obviously.  There will always be someone better than you in whatever you do.  Ideally we need to just ignore the competition and do the best we can do.  Then we will have peace and what we think is success, even if others don't see it that way.  Stop caring what other people think about you; what your family thinks, what friends thinks.  Ultimately all that matters is what you think about yourself and what God thinks about you.  Nothing else matters.)

Law 42

Strike the Shepherd and the Sheep will Scatter

Trouble can often be traced to a single strong individual – the stirrer, the arrogant underling, the poisoned of goodwill.If you allow such people room to operate, others will succumb to their influence.Do not wait for the troubles they cause to multiply, do not try to negotiate with them – they are irredeemable.Neutralize their influence by isolating or banishing them.Strike at the source of the trouble and the sheep will scatter.

(This one made me think of teaching.  I taught for a bit and noticed that there is always a ring leader, a leader of the pack.  Every class has one.  If the teacher can get that leader on their side, they have won the whole class.  Or if winning does not work, if they can somehow get this leader to submit to them through punishment or public embarassment, then the rest of the class will submit.  This is what separates the teachers who can control their class and the ones who can't.  You have to know who to target.  It's impossible to focus on 20 or 30 kids at a time, but there is usually just one that you need to worry about, because if you win their loyalty, you have everyone's.  You have to outsmart the smart one in any group in order to have control.)

Law 43

Work on the Hearts and Minds of Others

Coercion creates a reaction that will eventually work against you.You must seduce others into wanting to move in your direction.A person you have seduced becomes your loyal pawn.And the way to seduce others is to operate on their individual psychologies and weaknesses.Soften up the resistant by working on their emotions, playing on what they hold dear and what they fear.Ignore the hearts and minds of others and they will grow to hate you.

(Obviously, you cannot exploit people and have them know you are exploiting them.  This whole philosophy in all these "laws of power" is to act like you love people even though you are playing them, which bothers me of course.  Why not actually love people and then you won't have to act like you do?  Eventually people will see behind the mask, so all of this will only work for a time, until the people you are trying to have power over get smarter and see past your games.  This will not work forever.  People can only be played so long.  Like a parent/child relationship or friendship, when the child grows up, they realize they no longer need the parent.  These rules are all about treating people like children and fooling them.  Well what about when they psychologically grow up and become smarter or as smart as you?  Then what?  Then the person has to start from square one with a new set of gullible people.  This can be seen if you read Huck Finn by Mark Twain with the con artists who constantly move from town to town trying to full people and take all their money.  People can only be fooled for so long before they grow wiser.  Or look at the movie "Catch Me if You Can."  The mind of a con-artist is never at rest because they know their whole life is a lie.  They know that at any moment they might be caught.  These laws do not bring power but rather enslavement.  Why?  Because anyone who tells a lie is then a slave to that lie.  Lies build upon lies like a web trapping you inside the lies until you are caught.  Most of these laws will not work and are quite unrealistic.  They are lies from Satan.) 

Law 44

Disarm and Infuriate with the Mirror Effect

The mirror reflects reality, but it is also the perfect tool for deception: When you mirror your enemies, doing exactly as they do, they cannot figure out your strategy.The Mirror Effect mocks and humiliates them, making them overreact.By holding up a mirror to their psyches, you seduce them with the illusion that you share their values; by holding up a mirror to their actions, you teach them a lesson.Few can resist the power of Mirror Effect.

(This is interesting, act like your enemy and they will think you are actually their ally.  Yes I can see that this would confuse them.  But you would have to lower yourself to their level in order to confuse them.  I don't see the benefit in this.)

Law 45

Preach the Need for Change, but Never Reform too much at Once

Everyone understands the need for change in the abstract, but on the day-to-day level people are creatures of habit.Too much innovation is traumatic, and will lead to revolt.If you are new to a position of power, or an outsider trying to build a power base, make a show of respecting the old way of doing things.If change is necessary, make it feel like a gentle improvement on the past.

(lol and this makes me think of political leaders of course.  People do like the idea of change but do not like to actually change.  This is true.)

Law 46

Never appear too Perfect

Appearing better than others is always dangerous, but most dangerous of all is to appear to have no faults or weaknesses. Envy creates silent enemies. It is smart to occasionally display defects, and admit to harmless vices, in order to deflect envy and appear more human and approachable. Only gods and the dead can seem perfect with impunity.

(This is a valid point.  I heard a quote from a monk once where he said something like he still drinks in order to keep himself in touch with humanity.  I thought it was funny and cute because most people think of monks as leading completely perfect lives, at least they try to and like others to think that they do.  But no one is perfect.  It is true that if you see someone who appears to be perfect you might envy them.  But realizing that logically no one is perfect may help.  "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."  Everyone has their secrets, their skeletons in the closet that they want to hide.  Everyone has baggage.  Everyone came from a somewhat disfunctional home.  I don't know anyone who has had a perfect life.  Sin and this fallen world hits us all at some point.  So there is really no one to be envious of, because we are all in the same boat, being tossed by the waves of life.)

Law 47

Do not go Past the Mark you Aimed for; In Victory, Learn when to Stop

The moment of victory is often the moment of greatest peril. In the heat of victory, arrogance and overconfidence can push you past the goal you had aimed for, and by going too far, you make more enemies than you defeat. Do not allow success to go to your head. There is no substitute for strategy and careful planning. Set a goal, and when you reach it, stop.

(This can be seen in gambling, how people always say "stop when you're ahead."  But many do the stupid thing and keep gambling after a big win and loose all the money they just won.  The same is true in any kind of win, as this "law" states.  Once you have a victory, quietly accept it and be happy.  Don't try and do too much.  Don't brag about your victory.  Just be content that you had a victory and move on.  Don't get greedy for more or you may loose what you already gained.  The happy person does not have everything he wants but rather wants everything he already has.  Amen?  Amen.)

Law 48

Assume Formlessness

By taking a shape, by having a visible plan, you open yourself to attack. Instead of taking a form for your enemy to grasp, keep yourself adaptable and on the move. Accept the fact that nothing is certain and no law is fixed. The best way to protect yourself is to be as fluid and formless as water; never bet on stability or lasting order. Everything changes.

(Yes I heard a quote relating to this once.  "Accept change.  Don't be like the dinosaur or you may become extinct."  Meaning, we have to always be able to adapt.  If not, we will not succeed.  Life is about change and we have to accept it.  Usually, change is good.  If you can see the good in it then change can always be good.  Good is a relative term anyways.  What may appear bad may turn out to be good in the long run.  Be adaptable but don't compromise your values in order to be adaptable.  Paul was adaptable.  He said, "I have become all things to all men that I may save as many as possible."  We are to live by the Spirit of the law, not the letter of it.  As long as we are loving God and loving others, the sky is the limit.  The rest is up to the Holy Spirit leading us in our lives.  If we stay open, he can take us on some crazy and cool adventures.  Do you believe it?  Believe it and He will!  Stay open to change. :)  Change is generally a good thing. :)

May God increase our wisdom daily as we seek to know Him and understand this world we live in more and more.  May he make us dangerous for his kingdom.  May He use us in any ways He can and may we be responsive to where he wants to take us.  Where is God taking you?  Where does He want to take you?  Ask Him. :)

God alone can give you power.  Not these laws and not mere human wisdom.  The wisest wisdom of man is foolishness to God.  True wisdom can only come from God and His world, remember that, and you will have true "power" in the end. 

We gain power after we humble ourselves.  Jesus died on the cross and then what happened?  God exalted Him to the highest place.  Phil. 2, "Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. ⁵ Have this attitude n yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. ⁸ Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ⁹ For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

We have to die before we can become great.  We have to do the opposite of what most of these laws say to become great in the kingdom of heaven.  "Whoever wants to become great among you must become a slave."  Why? Because that is what Jesus did.  His sacrifice for us is what made Him great.  Likewise our sacrifice for others is what will make us great.  Not in trying to con them or seduce them.  No, in serving them is what will bring us success and peace and prosperity.  Serving others is what makes us great.