The more you talk, the bigger the chance of saying something foolish.

Description: Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less or nothing.

Haile Sellasie, who tricked Balcha of Sidamo by bribing his entire army with gold and sparring his life to become the King of Ethiopia.

Observance of the law: Otto Von Bismarck, who helped the Prussian King Frederick the IV avoid war with Austria only to become a prime minister and wage war against Austria just a few years later.

Transgression of the law: Ninon de Lenclos, a famous courtesan, tricked the Marquis de Sevigne to ruin his chances with a countess he fell in love with.

Do this for as long as possible so once they figure out what you want, it will be too late.

Description: If your enemies have no idea about your true intentions, they can’t prepare a defense for you.

Observance of the law: Emperor Sung offered his generals riches and security.

Transgression of the law: Basilius, a stable boy, become more famous than the king of Byzantium, Michael III., and then killed the king to assume his place.

A former enemy is more loyal because they have more to prove.

Description: Friends can quickly become envious.

Law 2- Never Put Too Much Trust In Friends, Learn How To Use Enemies

Observance of the law: Galileo honored the Medici’s by discovering Jupiter’s moons and “giving” the discovery to them.

Transgression of the law: Nicolas Fouquet made a party that outshined the King’s party (Louis XIV).

Description: Help your master by pleasing and impressing, but never go too far or you’ll cause fear and insecurity in them.

Here’s a short description of every Law in the book. Reversal (when should you ignore the law for your own benefit).Keys to power (how to use the laws in today’s world to achieve success).Observance of the law (example of people who followed the law to their success- good example).Transgression of the law (example of people who ignored the law to their demise- bad example).Judgment (short description of what the law entails).Greene structured the book in the following way:

The book teaches us about 48 laws of power that we need to know about.

The 48 laws of power review