5. Guard your reputation with your life. Reputation is the cornerstone of power. Through reputation alone, you can intimidate and win. Once it slips, however, you are vulnerable and will be attacked on all sides. Be alert to potential attacks and thwart them. Learn to destroy your enemies by opening holes in their own reputations. Then, stand aside and let public opinion hang them.

6. Court attention. Everything is judged by its appearance. What is unseen, counts for nothing.

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4. Always say less than necessary. When you’re trying to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear, and the less in control. Even if you’re 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.

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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’re 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 realise what your intentions are, it will be too late.

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Laws of Power:

1. Never outshine the master. Always make those above you feel comfortably superior. Don’t show your talents too much in case you inspire fear and insecurity.

2. Don’t put too much trust in friends, and learn how to use enemies.

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