The 48 Laws Of Power

Authority:

Finziouteachman’sthumbscrew."l‘istheartof

setting

their

willsinaction.Itneeds moreskillthanresolution. Youmustknow

whereto

get

at

anyone.Every

volitionhasa

special

motivewhichvaries

according

totaste.Allmenare

idolaters,

some

of

fame,

othersof

self-

interest,

mustof

pleasure.

Skillconsistsin

knowing

theseidolsinorder

to

bring

theminto

play.Knowingany

man’s

rnainspring

ofmotive

you

haveasitwerethe

key

tohiswill.

(BaltasarGracién,1601-1658)

REVERSAL

Playing

on

people’s

weaknesshasone

significant

danger:

You

may

stir

up

anaction
you

cannotcontrol.

In

yourgames

of

poweryoualways

lookseveral

steps

aheadand

plan

accordingly.

And

youexploit

thefactthatother

people

aremore

emotional

and

incapable

ofsuch

foresight.

Butwhen

youplay

ontheir

vulnerabilities,

theareasoverwhich

they

haveleast

control,

you

canunleashemotions

thatwill

upsetyourplans.

Pushtimid

people

intoboldactionand

theymay

go

too

far;

answertheirneedforattentionor

recognition

and

theymay

needmorethan
you

wantto

give

them.

The

helpless,

childish

element

you

are

playing

oncanturn

againstyou.

Themoreemotionalthe

weakness,

the

greater

the

potentialdanger.

Knowthelimitstothis
game,

then,

andnever

get

carried

awaybyyour

control
over
your

victims.Youareafter

power,

notthethrillofcontrol.

LAW 33 281