The 48 Laws Of Power

thetimesinwhich
youoperate.

P.T.Barnum

recognized

thathis

public

wantedtofeelinvolvedinhis

shows,

andthat

understanding

histricksde-

lighted

them,

partly,perhaps,

because

implicitlydebunkingpeople

who

kept

theirsourcesof

power

hiddenfromthemasses

appealed

to

Ametica’s

democratic
spirit.

The

public

also

appreciated

theshowman’shumorand

honesty.

Barnumtookthistotheextremeof

publicizing

hisown

humbug—

gery

inhis

popularautobiogzaphy,

writtenwhenhiscareerwasatits

height.

As

long

asthe

partial

disclosureoftricksand

techniques

is

carefully

planned,

ratherthantheresultofanuncontrollableneedto

blab,

itis

the

ultimate
incleverness.It

gives

theaudiencetheillusionof

beingsuperior

and
involved,

evenwhilemuchofwhat

you

doremainsconcealedfrom

them.

LAW 30 1

253