The 48 Laws Of Power

Authority:

Avoid

outsliining

themaster.All

superiority

is

odious,

butthe

superiority

ofa

subject

overhis

prince

isnot

onlystupid,

it.isfatal.Thisisa

lessonthatthestarsinthe

sky

Leach

us-—--theymay

berelatedtothe

sun,

and
just

as

brilliant,

but

they

never

appear

inher

company.

(Baltasar

Grzutifm,
llilll-I658}

REVERSAI.

Youcannot
worry

about

upsettingeverypersonyou

come

across,

but

you

mustbe

selectively

cruel.If

yoursuperior

isa

falling

star,

thereis

nothing

tofearfrom

outshining

him.Donotbe

merciful-—-your

masterhadnosuch

scruples

inhisowncold—bloodedclimbtothe

top.Gauge

his

strength.

Ifhe

is

weak,

discreetly

hastenhisdownfall:

Outclo,outchann,

outsmarthimat

key

moments.Ifheis

very

weakand

ready

to

fall,

let

nature

take

itscourse.

Donotrisk

outshining

afeeble

superior--itmightappear

cruelor

spiteful.

Butif

your

masterisfirminhis

position,yet

you

know

yourself

tobethe

more

capable,

hide

your

timeandbe

patient.

Itisthenaturalcourseof

things

that

powereventually

fades andweakens. Yourmasterwillfall

someday,

andif

youplay

it

right,you

willoutliveand

someday

outshine

him.

LAW 1 z