My top 15 laws from “The 48 Laws of Power” by Robert Greene

6 min readMay 7, 2026

Recently I’ve gone through this amazing book “The 48 Laws of Power” penned by Robert Greene. As per the title suggests, the author amazingly portraits the law of power with many anecdotes to illustrate. Out of these I curated the top 15 laws which I believe, practising it wisely can leverage your position in any situation. So, let’s dive into it.

Law 1 : Never Outshine The Maser

The first law states that you should always feel your master superior. Never go too much to impress or show off before your master or else you have to suffer. Author highlighted an story of Nicholas Fouquet, a finance minister of France under Luis XIV, how he thrown a lavish party to impress the king and got into trouble which end up in prison for life. In reversal, the author advised to outshine your seniors if they are a shooting star and downfall is inevitable.

Law 2: Never Put Too Much Trust in Friends, Learn How To Use Enemies

“Be wary of friends — they will betray you quickly, for they are easily around to envy. They also become spoiled and tyrannical. Buthire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a friend.” quote the author. Transgressing this law cost Michael III (ruler of Byzantine Empire during 9th Century A.D) his life and throne, as his best friend betrays him and stab him when gained power using his loyalty and gratitude.

Law 3: Conceal Your Intentions

Author advised to conceal your intention. If your enemy has no clue what you’re up to they can’t prepare a defence. Guide them into wrong path, and by the time they realize your intentions it will be too late. A good deceiver cleverly use his/her honesty as an weapon to conceal his/her intention. While revealing your secrets, you always open yourself into trouble.

Law 4: Always Say Less Than Necessary

The more you appear common when you talk more than necessary. Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less. Kondraty Ryleyev, a Russian revolutionist when ordered to hang him by Nicholas I, on the executing day the rope broke and he fell on the ground. After that he made mockery comments and laugh at the Czar. When the king got to know this he immediately order to execute him on the next day. And this time the rope didn’t break!

Law 9: Win Through Your Actions, Never Through Argument

“Truth is generally seen & rarely heard” remarks by Baltasar Gracian. The problem in trying to prove a point through argument is that in the end you can never by certain how it affects the people. Hence, one must observe things quietly and demonstrate through his actions to prove his argument. Winning a verbal argument with your opponent leave your vulnerable.

Law 11: Learn to Keep People Dependent on You

After the demise of Frederick William IV in 1861, the thrown of Prussia was handed over to his brother William. He used to dislike his deputy Otto von Bismarck. But since the king also inherited the same problem that was going on in his state, he needed Bismarck. The king dependent on him to handle with his enemy, thus he could not get away with him easily. It was a necessity to keep him. So, if you create no need for yourself, then you will be done away with at first opportunity. Hence, it is important to be needed in order to maintain the independence.

Law 13 : When Asking For Help, Appeal to People’s Self Interest Never to Their Mercy or Gratitude

If you need to turn to an ally for help, do not bother tore mind him of your past assistance and good deeds. He will find a way to ignore you. There is an art an art to asking for help. You should not trapped in your won desire, rather offer them with something which might benefit them if you engaged assisting you. And you will enjoy the power. “The shortest and best way to make your fortune is to let people see clearly that it is in their interests to promote yours” — (Jean La Bruyere)

Law 20 : Do Not Commit To Anyone

It is fool who always rushes to take side. Do not commit to any side but yourself. If you allow people to feel they possess you then, you will lose the power. People may shower you with gifts and other methods to get you on their side, but once you commit the magic is gone. Find way to neutral,let other do the fighting while you stay back, wait and watch. An ancient Chinese proverb says “When the spine and the mussel struggle, the fisherman gets the benefit”.

Law 30: Make Your Accomplishments Seem Effortless

Your actions must seem natural and executed with ease. While before others you should conceal all the hard work and the practices. A great Hungarian escape artist, Harry Houdini who had spent hundreds of chiropractic key breaking technique achieved highest success in life and career. But there is also times when revealing the work of your project benefit you. It is all depends upon the taste of the audience. If the partial discloser is carefully performed. It is always careful to do such manoeuvre.

Law 36: Disdain Things You Cannot Have: Ignoring Them Is The Best Revenge

By acknowledging a problem, you give it a credibility. The more attention you pay an enemy, the stronger you made him. And a small mistake is often made worse and more visible when you try to fix it. The best solution is to ignore them completely. One of the best repercussion faced by USA when they arrogantly launched a punitive expedition against a Mexican rebel called Pancho Villa. USA was too confident that it will defend him, but it backfired miserably. Due to the tough climate and condition US soldiers could not catch him,rather it made Pancho famous. Always remember, the powerful responses to niggling, petty annoyance and irritation are contempt and disdain. Never show something affected you and you outside. But you must track your opponent’s each move at the same time.

Law 39: Stir Up Waters to Cat Fish

You must always stay calm and objective. Anger and emotion are strategically counter productive. Short tempered people are usually takes things too seriously and exaggerating the hurt or insult done to them. Thus, they seem very ridiculous and out of option. Powerful people can’t live without options. Once you train yourself to stay calm while making your enemies angry you hold the power. However, on some certain occasion you have to use your anger to get things done. Remember, your anger should be a manufactured one & under control.

Rule 40: Despise the Free Lunch

What is offered for free is often dangerous. Someone who offers free favours often end up asking something which is far darer to money.The bargain has hidden problem, both material and psychological. In the realm of power everything must be judged by cost. The powerful never forget that what is offered for free is inevitably a trick. Hence, pay always full in price and you hold the power.

Law 41: Avoid Stepping Into a Great Man’s Shoes

If you succeed a great man or have a famous family, you will have to accomplish double their achievements to outshine them. King Luis XV, titled as “Luis the Last”, because after his father when he held the throne, he cannot able to reinvigorate France’s as his father did, instead he was more on to squandering the inherited wealth and chasing girls. Thus he left France’s fate to rote, and eventually the reign end up in an revolution in1792. On the other hand, we have Alexander the Great, who used to dislike his father, vowed to create his own reputation, achieved a great name throughout the time by conquering Persia. He out shined his father achievement and enjoy a hold of power.

Law 45: Preach the Change, But Never reform Too Much at Once.

Everyone understands the need for change in the abstract, but on the day-to-day level people are creatures of habit. Too much innovations traumatic, and will lead to revolt. One can make use of buried past facts and reinterpret in their own way to get their things done slowly if there is any need for change. The changes you make must seem less innovative than they are.

Law 48: Assume Formlessness

By taking a shape, by having a visible plan, you open yourself to attack. The best way to protect yourself is to be as fluid and formless as water. In the world where everything changes avoid betting on stability and embrace yourself according to the change. The power can only thrive if it is flexible in its forms. Changing constantly, it is never predictable. Surprise your enemies by altering according to the circumstances& you will have the have the power.