The 48 Laws of Power

Learn to stand back when the time is not yet ripe, and to strike fiercely when it has reached fruition.

Strangely enough, it is your act of kindness tiiat unbalances everything.

Friends often agree on tilings in order to avoid an argument. They cover up their unpleasant qualities so as to not offend each other. They laugh extra hard at each odier's jokes. Since honesty rarely strengthens friendship, you may never know how a friend truly feels. Friends will say that they love your poetry, adore your music, envy your taste in clothesmaybe they mean it, often they do not.

Men are more ready to repay an injury than a benefit, because gratitude is a burden and revenge a pleasure. Tacitus, c. a.d. 55-120

Reputation is the cornerstone of power.

Lord, protect me from my friends; I can take care of my enemies.

Remember the following: Never take your position for granted and never let any favors you receive go to your head.

Half of your mastery of power comes from what you do not do, what you do not allow yourself to get dragged into.

Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number who are not good. Hence a prince who wants to keep his authority must learn how not to be good, and use that knowledge, or refrain from using it, as necessity requires.

The Prince, Niccolb Machiavelli, 1469-1527

nation.

Honore de Balzac, 1799-1850