Law #1: Never Outshine the Master
Nicolas Fouquet made the mistake of appearing larger than his King, Louis XIV, and spent
his remaining days incarcerated. Avoid victories over superiors. It will cost you more than it is worth. Law #2: Never Put too Much Trust in Friends,
Learn How to Use Enemies Michael III of the Byzantine Empire was saved
from death by Basilius, who Michael in turn favored with gifts and prestige. Basilius, lusting for more power, murdered
Michael out of greed. Instead of showing gratitude. He was insatiable. Trust from a distance. People are selfish and pursue their own interests. Former opponents make more loyal and stronger
friends. Law #3: Conceal Your Intentions
The Marquis de Sevigne wanted to seduce a young countess. Instead of being indirect and subtle he exposed
his true feelings for her and she lost all interest as he blurted out that he loved her. Add a sense of unexplicable mystery to your
character. Law #4: Always Say Less than Necessary
Law #5: So Much Depends on Reputation - Guard It With Your Life
During the second World War Erwin Rommel was known for his superior skill in cunning and
deceptive strategy. All of the opposition were demoralized and
doubting their chances of success facing him. Your reputation preceeds you. Build and protect it carefully. Law #6: Court Attention at all Cost
Pablo Picasso would not allow himself to fade into the background. He would rather paint something out of the
ordinary and ugly, than be forgotten. All publicity is good publicity. Don't let yourself become one of many. Law #7: Get Others to Do the Work for You
Thomas Edison wasn't much of a scientist, but a businessman. He would capitalize on Nikola Tesla's genius
and garner all the credit. Hire talents capable of doing what you can't. Law #8: Make Other People Come To You - Use
Bait if Necessary "When I have laid bait for deer, I don't shoot
at the first doe that comes to sniff, but wait until the whole herd has gathered round." - Otto von Bismarck Force your opponent to
react to your moves. Law #9: Win Through Your Actions - Not Through
Argument Mucianus needed strong ships. Without guarding his tongue his engineer argued
that a different type than the one Mucianus preferred would be much better for conquest. Despite being right the engineer was sentenced
to death. Don't argue with authorities. Agree and suggest an alternative, then demonstrate. Law #10: Infection: Avoid the Unhappy and
Unlucky Lola Montez brought down the King of Bavaria
and his whole kingdom by seducing him. Her lust for destruction and chaos was insatiable. Countless lives perished, because of her nature. Cut off the firestarters. Try to help them instead and you too will
burn alongside them. Law #11: Learn To Keep People Dependent on
You Otto von Bismarck led the King's hand in uniting
a mighty Prussia. None other than Bismarck was able to do so. He proved himself to be an indespensable asset
and had his strong position secured. Be the only one who can do what you do or
see yourself replaced in fear sooner or later. Law #12: Use Selective Honesty to Disarm Your
Victim Count Victor Lustig was going to double Al
Capone's 50'000$. Instead of running with the money he gave
it all back to Capone who thought he was being played by a con artist. Capone gave Lustig the 5'000$ simply to help
the "honest" man. Tell the truth to gain your opponent's trust. Be honest when expected to be dishonest to
throw your opponent off guard. Law #4: Always Say Less than Necessary
Due to his unpredictability Louis XIV would have his courtiers tremble in fear when delivering
bad news. He would say "I shall see", have them leave
the room and either take action or decide to do nothing about the issue, but always
with an intimidating silence. Only speak when you have something meaningful
to say. Actions speak louder than words. Law #13: Asking for Help Appeal to People's
Self Interest In 433 B.C., the Athenians found themselves
in a favourable position. The Corcyrans & the Corinthians were preparing
for war. Both parties wanted to secure the help of
the Athenians. The Corinthians chose to remind them of an
existing debt. The Corcyrans on the other hand spoke only
of mutual interests, the combined force of their navy directed at Sparta. The Athenians allied with the Corcyrans. In sales of any kind, pragmatic arguments
will always trump emotional appeals. The past does not matter. Don't count on loyalty. Aim for win-win deals. Law #14: Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-PĂ©rigord, French politican and mastermind behind Napoleon Bonaparte's
defeat would hold himself back in conversation and get others to talk endlessly of themselves
to the point of betraying their own thought, intent and strategy. An interrogation disguised as a friendly chat,
so subtle that the victim did not notice. Learn to judge a person's character by what
they reveal of themselves, so that you can recognize a threat before it arises. Test people's honesty before you consider
trusting them. Law #15: Crush Your Enemy Totally
A priest asked the dying Spanish statesman and general Ramon Maria Narvaez (1800-1868),
"Does your Excellency forgive all your enemies?" "I do not have to forgive my enemies," answered
Narvaez, "I have had them all shot." The last resort, when words are no longer
heard and the enemy cannot possibly be reasoned with, the chances for peace at their lowest,
the only option is total destruction. Merely wound the enemy, he will recover and
show no mercy in turn. Law #16: Use Absence to Increase Respect and
Honor A man said to a Dervish: "Why do I not see
you more often?" The Dervish replied, "Because the words 'Why
have you not been to see me?' are sweeter to my ear than the words 'Why have you come
again?'" - Mulla Jami, quoted in Idries Sha's Caravan
of Dreams, 1968 Give people time to miss you by robbing them
off your presence. It's when we lose something, that we discover
how valuable it had been to us. On your return you will be appreciated all
the more. Law #17: Cultivate an Air of Unpredictability
Once Pablo Picasso had become a recognized artist, others would assume that whatever
action he took must have been calculated. The art dealer Paul Rosenberg was confused,
when one day Picasso told him they would no longer work together. Rosenberg couldn't find out why and offered
him a much better deal. The unpredictable is terrifying. When you don't know what to expect you cannot
prepare properly, you can't devise a clever plan, because you're in the dark. Put others in such position when negotiating. Law #18: Isolation is Dangerous
The more you are isolated, the easier it is to deceive you. You lose touch with reality. When someone is urging you to cut friends
and family out of your life realize that they want to control and influence you all by themselves. Whether they do this conciously or unconciously
it is malicious. Be careful in cutting yourself off from others
for too long. Introverted or not you may cause yourself
great harm psychologically by pushing others away from you. Law #19: Do Not Offend the Wrong Person
Muhammad, the shah of Khwarezm, and Inalchik had beheaded Ghengis Khan's messengers who
had come in peace with great gifts and offerings. The Khan declared war, seized the enemy's
capital and had Inalchik killed quote "by having molten silver poured into his eyes
and ears." Later Ghengis Khan seized Samarkand, bringing
his brutal conquest of Muhammad's vast empire to an end. What would've become of Adolf Hitler had he
been given the chance of becoming an artist? Perhaps history would be very different. Avoid insulting others, you do not know who
you're dealing with... even though we live in a time where everyone is offended and the
level of political correctness borders on absolute madness. Law #20: Do Not Commit to Anyone
Alcibiades, greek soldier & statesman found himself courted by the Athenians and the Spartans,
because he had influence on the Persians and honored by the Persians, because he had influence
over the Greek city states. Instead of committing to one side, he played
all of them in his favor. Comitting is like handing yourself over to
someone else. It means more obligations and less control. Law #21: Play a Sucker to Catch a Sucker
Socrates said "The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." He didn't actually believe of himself that
he did not know anything. It was his way of disarming people. Sometimes you have to play dumb, so that the
other lets his guard down. Being openly smart is foolish. Being openly foolish is smart. Law #22: Surrender Tactic: Transform Weakness
into Power The Melians were promted to surrender, but
declined the Athenians' offer. Despite their alliance the Spartans did not
come to their rescue. Melos was conquered and their population slaughtered
& sold into slavery. To quote Cardinal de Retz "Weak people never
give way when they ought to." Avoid weakness, but when you find yourself
in a weak spot, choose to fight another day. You will lose the current battle, but the
war is not over. Law #23: Concentrate Your Forces
The greater an Empire's territories the more vulnerability. Great lands need strong borders. Else they may be overrun by another barbarian
tribe as seen with the collapse of Rome. Your armies are strongest when forged together. Divide them and they may not be able to protect
the empire from an invasion. Dedicate your complete focus to one front,
using every resource at your disposal and all of your energy to master your craft through
total immersion. Law #24: Play the Perfect Courtier
One cannot spell courtiership without Charles Maurice de Talleyrand Perigord, the man who
brought down Napoleon Bonaparte, master of the battlefield, with extreme subtlety. You are a courtier, or courtier [French],
whether you like it or not. You must play the game of power so you might
as well choose to be good at it. The perfect courtier obeys his masters, but
shines in his own light. He is not powerless, doesn't trust, but appears
trustful, doesn't talk much, but finds the right words and the right timing when he does. Everyone likes him. He is charming, witty and helpful. He appears to be neutral, a paragon of honesty
and fairness. He always has a genuine smile on his face
and we don't doubt his intentions for one second. Although he is a great talent, we are not
threatened by him. We seek him as an ally. This way, the perfect courtier holds more
power than the king himself, without the dangers of that position. As we target highest authorities, he's in
the shadows observing the current state of the chess board. Pieces may fall and be sacrificed on both
ends, but he is winning regardless. Learn the art of courtiership. Law #25: Recreate Yourself
Others will call you what they think you are or what they think they see in you. It's all superficial. Every now and again you'll receive a genuine
compliment, but your parents, friends, society, even your government expects you to be someone
or something else. It's important that you choose to be whatever
you want to be and that you feel free to change whenever you like. You have the freedom to dismiss the opinions
of others, even to put on a good show like Gaius Julius Caesar. The world is your stage. It's up to you what role you want to play. Think of life like a book and you're writing
it. You're the main character, so act like it. Law #26: Keep Your Hands Clean
As written in Niccolo Machiavelli's letter to the prince, Cesare Borgia was using Remirro
di Orco as a tool to take gruesome action against all of his enemies. In the end he used him as a scapegoat, put
the full blame on di Orco and threw lavish banquets for the common folk, presenting not
only his clean slate, but positive change. It is the ultimate act of betrayal. To have someone's back only to find out they've
been using you this whole time. Avoid falling into the trap of being someone's
cats-paw or scapegoat. Law #27: Play on People’s Need to Believe
"There are two different types of people in the world, those who want to know, and those
who want to believe." - Friedrich Nietzsche
We strive to find meaning in a world full of formless chaos. Hence most of us resort to the comfort of
believing in unproven divine entities. Your quest for answers and your need to belong
is used against you, whether for your recruitment as a mindless disciple or your loyal customership
for a particular brand. Christopher Hitchens wrote: "Beware the irrational,
however seductive. Shun the 'transcendent' and all who invite
you to subordinate or annihilate yourself." End quote. If someone claims to have all the answers,
they are full of shit. Fall prey to them and all you are doing is
giving more power to those who don't have your best interest at heart. You cannot let others think for you. If something doesn't make sense to you, perhaps
like right now, feel free to dismiss it, but consider doing so on your own behalf. Law #28: Enter Action with Boldness
If you're confident enough to play the role of Monsieur Lustig, one of the greatest con
artists in history, selling the Eiffeltower to greedy scrap metal business owners looking
to make a fortune over night for millions of dollars, not once, but twice - one thing
is crystal clear. You're not playing around. You don't hesitate and your moves have a high
rate of success, be that in seduction, strategy or power games. There's that one split second before a box
fight, where Mike Tyson's opponent will flinch and break eye contact. He already knows he's beaten. There's that scene where Marco Polo & Kublai
Khan stare down a wolf. It's hesitation versus boldness. In order to be fearless, you need courage. Be bold. Law #29: Plan all the Way to the End
Excerpt from the book: "The Gods on Mount Olympus. Looking down on human actions from the clouds,
they see in advance the endings of all great dreams that lead to disaster and tragedy. And they laugh at our inability to see beyond
the moment, and at how we delude ourselves." Before you take action consider the possible
outcomes and consequences, calculate the risk, then execute, if it's worth doing. However, as time goes on things reform and
it would be foolish to stick to a plan that ignores change. Law #30: Make Your Accomplishments Seem Effortless
Harry Houdini made his stunt performances look like they were a walk in the park, a
piece of cake, as easy as stealing a child's lollipop. No one saw just how much work, preparation
and practice went into every piece of the puzzle. This illusion we call magic. Make it look like it was improvised, made
up on the spot and it will seem genuine. Boast how much work went into something and
its natural allure, the magic, is gone. Law #31: Get others to Play with the Cards
you Deal Ivan the Terrible let Russia choose between
him as their czar or total destruction from its enemies, the Boyars. He made them see that they could only possibly
be protected by him. It wasn't really a choice and the Russians
probably had other options that they were unaware of. They begged him to come back to the capitol
and lead them. This was what he wanted all along. People like to think they have a choice. Present them options that will work for you
either way. This is the norm in elections and anything
of real importance. Just like Houdini's performance it is an illusion. Law #32: Play to People’s Fantasies
People's need to believe, people's fantasies - there isn't a big difference. Il Brigadino was an Alchemist. People believed he could turn objects like
wood into gold. Ironically the only gold he ever made was
given to him by the people who wanted him to multiply it. And others started to learn and practice alchemy. Stop clicking on How to Make a Million Dollars
Overnight type clickbait, stop buying 6-min ab workout programs and stop going to the
7 Steps On How to Pull Hot Chicks Within Hours event and get real. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably
is. Law #33: Discover Each Man’s Thumbscrew
Cardinal Richelieu would find out the weaknesses of everyone around him, then worked on it
by being useful to them until they were of no use to him. One by one he worked his way up to the king,
who at the time was a mere child. Know the weak spots of your opponents, the
crack in their defense and you will know what to work with, when you need it. In reverse do not betray your own weaknesses. Law #34: Be Royal in Your Own Fashion – Act
Like a King Christopher Columbus did not accept his low
standing in the world he was born. He recreated his family tree, married into
nobility and peddled with kings. Now, unless he was mad, people thought, there
must be valid reasons behind his bold requests. He must be legitimate. Ask for less, receive less. What you tolerate is what you end up with. Do not think lowly of yourself. You're a king in your own right. You're a queen in your own right. Princes & princesses are no good today. Law #35: Master the Art of Timing
Joseph Fouché was switching sides whenever he sensed danger. His biography is riddled with nigh impossible
escapes from death. He did not deem it necessary to be loyal to
disloyal men. Say what you want of his attitude, but he
certainly knew when to act and when to lay low. With time comes change. It is important to not only know how to adapt,
but at what exact moment for maximum effect. Too fast and you're a traitor. Too late and you're imitating the others. In any case, learn to use time to your advantage. Law #36: Disdain Things You Cannot Have
King Henry VIII of England ignored his wife Cathrine of Aragon for denying him a son. With Thomas Cromwell on his side he devised
a clever plan to marry Anne Boelyn. When you ignore someone they cannot argue
with you. They cannot influence you. You're out of reach and they can't do anything
about it. If there is something you cannot and will
never have, it is best to push it aside with discontent. Law #37: Create Compelling Spectacles
Dr. Weisleder healed his patients with the mere energy of moonlight. Why was this obvious scam so successful? Well, people didn't have the internet back
then, but they also believed it was too spectacular to be fraud. The grandiosity, the associated status, rich
and famous personalities were waiting in line to be healed and healed again. Using symbols as powerful as the moon and
the very absence of explanation let people fill in the logical gaps all by themselves. If everyone believes it, it must be true. Mark Twain wrote "Whenever you find yourself
on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." Law #38: Think As You Like, But Behave Like
Others 478 B.C the fearless and experienced warrior
Pausinias and his Greek troops captured part of the Persian empire. Being the overseer of these lands went to
his head and he began acting rather strangely, even for Pausinias. He spoke ill of his own people. Feeling and showing superiority breeds hate. His god-complex and constant need to stand
out had him killed in the end. You want to fit in, whether you share common
beliefs or not. Being better or different in any way just
causes trouble through other people's envy and disdain. They'll ostrasize you from the group and slander
your reputation. How much money do you make? About 70% of whatever they make. Law #39: Stir Up Waters to Catch Fish
This is the good old lay a trap with bait and wait. Monkey see, monkey do. The spiderweb. Mice desire cheese so much, they won't even
see the obvious construction around it. When you know your enemies and their weaknesses
you know what they react to and you use this knowledge against them. Create a false alarm. They'll make a run to save what they hold
so dearly and weaken themselves by exposing their flank. That's where you hit them. That's certainly where they will hit you,
if you fall for it. Keep yourself from being reactive. All that rage, blinding emotions, fear, desire. It makes you predictable and it makes you
weak. Don't be impulsive. Law #40: Despise the Free Lunch
Louis XIV had an eagle eye for the stategic power of money. He would gift paintings of great value to
people who didn't like him very much, until then. This way he got nobility, the keys to power,
on his side. At the same time he increased operational
costs for the aristocrats who wanted him gone. It's ingenious. He took money from his enemies and gave it
to his new friends. Two birds with one stone. This is one of my favorite laws, because it
states that cheap misers miss out on opportunities. It pays to be generous and it pays not to
accept "free" gifts. What is the Return of Investment (ROI) on
paying for someone's coffee? You sit down at Starbucks with an influental,
connected and experienced entrepreneur. You get to talk to him for 10 minutes, ask
his advice, learn from his mistakes. I don't care if the coffee costs 50$, I'm
paying, because there is a lot of upside. Law #41: Avoid Stepping into a Great Man’s
Shoes Alexander the Great's father had set the standard
of achievement very high. Alexander wasn't going to be content in his
father's shadow. He wasn't going to rest on his father's and
later on his own laurels. "When Alexander saw the breadth of his domain,
he wept for there were no more worlds to conquer." Now imagine if Alexander the Great had had
a son who wanted to be a conqueror. That he would pale in comparison is an understatement. Not a soul would've attributed his success
to him for he'd achieve everything on the shoulders of his father. Don't make it your life's task to be better
at being someone else. Instead go your own way. Unapolagetically be your best self. Law #42: Strike the Shepherd and the Sheep
Will Scatter "When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter." "Cut the snake at the head." What is an army without its generals, without
leadership? Whole empires have been secured off of conscientious
leaders with iron willpower and vision. Take them away and much like Alexander's empire
after his death, they break apart and crumble, turning on eachother, defecting and deserting. Often the glue that sticks everything together
constists of a few key people at the top in any kind of organization, any kind of social
group or hierarchy. Do with this information what you will. Law #43: Work on the Heart and Mind of Others
October of 1793, the French Revolution declared the end of the monarchy. Marie-Antoinette knelt at the guillotine for
she never cared about the people's opinion of her as their queen. She thought herself above the common folk. Pampered and disgustingly narcassistic she
paid the price, never learning from her mistakes. You should influence people and win friends
as Dale Carnegie suggests. It is more, than beneficial to be recognized
for your kindness and helpful demeanour. Be agreeable or face the consequences of being
indifferent. Be humble or be humbled. Law #44: Disarm and Infuriate With the Mirror
Effect Alcibiades charmed the Athenians, got accused
of profaning sacred statues and fled, then charmed the Spartans, impregnated the king's
wife and fled, then charmed the Persians and helped Athens win their war against Sparta. They welcomed him back with open arms. "Wherever Alcibiades went, whoever he had
to deal with, he would leave behind his own values and appear to share the values of his
victims. No one could resist a man who not only concurred
with them, but also admired their ways of living, seeming to be one of their own." You like people, who like you, who are like
you. Match people's energy, speak their language,
eat their food, find common ground and even envious people will drop their preconceived
notions about you. Law #45: Preach Change But Never Reform Quickly
Change is imperative, but human beings love the comfort familiarity provides. The unknown, disorder and chaos are very disruptive
and undesirable to us, even when it is for the better. Hence, we need small, incremental changes
that build over a long period of time allowing everyone to adjust at a comfortable pace. You are moving things in the right direction,
while avoiding stirring up too much anxiety and dissent. Change things gradually, one step at a time,
dragging the voluntary rest of us with you. Law #46 Never Appear Too Perfect
"It takes great talent and skill to conceal one’s talent and skill." - La Rochefoucauld
If you have been paying attention, you will have noticed that a lot of these power plays
revolve around the master and the student or slave, domination and submission, superiority
or authority and inferiority, ego, pride, arrogance and envy, jealousy, hatred. It's a very vicious and ultimately destructive
cycle. Everyone wants to be the king, no one wants
to be the pawn. Me, I don't want to be a pawn, but I don't
want to be the king either. I don't want to envy nor be envied. I want to be the faceless man behind the throne. I don't want to be on the chessboard. I don't want to be a visible target, but I
still want to win at the game of power no matter what side loses. Law #47: In Victory Learn When To Stop
In 1751 Madame de Pompadour found herself unable to satisfy Louis XV's lust. To hold onto her privileged position she arranged
younger, prettier women to keep the king happy. This was a loss for she had to swallow her
pride and share Louis with others. They, however, could not compete with her
charm, talents, taste and flawless sense for fashion. "Her reign as mistress had lasted an unprecedented
twenty years." Don't push too far or you risk losing it all. Know when to take a loss and move on. Law #48: Assume Formlessness
The Spartans, the most powerful infantry the world had ever seen at the time, lost the
war with Athens, for they were outnumbered and unwilling to change their views. They did not adapt to circumstance. They did not build walls. They did not want to conquer new lands, nor
engage in trade for gold gave rise to corruption. Meanwhile Athens was thriving through constant
reform. Sparta fell behind and collapsed. Don't fight change. When you catch yourself in the futile attempt
to resist a new order, remind yourself that you not only missed the opportunity to predict
it, but to adapt to it in time. You have to be antifragile. As Bruce Lee said, and this is the closing
statement, "You must be shapeless, formless, like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the
cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes
the bottle. When you pour water in a teapot, it becomes
the teapot. Water can drip and it can crash. Be water my friend."
I watched this video today and the more I watched it, the more I found myself thinking to the Ventrue and the Camarilla as a whole. The first time I played a Ventrue in a Camarilla game I found myself lost-how did I amass more power? How would I know I was succeeding? And of all things, how did I avoid final death? This video is a pretty comprehensive ruleset for leadership and gaining power whether for players or for STs seeking to make a believable and properly thought out Prince who's actions allow him to remain in unquestionable power.
Of course this could also help an ST create something else entirely, flawed leaders, those in charge or perhaps followers who break one of these rules and find themselves with a weakness even they may not know they have. A commonly broken rule is #40, which states that gifting and aiding ones enemies is far more effective than openly opposing them, and makes you far safer as a result.
On the flipside Rule #2 is followed pretty well by most elders, and could be taken advantage of in an interesting way, flipping it on its head and having an elder who wields much power, but trusts the wrong people, or perhaps trusts too many people as his friends.
There's also things like Rule #24 which discuss a proper way to play a Toreador as a courtier, and how Toreador are, in effect, rulers in and of themselves and not simply crazy hedonists.
Check it all out and share your own stories of power in the threads below, see if you can tie them into followed or even broken laws listed out in the video.
Great for Vampires in a mocked up setting, not so great (and not really based on a lot of human psychology/study) for living ethically. This is very much just a rehash of Machiavelli's "The Prince".
However, as an ST, I'd love to hear someone read this book and then just create complex characters that shit all over these laws. Violate those expectations!