TODO_AUTHOR, (Greene 2023)

Summary

Thoughts

Notes

The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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No one wants less power; everyone wants more. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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This game of constant duplicity most resembles the power dynamic that existed in the scheming world of the old aristocratic court. Throughout history, a court has always formed itself around the person in power—king, queen, emperor, leader. The courtiers who filled this court were in an especially delicate position: They had to serve their masters, but if they seemed to fawn, if they curried favor too obviously, the other courtiers around them would notice and would act against them. Attempts to win the master’s favor, then, had to be subtle. And even skilled courtiers capable of such subtlety still had to protect themselves from their fellow courtiers, who at all moments were scheming to push them aside. Meanwhile the court was supposed to represent the height of civilization and refinement. Violent or overt power moves were frowned upon; courtiers would work silently and secretly against any among them who used force. This was the courtier’s dilemma: While appearing the very paragon of elegance, they had to outwit and thwart their own opponents in the subtlest of ways. The successful courtier learned over time to make all of his moves indirect; if he stabbed an opponent in the back, it was with a velvet glove on his hand and the sweetest of smiles on his face. Instead of using coercion or outright treachery, the perfect courtier got his way through seduction, charm, deception, and subtle strategy, always planning several moves ahead. Life in the court was a never-ending game that required constant vigilance and tactical thinking. It was civilized war. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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Everything must appear civilized, decent, democratic, and fair. But if we play by those rules too strictly, if we take them too literally, we are crushed by those around us who are not so foolish. As the great Renaissance diplomat and courtier Niccolò Machiavelli wrote, “Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number who are not good.” ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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The game is the same. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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its all in the game ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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To some people the notion of consciously playing power games—no matter how indirect—seems evil, asocial, a relic of the past. They believe they can opt out of the game by behaving in ways that have nothing to do with power. You must beware of such people, for while they express such opinions outwardly, they are often among the most adept players at power. They utilize strategies that cleverly disguise the nature of the manipulation involved. These types, for example, will often display their weakness and lack of power as a kind of moral virtue. But true powerlessness, without any motive of self-interest, would not publicize its weakness to gain sympathy or respect. Making a show of one’s weakness is actually a very effective strategy, subtle and deceptive, in the game of power (see Law 22, the Surrender ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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Another strategy of the supposed nonplayer is to demand equality in every area of life. Everyone must be treated alike, whatever their status and strength. But if, to avoid the taint of power, you attempt to treat everyone equally and fairly, you will confront the problem that some people do certain things better than others. Treating everyone equally means ignoring their differences, elevating the less skillful and suppressing those who excel. Again, many of those who behave this way are actually deploying another power strategy, redistributing people’s rewards in a way that they determine. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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alt right paybook always a bigger fish ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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In truth, the use of honesty is indeed a power strategy, intended to convince people of one’s noble, good-hearted, selfless character. It is a form of persuasion, even a subtle form of coercion. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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Once again, those who make a show or display of innocence are the least innocent of all. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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doubt. or, at least, we do not all desire the same levels of power. Everyone can cite in their lives someone who has done them true kindness. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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since all of us hunger for power, ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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If the world is like a giant scheming court and we are trapped inside it, there is no use in trying to opt out of the game. That will only render you powerless, and powerlessness will make you miserable. Instead of struggling against the inevitable, instead of arguing and whining and feeling guilty, it is far better to excel at power. In fact, the better you are at dealing with power, the better friend, lover, husband, wife, and person you become. By following the route of the perfect courtier (see Law 24) you learn to make others feel better about themselves, becoming a source of pleasure to them. They will grow dependent on your abilities and desirous of your presence. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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feels gross. picku artist esque. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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You cannot repress anger or love, or avoid feeling them, and you should not try. But you should be careful about how you express them, and most important, they should never influence your plans and strategies in any way. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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For the future, the motto is, “No days unalert.” Nothing should catch you by surprise because you are constantly imagining problems before they arise. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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Deception and masquerade should not be seen as ugly or immoral. All human interaction requires deception on many levels, and in some ways what separates humans from animals is our ability to lie and deceive. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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or they recognize themselves within a game they hacve no skill in and say this as a genuine attempt to opt out ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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not all; most surely. though the reader self select for those eith some sociopathic tendencies. see also clueless from gervais principal ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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Learning the game of power requires a certain way of looking at the world, a shifting of perspective. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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The most important of these skills, and power’s crucial foundation, is the ability to master your emotions. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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Related to mastering your emotions is the ability to distance yourself from the present moment and think objectively about the past and future. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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of spending your time dreaming of your plan’s happy ending, you must work on calculating every possible permutation and pitfall that might emerge in it. The further you see, the more steps ahead you plan, the more powerful you become. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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Chin; Dont read history for lessons ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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historical examples ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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Power requires the ability to play with appearances. To this end you must learn to wear many masks and keep a bag full of deceptive tricks. Deception and masquerade should not be seen as ugly or immoral. All human interaction requires deception on many levels, and in some ways what separates humans from animals is our ability to lie and deceive. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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Power requires the ability to play with appearances. To this end you must learn to wear many masks and keep a bag full of deceptive tricks. Deception and masquerade should not be seen as ugly or immoral. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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You cannot succeed at deception unless you take a somewhat distanced approach to yourself—unless you can be many different people, wearing the mask that the day and the moment require. With such a flexible approach to all appearances, including your own, you lose a lot of the inward heaviness that holds people down. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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some quote: you dont owe your past self anything? I dont recall. The point is to allow yourself to change rapidly as circumstances change. wake everyday anew ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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patience in all things is your crucial shield. Patience will protect you from making moronic blunders. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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think like an immortal; like a thousand year old vampire ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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supreme virtue of the gods, who have nothing but time. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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Power is essentially amoral and one of the most important skills to acquire is the ability to see circumstances rather than good or evil. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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Power is a game—this ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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do not judge your opponents by their intentions but by the effect of their actions. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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“The value of a thing sometimes lies not in what one attains with it, but in what one pays for it—what it costs us.” ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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Power is a social game. To learn and master it, you must develop the ability to study and understand people. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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Never discriminate as to whom you study and whom you trust. Never trust anyone completely and study everyone, including friends and loved ones. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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The laws have a simple premise: Certain actions almost always increase one’s power (the observance of the law), while others decrease it and even ruin us (the transgression of the law). These transgressions and observances are illustrated by historical examples. The laws are timeless and definitive. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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insert doubt meme here ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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cringe ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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A warning, however, to those who use the book for this purpose: It might be better to turn back. Power is endlessly seductive and deceptive in its own way. It is a labyrinth—your mind becomes consumed with solving its infinite problems, and you soon realize how pleasantly lost you have become. In other words, it becomes most amusing by taking it seriously. Do not be frivolous with such a critical matter. The gods of power frown on the frivolous; they give ultimate satisfaction only to those who study and reflect, and punish those who skim the surfaces looking for a good time. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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Second, never imagine that because the master loves you, you can do anything you want. Entire books could be written about favorites who fell out of favor by taking their status for granted, for daring to outshine. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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First, you can inadvertently outshine a master simply by being yourself. There are masters who are more insecure than others, monstrously insecure; you may naturally outshine them by your charm and grace. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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Everyone has insecurities. When you show yourself in the world and display your talents, you naturally stir up all kinds of resentment, envy, and other manifestations of insecurity. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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NEVER OUTSHINE THE MASTER ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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Always make those above you feel comfortably superior. In your desire to please and impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite—inspire fear and insecurity. Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power. ======== The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)

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how many of the laws are expansions on: dont threaten,or make to feel threatened, those wth the power to crush you. Wait, plot, scheme, ========

Bibliography

Greene, Robert. 2023. “The 48 Laws of Power.” Wikipedia, January. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_48_Laws_of_Power&oldid=1130957995.