The 48 laws of power

He who can subdue, rules.“
Frank Herbert

„The 48 Laws of Power is a manual on the art of manipulation and deception.

The laws described here are drawn from the writings of dozens of prominent historical figures, each of whom was well versed in the rules of the power game in his own time and knew how to apply them masterfully.

These writings span an impressive period of more than three thousand years, having been produced in a variety of eras, from ancient China through Italy during the Renaissance to the late 20th century. Despite the different eras, however, common reflections, conclusions, and assessments pervade throughout, forming the essence of a theory of power that is still waiting for its researchers.

The 48 Laws under consideration are the quintessence of the world's accumulated wisdom over the centuries, drawn from the works of the most celebrated strategists - such as Sun Tzu and Clausewitz, statesmen such as Bismarck and Talleyrand, court luminaries such as Castiglione and Gratian, seducers and temptresses such as Giacomo Casanova and Ninon de Lancelot, as well as skilled swindlers such as Weil.