Quotes from book

The 48 Laws of Power

“Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number who are not good.”

“Despise The Free Lunch”

“The human tongue is a beast that few can master.”

“friendship and love blind every man to their interests.”

“All masters want to appear more brilliant than other people.”

“Never take your position for granted and never let any favors you receive go to your head.”

“Fools say that they learn by experience. I prefer to profit by others’ experience.”

“He who poses as a fool is not a fool.”

“Never waste valuable time, or mental peace of mind, on the affairs of others—that is too high a price to pay.”

“Remember: The best deceivers do everything they can to cloak their roguish qualities. They cultivate an air of honesty in one area to disguise their dishonesty in others. Honesty is merely another decoy in their arsenal of weapons.”

“Image: An Oak Tree. The oak that resists the wind loses its branches one by one, and with nothing left to protect it, the trunk fi nally snaps. The oak that bends lives long er, its trunk grow ing wider, its roots deeper and more tenacious.”

“When you meet a swordsman, draw your sword: Do not recite poetry to one who is not a poet.”

“There is nothing more intoxicating than victory, and nothing more dangerous.”

“do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?”

“Do not leave your reputation to chance or gossip; it is your life's artwork, and you must craft it, hone it, and display it with the care of an artist.”

“Never argue. In society nothing must be discussed; give only results. (Benjamin Disraeli, 1804–1881)”

“For the future, the motto is, "No days unalert.”

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

“An emotional response to a situation is the single greatest barrier to power, a mistake that will cost you a lot more than any temporary satisfaction you might gain by expressing your feelings.”