A Cursive Look at Power

The 48 Laws of Power is one of such books that deeply resonates with me, both on an empathic and intellectual level, and it will be fraud against the mental ingenuity of the author, Robert Greene, if I read such a masterpiece, learnt great lessons from him, and never talk about them. The book—though highly manipulative in nature, and describes techniques that deny inmost piety (for at times, as the book teaches, getting ultimate power may mean walking through amoral paths and taking conscienceless measures—like crushing an opponent totally, and doing that without mercy)—will be my gift to everyone I know. For it communicates with boldness the weighty matters many are afraid to talk about—the abstruse subject of power—demystifying it in its most apt, most understandable, and most raw form. The book is such an interesting read and an adventure on its own, as anybody who has read it would readily testify.

The book—The 48 Laws of Power—segmentalized into several parts, explored different areas of power with: laws describing and guiding each areas; transgressions and observances of such laws from very compelling anecdotes; interpretations of both cases; keys to power—a segment which distills and informs on practical steps to be taken when in positions/environments of power; image—figurative words, sentences which vividly explain the concept of the laws; and then finally, explanations on possible reversals of each law. The book shows how a little flop in the application of a law of power, may sometimes have little unseen effect, but most times, have effects that can be so great to potentially undo any man from the seat of power. But what is power?

Power is not just the ability or capacity to do work. Power is a very fragile element—it is the unseen force connecting every organization, institution, or any association that involves people or movements. It is the influence exercised by a few of such people on the behaviours and responses of the majority. Power, contrary to popular belief is not respect. In contrast, power is the fear you evoke from others. Power is not love. Power is not hatred either. But power resides somewhere in the middle of love and hatred, and if you have a word for that, then that is power. Simply because, power is like a two-way game, when you are loved there is a way you play it, and also when you are hated, there is how the game is played. Interesting, isn't it??

Generally, and it is very obvious, people of power are often loved by many and hated by many—and that is a rule on its own. Others' affection for a man in power depends solely on their choice, and their perception of the man, simply because a man in power cannot control the outcome of such emotions like love and hatred felt toward him. No matter how hard he tries, he cannot be loved/hated by all. Both emotions only become tools in the arsenals of a man in power when others outrightly express (or he senses it himself) either of the two emotions towards him. But surely, despite him not having control over the feelings of others, a man of power can still certainly control (or predict, as in most cases) the outcome of their actions. So that no matter the emotion (love or hatred) brewing forth from others toward him, he can still induce them to act on his own bidding.

Power is very delicate and quantifiable. People of power can be easily recognized. And powers are also in levels. The degree of power wielded by the president is obviously unequal to that of the peasant. Even though both can be people of power. In his own community, the peasant can have little influence on few people of his class, but such influences or little manifests of power are incomparable to those exercised by the president who has influence in all corners of the country, and his circle of influence is surely greater than that of a peasant residing in a countryside—which in another word means, power pass power!

The game of power is a very delicate game, requiring the need to arm yourself with essential knowledge to operate relevantly in the sphere. Otherwise, you get your butt kicked out in no time. The auras of power, since the time of old, have been known to only revolve around the man who has the skills, tricks, and strategies to play the game of power exceptionally well. Power, not just money (though money also grants some access to untold power) makes the world go round. You just have to build yourself up, learn the arts of the game and play it skillfully, else you become a victim, a sucker, and a pawn on the chessboard of others who took their time to learn the arts of the game.

As oppose to popular belief, true power does not lie in title, or even in position (though some titles and position may give you some recognizable form of power—like political positions), it lies in the ability of a man to recognize opportunities for rising, and seize those opportunities, swimming on the tides of the laws of power. History doesn't commend the man who was born into power, and if it does, it only does that a little. But for the man who moved from shame to fame, rising from ashes to gold, through the application of certain principles of power—deceptions and tricks inclusive—such a man's name is most likely to be etched in the World's Hall of Fame, and likely to be remembered for his deed.

History will never forget men like the Renaissance writer Pietro Aretino, who saw the chance to ride on the wings of power by writing satirical works full of mockeries about the lives and character of great men of the then Roman empire—rich aristocrats of his time, and men among which are Pope Leo X, and the king of France himself. Writing about each one according to his best-known weakness, and the result of which ultimately gave him his place in the house of power, where he was able to work more on his art, attract more fame, wealth, and a taste of what power means firsthand, when he could have been contented in the position of a mere lackey feeding from the crumbs of a wealthy Roman family as an assistant scullion.

Aretino, is one of such man who changed his own narratives, made a name for himself, and made himself a force to be reckoned with, just by the encounter and application of a simple law of power—"Enter Action With Boldness". Also, his strategy was equally simple, but very potent. Robert Greene called it "The Aretino Strategy", which says, "When you are as small and obscure as David was, you must find a Goliath to attack." Aretino applied just that single law, manifested through his strategy, and the aura of power compassed about him, giving him access to untold power that even the great emperor of Hapsburg—a great force in the time of Aretino—grew afraid of him.

The book—The 48 Laws of Power—contains forty plus eight different set of such laws which guarantee access to untold power, or preservation and enlargement of one's circle of influence. But out of all the laws, the law which caught my attention the most is the 38th law which says, "Think As You Like But Behave Like Others", and the anecdote—when the waters were changed—that follows to prove that law was equally powerful. For while it is not supporting 'full conformity', it pushes forward that one must do everything in one's capacity to not be singularly singled out as being 'stupid' or 'insane' when in the company of multitude, who are apt to prove and defend the 'rightness' and 'authenticity' of their very own ideologies and way of thinking. To such folks, tell them plainly—"you are right"—to avoid further arguments. Just act as if you agree, by gulping your own opinions, to keep your sanity, and also, your life.

The book—through the exploration of the 48 laws and their respective applications, and having the laws etched around the Machiavellian principle (which state that the acquisition and effective use of power will often necessitate unethical method)—generally depicts that there is no originality in the game of power, the laws were discovered (no one created them), were tested, and have proven to have worked for those that applied them. And just like any law, they are irrefutable. Yours, as a man hungry for power is to follow the footsteps of those who observed each law (this equally mean doing the direct opposite of what those who transgressed the laws did) and you will get the same results as them. Learning the art of power from great forces and figure of the past—power in the art of governing from the German unification driver, Bismarck Otto Von; power in the business of deception from Yellow Kid Weil; power in the art of business from J.P Morgan; power in the art of war from Sun Tzu; power in the affairs of the state from the great king of China, King Louis XIV; and many many others— and be rest assured that you can never go wrong by applying their experiences.

I have learnt more from the book than I have done in the past ten years of my life. Get the book and peruse through the content for more insight on the subject of power. I can assure you, the experience is heaven.