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Law 1:

Never outshine the master

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.

Law 2:

Never put too much thrust in friends, learn how to use enemies.

Be wary of friends - they will betray you more quickly, for they are easily aroused to envy.
They also become spoiled and tyrannical.
But hire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a friend, because he has more to prove.
In fact, you have more to fear from friends than from enemies.
If you have no enemies, find a way to make them.

Law 3:

Conceal your intentions

Keep people off-balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions.
If they have no clue what you are up to, the cannot prepare a defense.
Guide them far enough down the wrong path, envelop them in enough smoke, and by the time they realize your intentions, it will be too late.

(Win the victory before you declare the war)

Law 4:

Always say less than necessary

When you are trying to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear, and the less in control.
Even if you are saying something banal, it will seem original if you make it vague, open-ended and sphinxlike.
Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less.
The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish.

(The human tongue is a beast that few can master. It strains constantly to break out of its cage, and if it is not tamed, it will run wild and cause you grief.)

Law 5:

So much depends on reputation - guard it with your life

Reputation is the cornerstone of power.
Through reputation alone you can intimidate and win; once it slips, however, you are vulnerable, and will be attacked on all sides.
Make your reputation unassailable.
Always be alert to potential attacks and thwart them before they happen.
Meanwhile, learn to destroy your enemies by opening holes in their own reputations. Then stand aside and let public opinion hang them.