Law 33 delves on discovering each man's weakness and exploiting it to one's full advantage. Once you have found this weakness, then dig into its groove, "put your thumb in and turn him at will", just as you do with the thumbscrew.
It says that the most universal weakness is man's need for validation and recognition.
Arabella Huntington, wife of the late 19th century railroad magnate Collis P. Huntington came from humble beginnings and she had always sought social recognition, but did not receive it from her peers nor from the art dealers that sought her out. Only Joseph Duveen treated her well. Joseph recognized Arabella's need for social acceptance and thus went about developing the relationship with her, treating her as an equal, and never condescendingly teaching her about art, but rather making it appear that her ideas and taste for art were exquisite. Slowly, he convinced her that the best art was the most expensive art, and was successful in making her buy expensive paintings, the likes of Rembrandt and Velasquez. She further astounded the art scene by paying the highest price ever paid for a work of art at that time, Gainsborough's Blue Boy, naturally, with Joseph Duveen as the dealer.
Joseph Duveen knew where Arabella's weakness was and he just found ways to make her feel better about herself, her taste, her social standing and her intelligence. In exchange, Arabella turned out to be one of his most loyal clients. Once "hooked", he knew that she would come back again and again, never suspecting that he was turning on the thumbscrew on her. She just felt better doing what she was doing, knowing that there were people who appreciated her for that.
It actually takes a lot of effort to understand the other person's weaknesses, as we should be prepared to look out for the details, not only in the spoken work, but also in the unspoken. People normally put up a front, and thus we should probe beyond appearances. Since most weaknesses begin in childhood, know something more about the person's growing up years. Look for the roots of the two main emotional voids, which are insecurity and unhappiness, and fill it up. Feed on uncontrollable emotions, ie fear, lust, greed, vanity, hatred, etc, and as people with these emotions cannot control themselves, it leaves an opportunity for you to do the controlling for them.
I would like to believe that knowing other people's weaknesses could also be used to help other people rather than just dominating and exploiting. Doesn't this attitude make for a better relationship between peoples?
Laurine Fabul
Hi 18 L
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
23 comments:
i think that when you know your friend's weaknesses, it puts you in a position wherein you have to protect him from others. You would want to help your friend cover up his weaknesses. So yes, this law definitely can be of help to others and not just be a way of helping you gain power over others.
monica ang, L
Knowledge of another person's weakness can prove to be a very powerful asset. Exploiting this can grant control over various aspects surrounding the person who is said to have the weakness.
I agree that attacking the most basic emotional voids found in a person such as insecurities and unhappiness is the way to go in manipulating someone; be it for your own advantage or to help the person out.
I personally believe that helping out another person by discussing their weakness in a way that can help them mature is indeed an attitude that could help better relationships between people. In fact, I believe that this is one integral part of friendship. It's normal to see friends helping each other out, especially with whatever problems they may be going through. The fact that they talk about their friend's weakness to help out the friend himself/herself shows that it can be used to better human relationships. But one should keep in mind the saying that "your best friend could be your worst enemy." This is so, because as really close friends, they most probably hold valuable information (insecurities, etc.), which they may use to attack you, leaving you vulnerable. In the end, knowing one's weakness can be used as a means to destroy or better a person.
monica: knowing your friends weaknesses can put you in a powerful position, but protecting your friends? i think the better plan would be to help overcome or deal with the weakness? because protecting them by hiding the weakness even more makes them more vulnerable, i mean it would be better to work on the weakness and overcome it, right?
paolo: yes, your bestfriend or even your significant other can really be your worst enemy, because he/she knows what can destroy you best. that's why in meeting new people, you have to make sure you do not share too much information that may give out your weakness right away. always be "on alert" if you can, because other people enter our lives for the reason to exploit us.
laurine fabul, L
knowledge can definitely be a source of one's power. knowing another person well can really be advantageous because you will know how to deal with and approach that person. you become aware of that person's weaknesses and you can strike him in this area. however, gaining knowledge of someone is not an easy task. you really have to get to know the person well and find out as much as you can about him. you must be able to tell if that person's weaknesses are real and not a front or trick. for all we know, that person might see through your intentions. that is why you really have to find out his or her weakness and make sure that when you strike that area, that person will fall. you don't like to attack a person only to find out that you actually didn't get him in his weak spot.
can i just say that i love the fact that you believe in putting this law into good use. discovering other people's weaknesses should not just be about exploiting them. this law is not just about gaining power and personal glory. there's another side to this law too. if we are aware of other people's weaknesses, we can help them out because we know what areas they need to improve on. at the end of the day, you even did them a favor. the feeling of helping others is truly something worth having. who knows, that person also might help you someday in a time where you need it most. :)
-Philip Albert T. Verde
Hi18 K
to answer your question, no doubt that it can be used to help others. but since this book is called hte 48 laws of power, i think it's focused on being on top. and based on the laws i've read so far, it seems more like stepping on others is the way to go... for the author at least.
ocampo 18-k
Yes it helps build relationships, but if you wanna destroy and conquer, use the knowledge you gain to your advantage. Every person has a weakness, and it's in your power to get them to disclose such information to you. Call it emotional blackmail or backstabbing, but it works. Hit them at the area where they lack, when they least expect it. Use their weakness to further strengthen you. Their weakness would be your key to success.
Gliza Marasigan
Hi18-L
I applaud your alternate view of this law. This just goes to show that attaining power is not equivalent to stepping on other people, or even using them as pawns in one's grand conquest; rather, another way is to solidify friendships - reaching to the point of making one's enemies allies instead, forging friendships where bitter amnesty and hatred once reigned.
-Filbert Tan
Hi18-K
Philip:
Thank you! I always like seeing the other side of the coin :) And yes, it is hard to find out what are the weaknesses of people & sometimes when you dont pay attention it might be you who gets caught up in the middle of the game.
Remember in the movie Casino Royale where Bond was playing poker and he thought he knew the weakness of his opponent, yet he was tricked and lost his bet? That's a good example of failing to know the real weakness because the opponent was playing him as well. I guess two can play at that game.
Ocampo:
One can still have power by helping others. I know this book is about power and exploiting people, but with a different perspective people can actually make use of these laws and put it to good use. :)
Gliza:
Be careful with what secrets you tell your friends. Maybe someday, one might use it against you.
Filbert:
"rather, another way is to solidify friendships - reaching to the point of making one's enemies allies instead, forging friendships where bitter amnesty and hatred once reigned." --then the world would be a better place right? maybe a bit boring, but nevertheless safer & friendlier? :)
Laurine Fabul, L
laurine: yeah i agree. i thought that would also be in line with helping them cover up their weaknesses. not all weaknesses can be overcome or eroded entirely hence covering them up would be the best alternative. =)
pls comment on my law - the 47th 8)
monica ang L
doesn't it end up to a point that you have something to somehow blackmail your "friend"/"foe"? if so i agree that this is a great asset.
on the other hand, does the effort of knowing each man's thumbscrew worth it? especially with battles turning to be unexpected. i question the priority of this law, how much importance are you willing to give to it?
miguel ignacio, L
People just love getting their buttons pushed, don't they? Little do they know, they're also labeled self-destruct.
What I take from this law is that vanity is one of man's greatest weaknesses. And as his enemy, your best shot at toppling his integrity is through flattery. Until he's literally putty in your hands.
Joey Palma
Hi18-K
This I believe is a a very hard law to apply since it takes a huge investment on time in order for one to tap the weakness of another. Of course, you'll never know if it is their real weakness, as Philip pointed out. In the end it's not necessarily enough that you know your opponents weakness, it's how you use it to your advantage that matters.
Alan Ortiz
HI18 K
in connection to this law, there are people out there who believe that using other people's weaknesses against them is 'under the belt' yet it makes perfectly fine sense in times of say war and such... can anyone shed some light here? @_@
Jame Say
Hi18-K
Re: Jame
The real question posted to each and every person is about how much they'd be willing to give up their honor and dignity in exchange for power. That being said, I think it's kind of unavoidable since we don't really live in a perfect world, and in war that's most probably the opposite.
Filbert Tan
Hi18-K
This law could be used for or against your friends. One might take into consideration relationships as a form of power rather than gaining power for ones own benefit. I too believe that by knowing your friends or enemies thumbscrew, you could have an advantage over them. Kind of having the upper ground when it comes to making or breaking them apart.
Richard Hahn
L
I agree with Monica that knowing someone's weakness can be used in a rescue attempt in case they find themselves in trouble. They say in relationships, each member contributes something that the other lacks and is therefore able to compliment them.
If only the world was so innocent and kind. More often than not, exposure of weaknesses can lead to almost instant defeat. People these days have malicious intentions and one must be wary of them.
Regina A. Yulo
Hi 18 L
i agree with what you said about this law being used for good rather than evil. it falls both ways, in my opinion. in terms of enemies, it would put you on a very advantageous position to know their weaknesses. exploitation of which would eventually garner you victory. on the other hand, with the case of alliances, knowing the weaknesses of each one would help build up on your party as a whole. given, that is, that you are able to properly communicate to your allies what in your opinion, their weaknesses are. in this sense, open-mindedness among allies is essential.
-Angelo Mendoza, His18-L
This reminds me of violent cartoon shows with robot fight scenes (ex: Voltes V) where the main character/robot first tries to discover the weak spot of his opponent (his head, for example), and hits him right there. This law is very similar to that..we're just dealing with REAL people here. Hitting people in their "weak spot" is an easy way to destroy them. Getting to know your enemy to eventually discover his weakness will require a lot of effort, but i think it's all worth it.
Dana Cammayo
Hi18-L
If this law were not written in the laws of power book, I would’ve just thought filling up what other people lack is a way of making better relationships, like what Laurine said in her end sentence. But to think this “lack” can be considered a hole where a certain thumbscrew can be inserted (to fill the void) and used to manipulate or “turn” the person… This law takes advantage of a person’s weakness and helps one manipulate that person.
Though, since discovering the thumbscrew is hard work, one should choose the best people to use this law on. This can’t be used with every person one encounters – you’ll just end up exhausted after all’s done.
On Dana's comment: I don't think voltes v's strategy is not a very good example for this law.... i think what the law means is that you have to see a weakness and you have to fill in that weakness so that person will be compelled to do what you want - you can then manipulate the person. Like in the example, Arabella who seeks recognition was given just that by the paintings dealer Joseph. In return, Arabella became his loyal client. in the robots thing, no one is actually manipulated.
Chris Macalinao
Hi18 – L
Knowing a person's weakness can work two ways. The first way, it can be used to one's advantage through exploitation of this weakness. The second way, it can be used to fill in the gaps/flaws that we have as humans. Personally, I think people are like puzzle pieces; we all have our shortcomings and flaws, but other people can fill them in like puzzle pieces that connect together. So yeah, knowing a person's weakness can improve relationships. It's really just how you use the knowledge of someone's weakness, or thumbscrew.
Ria Rigoroso
Hi 18 - K
I like how you ended your entry. And yes, I agree that you can use other people's weakness to help them rather than exploiting them. Who knows, if you are able to help that person by strengthening his or her weakness, you may be able to earn his or her trust which makes you have a little control over him or her.
PC Magnaye
Hi18-K
"A person's strength can also be his weakness." Does this statement ring a bell?
One perfect example of this would be Achilles in the Helen of Troy. It's just unbelievable how the source of his power was also the one that lead to his defeat.
Meanwhile, I think that the reason why it is best to step into one’s life and be recognized during a person’s time of weakness is because a person is all softened up during that time. He is consumed by his emotions all too much, that most often that not, his emotions cloud his judgement. Now it’s up to you if you want to take advantage of that or not.
Chua Rojas, Serica
Hi 18 - L
So great your post. I like your post.
Cook at 48 Laws of Power foods.
Post a Comment