“If you are unsure of a course of action, do not attempt it.”
Impudence makes a lie more believable. An action done with audacity would yield more reaction, attention and oddly enough, even trust. The 28th law tells us to be explosive at being bold. It does not require of us to know what we say and be one hundred percent sure about it, as long as we exude an air of superiority. We lie at the pretence that we know everything; that we’re not vulnerable to thinking twice and making mistakes. More so, in addition to being audacious we must remember that thinking twice and showing that we could work on compromise would lead others to thinking that we can be pushed around like a doormat. After achieving the perfect explosive effrontery, work on asking for so much more than what you have planned. If done without qualms, it would work like a charm. Audacity, however, doesn’t always work for everyone. Sometimes, you have to feign helplessness – or maybe even respectable - and just when people think you’re exactly like that, you shock them with your boldness and cunning abilities. You make everyone believe and fear you for all the wrong reasons; pretending to be all-knowing and omnipotent.
Consider what Count Victor Lustig did back in 1925 – he tried selling the Eiffel Tower to five of the most successful dealers in the scrap metal business, and he “sold” it for 250,000 francs (money amounting to $1,000,000 now). The poor victim, Monsieur P, actually believed what Count Victor Lustig said simply because he thought no one would ever pull off a con job involving something so massive and obvious like the Eiffel Tower.
The 28th law, if put into mind (and action) could lead to two different situations: one wherein you become the best that you can be; successful in making everyone believe in whatever you say. On the other hand, you could end up being the “best” liar anyone had ever known – but in a really negative way. Boldness without careful planning could and would lead to your own downfall. In fact, pure boldness could be overwhelming, as in the case of Ivan the Terrible who was unable to tell whether or not boldness is still needed. Needless to say, his ineptitude paved the way to his own pit of failure.
Although the 28th law would more or less work if it were planned out carefully, would you really put your morals on the line in order for you to get to the top? Would you risk being called the “big fat liar” for fooling everyone? Would you be able to take it if people find out that you’re one “pretentious snake” who’s out to use everyone? Think about it.
Anna Santos
Hi18-K
15 comments:
i don't have the guts for very tall tales so nope, i ain't risking my reputation on my lying skills (not just because it's wrong, but also because i'm just not a very good liar).
Your entry reminds me of this movie, Cheaters. The lead cheater gets caught cheating during a test by his teacher. Instead of going out quietly or simply denying it, he reacted violently about how offended he was, took off his shirt to show he had nothing on him and kept shouting, "Do you think i cheated? Give me the test right now! I'll take it right now, i'm ready!" lol his teacher, of course, was then very sorry he accused him.
monica ang, L
i like the fact that you gave importance to planning for this law. one must carefully choose how and when to be bold. lying all the time will not work out because what if people want you to produce results and back up your boldness? if you have nothing to show for it, then you might get into trouble. that is why, one must be prepared for this and appear credible enough.
to be labeled a liar and to be known as nothing else but a liar is definitely umpleasant. i guess it is really up to the person if he chooses to lie or not, whether his intentions and goals are worth it or not.
-Philip Albert T. Verde
Hi18 K
i agree with monica. i suck at lying. i'll be called out the minute i say the lie. i am also extremely far from being fearless. so. one, i'd never attempt to use this law. two, props to those who can pull it off. i may not necessarily believe them. but i will definitely admire them for either really believing in what they're doing or acting like they do really really well.
ocampo 18-k
Do you even believe there is such a thing as a white lie?
Santos
Hi18 K
Fake it 'til you make it.
I remember watching a fairly recent biopic about how the modern computing industry was born and shaped. Pirates of Silicon Valley (1999) it was called. The particular scene I want to focus on was when Bill Gates was pitching his operating system to IBM. Here you had this Harvard drop-out selling DOS to the top computer company at the time. Thing is, Gates didn't even have DOS at the time. This nerd had diddly squat! But as luck would have it, he sold it to them anyway and eventually, he did write the OS and the rest is history.
I tell you, you want to know who has the brass to take things bigger than himself? Bill Gates, that's who.
Joey Palma
Hi18-K
"If you're unsure of the course of action, do not attempt it" -- true. We can't have any more leaders who live by saying "maybe we could" or "baka pwedeng.." because it could just lead to disastrous outcomes.
For me, boldness does not necessarily equate to being the biggest liar. You could be the most bold and confident, and still maintain a reputable image. You don't need to be pretentious, you just have to know when to get involved in an issue or agree in doing something. You cannot leave any loop holes and whatnot. With this, you may have the chance to improve on what you lack and not turn the situation into a mere trial stage, where in the end you'll say.. "Oops.. I guess I was wrong."
Gliza Marasigan
Hi18-L
This just says that you should take a risk and be confident with it -- confident enough that you can succeed in that action, but we must not be relying on confidence alone. Boldness and confident must only sustain the essence of your action. This law tells us that we have to be assured and show that we are assure in doing something, and the substance will follow.
Well, I don’t think it works that way.
Boldness is important but after showing superiority, then what? You have to prove substance along with the boldness you’ve performed. Once you’ve gained respect and the admiration of the majority, giving way to your action, can you fulfil the action flawlessly? The work does not end in being bold. It is important but that comes after should be the focus of the doer. I still say, plan it all out. Be sure. Be bold and be sure with your game plan. Surely, you can never go wrong with that.
Mara Liboro
Hi18-K
@Gliza:
I agree that being bold doesn't always equate to being a liar.. but don't you think boldness without bending or twisting your words would actually work?
Take some politicians as an example. They overemphasize the importance of their presence in the congress or the government by their platforms.. but do they even stick to it?
I guess being bold doesn't really require someone to make a huge lie - more of exaggerating things, or twisting your words.
Anna Santos
Hi18-K
this law reminds me of one of my dad's favorite quotes, "Boldness in business is the first, second and third thing." (H.G. Bohn)
Nothing produces the same effect as well as something done with courage and style combined.
joey, i love your use of that scene from Pirates of Silicon Valley! what bill gates did there was awesome.
it reminds me of another movie too, although the scene here is not as astounding. it's from "the Girl next door" where Emile Hirsch's straigh arrow goody-goody boy tears up his speech notes in front of the audience, tosses them away and gives a speech from his heart. His bravado combined with his words earned him a standing ovation. but unfortunately he didn't win. =(
“Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.” --Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
monica ang L
pls comment on my post - the 47th law! =) thanks
I agree with this law. Giving off an air of all knowingness does help gain power. Insecurities and 2nd guessing can only lead to downfall. This is very evident in table tennis. In table tennis, you have to be sure on what tactic you are going to use, whether it is defensive, offensive or a mix of both. If you are half hearted to attack, 70 percent of the time the shot will not go in. You have to be bold in the decision whether to attack or not. It is also most likely that the first person to attack will win the point in the game.
Sean Co
Hi 18 K
what i think this law is trying to say is that you have to stick to what you have chosen to do until the end. even if somewhere along the road you realize that your course of action was not the best thing that you could have taken, stick to it. by doing so, you give off the impression that you are confident in what you are doing which in turn can somehow make it seem right, even to only some of the people who see your actions.
- Bjorn Umali, Hi18-L
In a certain sense actually, this law also affects the way one sees oneself. Confidence is sometimes the key between failure and success, as there are unavoidable circumstances where a single moment of doubt will lead to utter failure.
Filbert Tan
Hi18-K
This is one risky law. I personally think that we should always know what comes out of our mouth so that we can defend it with all conviction. The superiority we exude is more effective if we are truthful about all our ideas and words.
Rhea Entuna
section L
i would have to disagree with the suggestion of lying in the pretense that we know everything. Such an action gives way to naivety. Naivety, in turn gives way to defeat. thinking that you are the best leaves you vulnerable. pride would merely lead you to your defeat. As the old saying goes, the mark of a wise man is that he knows he does not know everything.
-Angelo Mendoza, His18-L
I actually agree with this a lot. Well done, Anna!
And in relation to what Monica Ang said, I think that the lack of guts isn't the only that stops most people from applying this law. It's also the complication that arises from starting out on a small lie. A few days ago, my dad told me something about how when someone starts with a small lie, he'd have to create a lie slightly bigger than the first one to cover it up. And then he'd have to create another lie bigger than the second one to cover the previous 2 ...and that just goes on and on and on until every single detail you come up with gets entangled in a spider web. The lack of inconsistency in those details will be the loophole lawyers go for in court cases. And they will most likely be the ones to send you to jail.
Chua Rojas, Serica
Hi 18 - L
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