Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Law 28: Enter Action with Boldness

A leader must move with nothing less than absolute confidence. The bolder the lie, the better. It is by the greatness of the lie does the enemy no longer sees the lie. The sheer audacity of the lie makes it more convincing. Audacity creates fear and thus becomes power and, with power, anyone can do the impossible.

Once hesitant, a person is no longer in power and thus no longer in control. A leader cannot lead with “maybe”s and “I think”s. Hesitation only creates gaps wherein the enemy can intervene. A half heart digs a deep grave.

In May 1925, five successful scrap-metal businessmen were invited to buy off the Eiffel Tower from the government, with the reason that its maintenance cost was too high and the liked. Attracted, one of them won a bid for the tower. However, once the businessman was suspicious of the credibility of the deal, the “official” asked for a bribe, which made the deal more believable and put the businessman in relief. It is only in the next few days that the businessman found out that the Eiffel Tower was not being sold and he had lost 250,000 francs.

We can see when the con artist saw the hesitation of the businessman, he made his lie bolder by asking for a bribe, which ultimately led to his success.

In Russia, a young Ivan, heir to the throne but a mere child, was overthrown by his father's rivals, the boyars. After a several years of silent withdrawal, he suddenly ask the Prince Andrei Shuisky to come to his room. There he ordered the royal guard, who grew to hate the boyars, to have the prince executed. Withing the next few days he banished all of Andrei's associates. This is the story of the Ivan the Terrible.

In Ivan's case, his sudden boldness and shift action caught his rivals off guard and led him to reclaim his throne.

However, boldness is only a tactical strategy and should not always be the basis of all your actions. If audacity is your only weapon in life, you will offend too many people and leave you too vulnerable.

Jan Christian Leyson
hi 18 - L

Monday, December 22, 2008

Law 8 MAKE OTHER PEOPLE COME TO YOU- USE BAIT IF NECESSARY

Making other people come to you seems like a pretty obvious tactic for those who desire or have power but knowing this fact is far from actually being able to implement it, let alone master, it. The essence of this tactic is twofold: one, is it is simply a way of being implementing another tactic that is having control. By making people come to you you force them to abandon their plans and conform to your own mind's concotions, uknowing of what comes next. Knowledge is power, as they say. The great Napoleon Bonaparte's minister, Talleyrand expertly put shows this effect of making people come into your own territory.

Talleyrand made Napoleon come to him by baiting him with he sweet temptations of mass support and appeal in his homeland through Napoleon's many visitors in Elba. By convincing others of his motives, he succesfully got Napoleon back to France unscathed and without challenge. But after Napoleon had regained power, he quickly lost it due to a scarcity of resources. Talleyrand was very aware of the circumstances when he laid his trap. By controling all the variables in your territory and drawing your unsuspecting prey into your turf, control is maximized.

The second thing that this tactic tries to accomlish is that it hopes to drain the ones being drawn out of their energy thus denying them their full potentials and capabilities. This is quite obvious and simple but is devilishly put into use by the Japanese in their war against the Russians in 1905.

The Japanese had a vastly inferior navy to Russia but by baiting them with false rumors that exxagerated their inferiority, they lured the Russians to attack. Because the shortest possible way to Japan was British territory, the only way they had left was by passing the Cape of Good Hope. By again, spreading false rumor that the Japanese were sailing to launch a counter-attack, the already tired seamen on their way were hit by another blow of stress and anxiety thus making them unfit for battle when they reached Japan, making theirs and easy victory.
A counter to this tactic is its obverse, striking quickly and aggressively. This forces the agressee to be in a state of panic and forces them to respond to your moves thus serving the same purpose. This can be taken that the rule is not absolute but rather its purpose is what it hopes to attain, which is attainable through other methods. This brings us to another saying, does the end, sometimes, not justify the means?

Diego Elpidio Juan Canlas IbaƱez
Hi-18 K

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Law 23: Concentrate Your Forces

Conserve your forces and energies by keeping them concentrated at their strongest point. You gain more by finding a rich mine and mining it deeper, than by flitting from one shallow mine to another – intensity defeats extensity every time. When looking for sources of power to elevate you, find the one key patron, the fat cow who will give you milk for a long time to come.
Law 23 is basically, in a way, connected to the law of attraction.

It talks about how our focus and attention in life has to be centered on what we really want and how to get there. What we do in general has to always revolve around our main and end goal. And despite the many other decisions, choices and distractions we come across along the way, we must never lose track and instead hold on and maximize the path that will lead us to where we really want to go.

In the same way, in the law of attraction, priorities have to be set before we pursue anything in our lives. Once that has been set, we must concentrate and think positively on our target and constantly aspire to get there. The clearer and more positive our outlook, the less complicated and easier it will be to achieve what we want. Our positive and focused energy will be a magnet for that.

In both principles, they simply stress the need to give attention to and strengthen our energies towards our objectives. It is all about focusing on what we really want and doing things that will help us make it happen. In law 23, every outcome that we want to happen or that will take place will depend and revolve around how much concentration we put to it.

An example would be a man juggling 3 sports at a time, let’s say baseball, soccer and basketball. The man can be good in all sports, but the tendency is he would only be able to reach a certain level because he has two other sports to focus on. But when the man only plays one sport then he is able to put all his focus in training, conditioning, and weights training. Because he does not need to balance so much his concentration is only on one thing which gives him a greater opportunity to master the sport and surpass any competitors.

Tiffany Mathay
Hi 18 -L

Friday, December 19, 2008

Law #46: Never Appear too Perfect

As you rise in power, attention will inevitably turn on you. The book says that, in these cases, you should not take all the credit, but act in such a way that your "audience" will see that your achievement is "attainable" as well. It is just not natural for people to be too perfect, and appearing so will create envy in other people. This envy will make them turn either hypocritical, or over-praising; both indications of upcoming trouble. You should acknowledge some shortcomings to appear more human, to make people see you as this real and approachable person. In short, never take all the credit for your accomplishments. Say that luck or other factors also had a play in your success.

An example of a person who may relate to this law is Joseph. When he told his dream to his brothers, it was not exactly an "achievement" yet, but as he is already envied by his brothers, his dreams of success led to more envy, which became the cause of his demise. He redeemed himself, though, in the future, when he was already a vizier. He said that it was in the LORD's plan to save their family that they [his brothers] sold him to the passing traders (sort of emphasizing the "fate" part that he is in that position).

But in this age, where people are generally more competitive, and want to project that he/she is always better than the next person, what are the pitfalls of admitting to your weaknesses?

Sydney Arbilo~
070244
HI18-L

Law 26: Keep your hands clean.

Men and women who have risen to power all have something in common; clean hands. Law 26 is all about either acting in a manner that no matter what happens, you’re free of blame or dealing with mistakes or circumstances in a manner that avoids the impending blame altogether. They never directly involve themselves (publicly, at least) in mistakes and unpleasant affairs, and they do this in two ways; either by having someone take the fall for their mistakes- a scapegoat, or by having someone else do their dirty work- a cat’s paw. The only other way with dealing with inevitable mistakes is to apologize and make excuses.

An example of this law can be seen in our local politics. We all know that a lot of our politicians are corrupt, or are dealing shady business, but these politicos all use cat’s paws that do their dirty work- agents who have agents who have even more agents. The people we see getting caught on the news are often just pawns of even bigger fish. By having others do their dirty work, these politicians safeguard themselves.

However, this law isn’t just used by crooked people. Even the most benevolent of rulers fall onto this rule; the biblical King David fell onto this rule. King David chosen by God; he was seen as a righteous king, but after committing adultery with Bathsheba, he attempted to clean his hands of his deed by Uriah to his death at the front lines. He would have gotten away with it too, if God wasn’t all seeing. This is an example of trying to find a scapegoat.

A contemporary example of confessing to a mistake can be seen in former US president Bill Clinton’s infidelity to his wife, Hillary Clinton. After admitting his mistake, many questioned his ability and right as president, and lead to his impeachment. The problem with confessing to a mistake is the fact that once you do admit to one, it leads to those who follow you to question your abilities. The image of a faultless leader is lost, and people begin to see you as the possible cause of already existing problems. Of course, if you’re a person in power or searching for power, you don’t want others questioning your abilities.

One must ask however, why do people agree to be scapegoats for others? Is the use of a scapegoat justifiable? Should those in power keep their hands clean, or should they be transparent?

Ria Rigoroso
Hi 18 - K

Law 13: When Asking for Help, Appeal to People’s Self-Interest, Never to their Mercy or Gratitude

A quote that would best exemplify why this law exists is this:
“Dear, never forget one little point. It's my business. You just work here.”
-Elizabeth Arden, businesswoman, to her husband
The minute the husband acts up or is no good for her, *poof* gone. He’s dispensable regardless of their marriage ties or anything in the past.
The law is basically self-explanatory. Everything was mentioned there: appeal to people’s self-interest and not their mercy or gratitude. An example of a transgression of this law happened in Italy during the 13th century wherein Stefano di Poggio brought about his family’s generosity towards Castruccio Castracani to appeal to his better nature (make him feel guilty and in debt towards them). Since Castruccio had a huge obligation towards the Poggios, he invited them over to his place. Then he had them imprisoned and executed every single one of them. A favorite line of mine from the text was, “Castruccio rid himself of his obligations to the Poggios by eliminating the Poggios.” how morbidly funny, the irony. Before the Peloponnesian War, Corcyra and Corinth were trying to win Athens over as allies. Corinth’s plea was an exciting speech about all the good they did for Athens while Corcyra gave a boring offer was an intimidating alliance against the Spartans. Guess who won? Corcyra of course, this was because Athens is an advanced city and they were still progressing. How can one progress if another one keeps bringing up the past? It’s all about looking into the future.
Asking for help is an art: it requires the ability to understand the people you’re dealing with and not to confuse your needs with theirs. Some people would prefer you to feed their greed while others will gladly feed off your desperation (makes them feel superior towards you), which is why you have to be able to clearly read them. “Self-interest is the lever that will move people…When they ooze greed, do not appeal to their charity. When they want to look charitable and noble, do not appeal to their greed.” Power is all about manipulation: the people, the situation and the outcome.
Why is it easier though to remember one’s mistake and forget all the good one person has done?
- Gloria Gail C. Lim, K

Law 41: Avoid Stepping into a Great Man’s Shoes

The 41st law of power implies to the reader to avoid stepping into a great man’s shoes. This law basically says that when you succeed a great man or a powerful and successful parent, you will have a long and difficult journey ahead of you as you will have to make something more magnificent than what they have done in order to be remembered. It encourages the reader to get out of a past not of his own making and step out of the shadow of the great figure by establishing a reputation and identity of one’s self through a radical new course. Thus when inheriting a business empire, do not simply be satisfied with what has been given, expand and innovate into different field less one wish to end up in ruins.

On having a predecessor especially a father who is both glorious and great, be weary as if one does not act, he shall simply disappear in the shadows of the great man. Sometimes the “father” seeks to undermine the efforts of the “son” and tries to put him in line, if the “son” becomes defiant he may be able to be great yet if he falters under the whims of the “father” he will disappear into obscurity. Thus it is said distance one’s self from the past, create a new empire from the foundations of the old, and psychologically imagine to start from scratch for it is through this that one would be able to amass greatness as necessity is what impels men to take action. A proper illustration of this would be Frederick the Great who in his youth was often beaten up by his father for reading books, patronizing the arts and doing many other cultural, scientific and artistic activities which his father considered “unmanly”. This however did not prevent Frederick from pursuing his interest and placed him at odds with his father at many occasions. His father, Frederick Wilhelm I, known to history as “the soldier-king” was a man who preferred to spend all his time in drilling soldiers and forced Frederick to do the same. Later-on when Frederick became King he was able to use everything he had learned whilst reading the many books which his father had considered a waste of time and at the same time what he learned from his father to make Prussia one of the greatest political, cultural and militaristic nation in Europe during the 18th century.

Aaron ChanII –
BS Management
History 18, L

Law 43: Work on the Hearts and Minds of Others

The greatest way to win a war is by the art of persuasion and seduction. For if you win over a place or nation by force, their resentments towards you slowly turn into hate and therefore you lose all your power over them. But if instead, you win the war by working on their minds and hearts, using their likes and dislikes to control them, eventually you form not servants and potential rebels to your reign but fiercely loyal allies. By catering to each and everyone’s personal psychologies and exploiting their weaknesses, you slowly crush them and break them down in despair. And if you are wise enough to be the one to aid in this time of vulnerability and give them a sense of safety with you, you will eventually create an army of “allied-servants” under you. All of which are passionate in your defense.

In our own history that’s mainly about colonization, the demonstration of this law is clear with how we “accepted” our colonizers. Even though we were under the Spanish the longest, we all kind of hated them because of how harsh they treated us and we were quick to accept the “help” that the Americans gave us. They fought the Spanish alongside us and this gave us a sense of security with them; thinking that they really wanted to help us. Even during the American Colonization period, we were a lot more accepting with their ways because they gave us more self-confidence; with more and more Filipinos working in positions never unheard of during the Spanish Era. They were a lot more keen on winning our hearts than winning us through brute force like how the Spanish and Japanese did it (but course the Americans also had their share of violence here). And look at us now, growing more and more Americanized as we speak. Maybe this Law has more power than we think…

Now that we see that this has some sort of historical proof based on our own history, one question immediately arises for me: How in the world does this law go side by side with law 15, Crush your enemies totally? I’ll quote from the blog post on that entry:

“All people in the world are made to not to like to lose… its human nature, none of us like to lose or fail in a task that we set out and are determined to finish. And like many people totally humiliated by defeat, the ire and the hope of vengeance grows with every succeeding day and like a cornered tiger become willing to fight with nothing to lose.”

So, how will you know for sure that you have won your enemies’ hearts? How will you know that they are not humiliated by their defeat to you and eventually create an uprising to destroy you? If this particular law says that we should use persuasion and seduction to win over our enemies, how are we sure that they are not using the same tools to fool us into a false sense of trust as well? Making us think that they are our allies but by doing so, we become closer and closer to them. Thus, giving them more and more of their own levers and handles to try and control us with. Hmmm… What would you do?

  • Christian Carlo Canlas
  • II BS Management Engineering
  • History 18L Prof. Andrea Jalandoni

Law #24: Play The Perfect Courtier

*Explaination

A courtier is an aristocrat that serves directly under the ruler of the area. They answer only to them and their decisions are what the leader follows. Being a courtier though is completely different from playing the part of one which, according to the book, is being able to assert power with any kind of ruler from a kindly one to the most tyrannous, in the most graceful manner. They are well-versed in the arts of flattery and passive criticism, able to woe and court the most difficult leader; knows how to keep a low profile, show how effortless any work is while still be able to gain the praises of the one they serve, be noticed and still be distant to the their patrons. A master of their emotions, they can conform to any kind of situation; both the source of pleasure and the bearer of bad news.


*Book Examples

The courtiers of the Han dynasty indirectly gave advice on the many wrongs of the emperor through anomalies in their records. Jules Mansart became King Louis XIV favorite architect by making the king out to be better than him whenever possible. Alexander the great killed a philosopher who studied under Aristotle because he spoke his mind too much. George Brummell lost the favor of the Prince of Wales and died poor and alone because he couldn’t keep his tongue in check


*Question

This might have applied to the times before but right now, do any of you think it still applies and is still useful? In the Filipino context, culture and morals, can one find a place for these courtiers?


Sendro Lorenzo D. Regala

Hi18 K 48 Laws of Power

Law 47 – Do not go past the mark you aimed for; in victory, learn when to stop.

No sane person would happily choose an abject defeat over the shiny trappings of victory. People like winning for many reasons: it can be the happiness, self-fulfillment or simply the bragging rights that come with it. But aside from losing, winning also comes with a price. (“The moment of victory is the most perilous of all.”)

The law is not saying, don’t hog all the trophies. It urges one who is at the top of the world to stop gloating, take a good look at the present circumstance & future scenarios, and regroup. Never go on forging ahead using all the same tricks and tactics that everyone has already discerned as your style or pattern for success. It’ll only spell ruin.

After more than a decade of struggling to the top, Hitler won the Chancellorship of a tragically broken down Germany. But instead of letting his victory go to his head and seeking to continue to feed the SA – the people that put him in power, he reduced their numbers and worked on consolidating the economy. If he had not been prudent after his momentous victory in 1933, afterwards, he wouldn’t have been Hitler.

Nicolas Fouquet, Louis XIV’s Superindentant of Finances, is a transgressor of the law. His ambition brought him to great heights. He successfully demanded his appointment as Superintendant by Mazrin as a reward for his services – something which was ironically his downfall. Because of his huge displays of wealth and ego, he inadvertently turned Louis against him. He died in exile.

Why do power hungry people shun prudence when it can obviously work miracles for the future?

Monica Ang – L

Law 44: Disarm and Infuriate With the Mirror Effect

Nothing can beat the mirror in being able to produce the clearest reflection of an image. But the incredibility of mirrors doesn’t end there. Who would have thought that reflection images of mirrors can be a tool for deception?

The Mirroring Effect can be described in four different ways:

Neutralizing Effect. Mimic the actions of your opponents and they will be confused and blinded by your actions. They wouldn’t know what exactly your agenda is. This also gives you a time to plan for a new tactic to win over your enemy.

Hallucinatory Effect. Disguising as another person by mirroring his whole being (actions, attitude, appearance), can be really deceiving. The similarity of the fake and the real will give you the power to do whatever you like while people think you’re someone else.

Moral Effect. When people have done something that has hurt you, the best way to make them realize how much hurt they caused is to do the same thing to them. Give them a taste of their own medicine, and they’ll feel ashamed of their actions.

Narcissus Effect. A person will naturally be attracted to someone who is like him/her. If you reflect back to a person his/her qualities, it will make the person feel that you can connect with each other. Therefore, your reflection of someone else’s personality will bring you closer to the winning the person’s heart.

Marie Mancini, despite being the ugly duckling among her sisters, was the girl who captured the heart of King Louis XIV. She studied the king and exerted a lot of effort to be of the same interests as him. She reflected the king’s fantasies and passion for glory, making the king long for conversations with her. By mirroring the king, she was able to make him fall for her.

Undeniably, the power of the Mirror Effect can do many things. But you see, using the mirror effect will require a lot of effort. This includes getting to know your enemy, spying on them, knowing how your enemy’s mind works, and making sure you won’t get caught. Do you think all these efforts will be worth it?

And, are people that desperate that they’ll do anything, even deceive friends, for power?


Dana Cammayo

Hi18-L

Law 3: Conceal Your Intentions

I would like to start this blog entry with two quotes: From Dr. House: “Everybody lies” and from Kierkegaard: “The world wants to be deceived”. Imagine that.

Deception, of course, is grounded on keeping the deceived in the dark until the very end: conceal your intentions. If the people have no idea what you are up to, they wouldn’t be able to put their guards up. This though is quite like a poker game in a sense that the stakes get higher as you move farther in the game. If at a point in deception, you announce your true intentions or you get figured out, everything from step 1 would crumble and the spell breaks.

To prevent this, Law 3 provides us with tools.

  1. Decoyed objects of desire and red herrings

Appear interested in something else or something that is greatly opposite of what you really want. This intrigues the one being deceived because you are taking them from a familiar path (shattering what they expected) and leading them to a strange/ unfamiliar world. This leads us back to Kierkegaard’s statement: The world wants to be deceived.

In history, this worked for Otto von Bismarck the former prime minister of Prussia who loved military glory.

  1. Smokescreen

Hide your intentions behind what is comfortable or familiar to distract people’s attention from your real purpose. If you lead them down a familiar path, they wouldn’t notice that you are leading them to a trap.

This worked, in history, for Joseph “Yellow Kid” Weil who was labeled as one of the most famous American confidence man in his era.

This all seems easy enough but what it requires from us is a deep understanding of human nature. This poses questions such as: “What would people want to hear?” and more importantly, “How far does the deception go?”

Marion Causing

Hi 18 K

LAW 36- DISDAIN THINGS YOU CANNOT HAVE: IGNORING THEM IS THE BEST REVENGE

If you want to be on top, put yourself there, and, says the 36th Law, stay. If something bothers you, ignore it, emphasize your disapproval, diminish its value. Put yourself in a position as high above and as far from it as possible. If you stoop down to anyone else’s level it is to their credit- they are enough of a threat to frighten you, you engage in their game, you give them power. Thus, deal with any threat, but don’t tell anyone.

Pharaoh decided to chase after the Israelites fleeing Egypt after he couldn’t get over letting them go. His army drowned in the process. The message “I am god-king, I give you leave,” would have seemed more god-kingly than “Wait! Come back!”

The point is not to look stupid. Imagine chasing a fly. It’s much smaller than you, but there’s no guarantee you’ll catch it, and you end up jumping around (damaging your composure) to no avail. You will give up anyway, after you’ve lost some dignity. If you ignore the fly, it will most likely go away. If we assume the fly wants you to jump around in pursuit of it, then you will have wasted its time and pissed it off. A good way to deal with an opponent is to irritate the life out of him. This works when you are the man chasing the fly, and when you are the fly.

Henry VIII wanted to divorce his wife (long story). This meant contending with the Catholic Church, not to mention an angry wife. Henry ignores the Church, and locks his wife away somewhere in the middle of nowhere, and proceeds to marry someone else. Had he appealed his case to the Church, he would have lost. Had he given his wife the time and opportunity to contend his wishes, she would have worn down his resolve with endless arguments and domestic tension. Instead he assumes his own superiority and deigns it unregal to let such small pebbles on the path break his stride. In the end the Church of England breaks with Rome, and Henry gets a new wife.

We are not always the king with the bothersome wife. Sometimes (or most of the time), we are the wife, or the fly. If we can’t use what power we have to ignore someone undeniably bigger (if the mob is trying to off you, you can’t ignore them away), we bait him into tiring himself out. This, of course, should only be attempted in low risk situations that don’t involve the mafia.

The point is power. You keep yourself at a higher level by diminishing your opponent’s significance. This is not to say forget the threat, but deal with it away from public knowledge. Technically, engaging in any battle puts you at a greater risk of losing. Don’t get into fights. Thinking of everyday affairs in terms of military strategy also poses a problem. If you don’t think you’re in battle, you’re not. Thus, whoever thinks he’s in battle when he’s not is chasing random flies, an entirely futile exercise. The best way to respond to a challenge is not to take it as such, and thus not to take it.

Submitted by:

Dominique Du

071208

Hi18-L

Law 16: Use Absence to Increase Respect and Honor


A man said to a Dervish: "Why do I not see you more often?" The Dervish replied, "Because the words 'Why have you not been to see me?' are sweeter to my ear than the words 'Why have you come again?'"

Mulla Jami, quoted in Idries Shahs Caravan of Dreams, 1968

Jesus Christ was a very popular guy back in his time because he proclaimed that he is the Messiah. He was so popular that he created several enemies who wanted him dead for saying such things. Jesus' death on the cross changed everything – people talked about him and eventually created a religion about him, making him the most well-known person in the world.

The sixteenth Law of Power is all about using absence to increase respect and honor. When one is exposed to something often and consistently, he or she grows tired of it, making it worthless. The law suggests that you make yourself scarce in order to increase your value. A person whose work is so great attracts attention from others. If this person lurks in the shadows, then more people would look for him to see his greatness.

You must learn to how to schedule your disappearance in order for this law to be successful though. Take for example Sir Pierre de Barjac, a knight who traveled around France in the Middle Ages with Sir Guillaume de Balaun. He fell in love with a lady named Viernetta. One day, Pierre and Viernetta had a huge fight, and when they reconciled, he felt that he fell more in love with Viernetta. He said that the stronger and longer the fight, the sweeter the love is after reconciliation.

So what do you think? Does absence really make the heart grow fonder? :-)

Patricia Cristina P. Magnaye

II – BS Psychology

History 18, K

Law 31 - Control the Options: Get Others to Play with the Cards you Deal

The best deceptions are the ones that seem to give the other person a choice: Your victims feel they are in control, but are actually your puppets. Give people options that come out in your favor whichever one they choose. Force them to make choices between the lesser of two evils, both of which serve your purpose. Put them on the horns of a dilemma: They are gored wherever they turn.

This law is all about laying low. Do not show off that you control the odds, make them feel all powerful, make them feel that they are the ones making the decisions, but in fact, the decisions that they are making is all in favor of you. Make them think that they are the one being served, but in fact, they are the slaves. Make them your scapegoat. Be patient, use the power of delayed gratification to make them think that you will not benefit from everything they do, but in fact, you will be the one to take it all, making them suffer for their own insolence. One perfect example of a historical person who exemplified this law of power is Adolf Hitler. He formed alliances, served others, until he convinced the ones in power to give him power. He used them as a stepping stone, and in the end he had total control.

Indeed, there is a need to do this at times, especially when other people are taking advantage of you. This is life. We have to accept the fact that everyone is trying to take control of whatever they can grab hold of. The secret is being subtle. Do not show them that you are the powerful one, else they will try to take you down. Being a threat to others will hold back your plans. Show them that you are insignificant. All the 48 laws of power go hand in hand to achieve total control. Is it being mean? Is it being evil? Or is it simply being practical? You be the judge.

Gomez, John Kristoffer M.

History 18 – Section L

LAW 19: KNOW WHO YOU’RE DEALING WITH— DO NOT OFFEND THE WRONG PERSON

Stephen Hawking once said that the greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge. Often at times, people have preconceived notions of others and, in turn, either underestimates or overestimates that person. The human mind is capable of being quick to judge and, as a result, those who are held liable for it have to face the consequences of their actions. Not everyone has the same predisposition; thus, it is natural for a person to encounter a wide variety of adversaries. Some may disguise themselves as one who is innocent and gullible or try to project a different persona in the presence of others. With this in mind, critical thinking is the key to triumph over the battlefield.

In the case of Muhammad, the shain of Khwarezm, it was a matter of underestimating his opponent, who was Gengis Khan. Genghis Khan offered sharing the Silk Route to Europe with Muhammad and even promised peace between their empires. However, Gengis Khan was a new tribal leader at that time; thus, Muhammad was led in believing that he was not worth his time and that he wouldn’t pose a threat if he rudely declined his offer. Genghis Khan attempted more than once to persuade Muhammad in accepting his offer but this led to the aforementioned in offending not only Kahn’s pride but his honor as well. This aggravated Khan into waging a war with Muhammad which led to the former seizing and destroying the latter’s empire, forcing him to flee with nothing but his worn down pride.

Never underestimate your opponent or think less of him. You never know the force of his blow when he comes in for an attack. Muhammad made a reckless move when he offended Genghis Khan. He devoted his time in expanding his empire but his actions were left short when his excessive pride caused its downfall. If someone makes a request and you find it insignificant, simply turn the person’s offer down as respectfully and graciously as you can to avoid offending him because you never know who you truly are dealing with.

There are other cases wherein your opponent can be someone driven by his insecurities to the point of obsessing over attaining revenge to those who have wronged him or someone who is totally ignorant and is unable to be deceived. In addition, he can be someone who shows suspicion towards everyone and puts those who think are after him into a bad position. In the art of battle, one has to be cunning and wise enough to know how to measure up his opponent without letting his instincts and biases carry him away. Perhaps one has to participate in the flawed system of pretensions to be the one left standing.

Teri Marcelo

HI 18 K

Law 33: Discover Each Man's Thumbscrew

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

Law 37: Create Compelling Spectacles

Who does not like looking at beautiful things? The sense of sight is the last sense to develop for human beings but it is amazing how essential it is for our development and also for our appreciation of this beautiful world that we live in. People are compelled by images and visuals because they can evoke emotions at an instant, they can be interpreted in permutations we can only imagine, they can win over arguments with little or no effort at all, they can keep you at a state of awe (and keep you there) and they can tell a story longer than any book. Underneath a single picture lie stories, reasons and answers. Stories, reasons and answers that are not necessarily true or of pure nature. This is what law number 37 is all about, using images to compel people and hide what you’re really doing.

The book gave two main examples of people who used images wisely for their benefit. The first one is Dr. Weisleder from Berlin. He healed his patients by exposing them to the rays of the moon. You would say “Oh come on, who gets healed by being exposed to the moon? Did the people actually believe him?” Of course we know that no one gets healed by being exposed to the rays of the moon, but yes, people (many people) actually believed him. People lined up for him and they get healed because Dr. Weisleder made them believe that they get healed by the moon alone. Dr. Weisleder, equals the moon, equals healing (equals power). It was that simple, no need for long explanations and tongue twister names of diseases. And to quote from the book, “He recognized that people do not always want words or rational explanations, or demonstrations of the power of science; they want an immediate appeal to their emotions.

The second example is Diane de Poitiers, King Henri II’s first and only mistress. She was 20 years older than him, so she got worried that King Henri would go about chasing after younger girls. She did what she had to and used symbols and images to keep him enthralled. She made a symbol with their initials intertwined and placed it everywhere she wanted and everyone recognized it. She then associated herself with the Roman goddess Diana. Now who would go out of a relationship when it’s all over the palace and everyone knows about it? And who would not love a goddess? Diane de Poitiers was successful in this and King Henri remained faithful to her until his death, made her duchess and gave her untold wealth.

If I should have been faithful to this law, I would have just posted a beautiful and very interesting picture or something. But in this case, words are still important than images for my all too important grade.

---------

Lea Marie G. Desuasido

Hi18 L

LAW 23: Concentrate Your Forces

Essentially, this law intensifies the "put all your eggs in one basket" adage, exponentially. Rather than branching out, concentrating your forces entails deliberately holding back. Not in the timid, lack-of-carpe-diem sense, but rather identifying and building up your strengths. It may be a law, though it hardly seems like an imposition.

An important feature the law boasts is quite a big word – freedom. The Rothschild banking empire was borne from this insightful realization. Being Jews of the more unforgiving previous centuries, early inklings of the law stemmed from their affinity toward the others. This could be thought of as a less violent historical predecessor to The Godfather. They hardly worked outside of the family. It wasn't strange for the Rothschilds to marry of each other's relatives. It's not like anybody had the right to stop them. Having your brother's kid for a wife isn't so bad, right? It's not love; it's business.

And true enough their persevering, 'self-centered' ideal in their affairs set them free and bore plenty of fruits. A great example, among other things, is having 'first dibs' on any information being generated in the region thanks to their closely-knit courier system. Having ears related to you everywhere seems like a good idea.

However, does choosing to be the one-trick pony always work? When times call for a bevy follow-ups, is it worth the risk to stay repetitive, remain single-minded? This is worth considering especially in a world where emulating Superman is tantamount to security.

At the end of a lousy day, it's possible that your eggs end up chipped, cracked, and – worst of all – completely broken into. Cleaning up after the mess isn't the funnest thing in the world, but at least you can prepare a really huge omelet.


--
Joey M. Palma
HI 18 - K

law 2: never put too much trust in friends – learn how to use enemies

1937 was difficult for Communist China. There was a civil war against the Nationalists and at the same time, Japan was invading. Mao’s advisors told him to let the Nationalists and the Japanese fight each other out. But Mao knew that China was too vast to be conquered by Japan. Instead, the Communists and the Nationalists, bitter rivals, fought alongside each other until Japan retreated. The story does not end there. The Communists had now gained enough experience to defeat the Nationalists once and for all.

Enemies make great motivations. They give us someone we are better than; someone we have to prove something to. They never expect it if they are treated otherwise. When Emperor Sung took over the imperial throne of China, he gave riches and positions in his palace to all those he conquered. This won them over; the Sung Dynasty ruled for 300 years. Enemies treated kindly are forever grateful. At the same time, they are out to prove that they are worthy of your kindness. Abraham Lincoln put it simply, “do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?”

In fact, we have to be even more wary of our friends. They are trusted but too much power and wealth can go to the head too easily. Let your guard down and, well, look at what happened to Michael III. Basilius, a stable boy, saved Michael III’s life and the two became the closest of friends. Who better for Michael III to choose as his councilor, right? Not quite. The power and wealth quickly went to Basilius’ head. One night, the emperor awoke to Basilius in his room and by dawn, he was emperor.

The law tells us (1) to make good use of our enemies and (2) we can never be too sure of our friends. As the old saying goes, keep your friends close but your enemies closer. Like Caesar, we have our own Brutuses, but if we can’t trust our friends, then who is left? Emperor Sung was wise, but, as seen in the film 300, Xerxes did something similar. And all it took was 300 fearless Spartans to unite Greece and knock the Persian off his perch. If a long time friend can too easily betray you, what’s to stop a former enemy from doing so?

Sam Bautista

Hi18 – K

Law 27: Play on People’s Need to Believe to Create a Cultlike Following

Law 27 acknowledges that people have an overwhelming desire to believe in something; thus, making humans susceptible to almost anything. Becoming the focal point of such desire by offering people a cause and a new faith to follow will yield you great power over them. Such rationale is behind the phenomenon of what is popularly know as cult-like following. Five steps are given:

First: Keep It Vague, Keep It Simple. Use simple and promising words, but don’t be too specific.
Second: Emphasize the Visual and the Sensual over the Intellectual. Keep them excited by making an appeal to the senses.
Third:
Borrow the Forms of Organized Religion to Structure the Group. Form a hierarchy with you as the head. Give your new disciples rituals to perform and ask them to make sacrifices on your behalf.
Fourth:
Disguise Your Source of Income. Don’t make them doubt you. Make them believe that they can achieve your status (wealth) by following you, but don’t reveal your method.
Fifth: Set Up an Us-Versus-Them Dynamic. Establish exclusivity. Make them believe that there is an “us” and “them” in the world.

Francesco Giuseppe Borri testifies to these steps. During the 1600’s, he was able to establish his own cult by claiming that he has a special power of seeing people’s souls and that whoever follows him would be given joy. “I shall soon ring my chemical studies to a happy conclusion by the discovery of the philosopher’s stone and by this means we shall all have as much gold as we desire.” He was also able to acquire great wealth demanding a vow of poverty; as a result, the possessions of his members were given to him.

One thing can be said: Cults are deceitful and dangerous. They make people believe that they should be dependent on them. They present themselves in an attractive manner, which makes them irresistible. Moreover, they toy with people’s minds and emotions that they distort people’s view of reality. If this is the case, then almost anything in the world can be considered a cult: technology, entertainment, clubs, drugs, etc. How then can you be sure that you have not yet been a victim of one?

Kriska Rivadillo

Hi18-K

Law28: Enter Action with Boldness

“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

LAW15: Crush Your Enemies Totally

Battles are usually fought with adrenaline pumping through veins, fueling anger or whatever emotion it is pushing people to fight. But at the end of it all, when one realizes he is victorious, everything slows down. It is then that one is given the chance to finish off an enemy, in body or in spirit, and for one who wishes to preserve power this must be done. Throughout history, this law of power has been known. Some people have followed it and some people had to learn it the hard way, just as Bumpy Johnson in the 1940’s did.

Bumpy, then the Godfather of Harlem once took a boy named Flash in his care. Bumpy trusted Flash and made him do errands and business deals. Flash took this to his advantage, however, and started to steal from Bumpy. Soon enough Bumpy learned about this and beat up Flash in a public place. Flash was beat up to a pulp and Bumpy had a chance to kill him. He didn’t. Soon after, Flash framed Bumpy for crimes he didn’t commit and Bumpy was thrown in Alcatraz.

Enemies like these – enemies for life, are better finished off than left standing. Not doing so will only leave them even more willing to finish you off. Humiliation is not something people react positively to. If it doesn't fuel a fire, it starts one, and the only security you will have after defeating a foe is the thought that he can no longer hurt you. For one who desires power and a lasting victory, crushing enemies totally is the only choice.

Leo T. Zacarias
Hi18 - L

LAW 25: RE-CREATE YOURSELF

What do kings, generals and pharaohs have in common?

HEADGEARS

2 important things for this power:

Societies Perception

Your Image

As the 25th law of power states: RE-CREATE YOURSELF. Meaning: not to be controlled by society and how it creates your image, create a new identity that garners attention then everything else falls to pieces after.

In my opinion, it simply means:

Image = Power

The standard image given to you means nothing (unless you’re of royal blood though, lucky guys).

Ever heard of a female Pope?

One is Pope Joan, who dressed up as a man to become a Pope. She slowly went up the ranks until she became one. However, she gave birth while trying to mount a horse ending her “mamacy”.

It’s still a mystery but, it shows an important point; how one could seize power by dressing up. People having no power can obtain it by simply changing his image. Like if signet rings were to be worn by non-ruling class people way back when in Egypt, giving them authority, anyone can gain power by creating an image that demands one.

BUT, being able to stand out is not all that is important. Anyone can stand out, in a good way or bad, depending on the people around you.

Take the first monotheist from Egypt, Akhenaten. His idea was good but, it was at the wrong place at the wrong time. For this idea to work you need to be “in” yet “out” at the same time. Have an idea that everyone can relate with not only you.

SO, more than the inner goodness, the outer image projected plays a much more important role. People who don’t know you would judge you from your appearance. For people in power it’s important because they wouldn’t really meet everyone they’re ruling, so the creation of “that” image (along with the skills or maybe even without it) is a must to get respect, in a way, power.

Changing your image can benefit you in so many ways.

I mean, if you were to save a serial killer wearing a coat against say a priest wearing bloody and tattered clothes from a sinking ship… not knowing who they are, who would you save when next to you is someone with a knife impaled deeply in his face?


"If you look like you know what you’re talking about, most of the time people will believe you"

JR Resma

HI 18 - K

38th Law of Power: Think as you like but behave like others.


Deception has always been a powerful weapon in many fields. Basketball players fake a shot, to give more space for the real shot. Some photographers edit images to make pictures more beautiful. Prostitutes deceive people to hide their genders to get customers. And even animals use deception as a form of offence and defence.

With deception, wise men can be outwitted by a wiser man. Tomasso Campanella was a Dominican monk and philosopher. He did not believe in heaven or hell may not be a problem now, but in Europe in the late 16th century, this is a sin called heresy. Naturally the Inquisition threw him in prison and was tortured.

Deception as defence. Nearing his execution for heresy and being unable to renounce his beliefs. He pretended to be a madman. To be sure that his insanity was real the Inquisition continued to torture him until he was sentenced to life imprisonment instead of death. Locked up under a dungeon, he continued to write. This time he learned his lesson.

Deception as attack. Now out of possible execution, Campanella started to make his way out of prison. He wrote The Hispanic Monarchy, the book was generally the opposite of what he believes in. But what the book did was it showed the authorities a facade that he finally joined the orthodoxy. And the facade worked, in 1632 Campanella was let out of prison.

Deception as attack and defence. Now free, Campanella continued to write, this time he published Atheism Conquered. In the book was heretics’ belief that was countered by the Catholicism. With this as his strategy, he insinuated his true ideas while attacking his supposed side. This amazing strategy worked like clockwork, he cannot be attacked because the book was on the side of the Church but at the same time he can freely express his thoughts the other way around.

This law shows how powerful deception is. When being straightforward gets people into trouble, like what happened to Campanella when he first said his thoughts. It pays to be wiser and lay low. Like a chameleon, who gently fades in to the surroundings, it waits patiently and then attacks.

Villamor O. Dagamac Jr.

HI18 section L

LAW 21: Play A Sucker To Catch A Sucker—Seem Dumber Than Your Mark


Law 21 is saying that one must play dumb while remaining smart; play the fool to gain an advantage. How does that work? When made to feel superior, people tend to get complacent. It is a very rash thing to show your superiority to others. Playing dumb is all about the goal of manipulating the sense of security of others.

Intelligence is the obvious quality to downplay, but why stop there? Taste and sophistication rank close to intelligence on the vanity scale; make people feel they are more sophisticated than you are and their guard will come down and when it does, it becomes the perfect time to strike.

One example of when such strategy was employed was during the Trojan War, the war that the Greeks fought against the city of Troy. This war is believed to reflect a real war between Greeks and the Troad inhabitants. The siege lasted for ten years and ended when the Greek warriors employed treachery. The Greeks made it seem to the Trojans that they were giving up. The Trojans—feeling superior to have made the Greeks leave—were caught off-guard when the Greeks gained entrance by hiding in the Trojan Horse and subsequently ransacked and burned the city.

The strategy of playing dumb is still widely used. Several books on cross-cultural business warn westerners when engaging in business with Asians. These books give the impression that Asian businesspersons opt to hide their capabilities and bide their time until a chance to surpass the rest arises.

Have YOU ever tried to play the wolf in sheep’s clothing?

Roshmia T. Pundato

Section L; 11:30-12:30

LAW 26: KEEP YOUR HANDS CLEAN


Even for the powerful, making mistakes is inevitable. So is the need to do unpleasant work. But the truly powerful never let their hands soiled by errors and malevolent deeds. They use others as scapegoats and cat’s-paws to keep their hands sparklingly clean.

When Henry VIII became king, to ease dissatisfaction caused by his greedy father’s means of raising money, he blamed the royal ministers and had them beheaded. Scapegoats. Years later, Thomas Wolsey carried the burden of daily government. But in doing his job, he gained many enemies. In popular mind, he was responsible for imposing heavy taxes to pay for wars. He did the dirty work. Cat’s-paw. Through these, Henry’s image just remained untainted.

Law 26 simply says that the powerful must maintain his immaculate appearance, an epitome of civility and competence. When he blunders, he manages to hide them and ensures another person is blamed then “sacrificed” – scapegoat: Ts’ao Ts’ao of China once used a chief of commissariat as scapegoat when he wrongly estimated rations for his army. When the powerful needs to do something unpleasant, he manipulates others to do it for him – cat’s-paw: Cleopatra of Egypt once used Julius Caesar and Marc Antony as cat’s-paws to squash her enemies. These two tools have other purposes.

Scapegoats. Good reputation lies on what people know, and mistakes should be concealed from them through scapegoats for one to gain such an image. Aside from taking blame, scapegoats also function as warning: killing innocent people shows enemies that you can sacrifice the innocent to protect your own power.

Cat’s-paws. There will inevitably come a time when one will need to do something unfavorable; cat’s-paws are used. It saves appearances, like with Henry VIII. It also saves energy and effort when it’s used to do one’s bidding.

However, scapegoats and cat’s-paws must be used with great caution. They hide involvement in dirty work, but once revealed, events will go unmanageable. Sometimes it’s better to take the blame – play the penitent leader; or do the dirty work yourself – and instill fear in subordinates. But this should be done sparingly.

To be powerful and stay dominant, one cannot just float up – he needs to step on something. And what can be more convenient than stepping on other people and letting them lift you to the top – with them keeping your hands all clean? Let the good come from you, and the evil from others.

Macalinao, Maria Christina M.

Hi18 - L

Law 30: Make Your Accomplishments Seem Effortless


“Power doesn’t have to show off. Power is confident, self-assuring, self-starting and self-stopping,

self warming and self justifying. When you have it, you know it.”

                  -Ralph Ellison

Few people gathered in the open-air stadium. “Unang labanan. Handa sa pagpugay, handa. Pugay.” and the tournament begins with the opening match. All the teams seemed ready for the upcoming matches; all the teams hyped up with the exception of one. The one with members curled up on random benches around the stadium trying to catch up on sleep that they probably did not get the night before.

The Ateneo Arnis Team did not show up groggy to insult the other teams or look seemingly overconfident to the ongoing battlers but rather, they looked unprepared because their schedule was indeed unprepared; causing them to sacrifice sleep to go all the way to Baguio. The opposing teams, on the other hand warmed up by showing off their techniques—maybe to scare off their opponents or to simply ready themselves from their unfamiliarity with the moves. That was their biggest mistake.

Espionage was used by the greatest of civilizations during war for a reason—to find knowledge and information about the rival armies and everything else that revolves around it. Hattori Hanzo was one of Tokugawa’s trusted warlords who used the Iga ninjas to gather information about the civil disorders after the death of Nobunaga; securing Tokugawa Ieyasu back to his home castle.

We were taught never to show off our techniques to other teams so they won’t learn from our indistinct moves. In relation to this, we were taught to find that same flaw in the other teams to know beforehand which skills they know and will use in the upcoming fights. Other than training our own set of moves, we practiced counters to some variations of usual techniques used by our enemies in former tournaments. We were awarded overall champions for that event.

They gave us the necessary information by showing off their techniques to learn how to beat them. To show effortlessness in your accomplishments is not to be taken only literally; deceiving by showing the lack of effort can also get you that win.

Miguel Leopoldo S. Ignacio

Hi18-L

LAW 48: Assume Formlessness

The 48th Law of Power

Assume Formlessness

Every other individual would want to protect themselves and at the same time achieve what they desire. In order to do these they formulate ways that they think would be able to help them achieve their maximum capabilities. Probably some of the ways they think of to be able to achieve their maximum capabilities are to plan their life, protect themselves from pain, and focus on their expertise. They study hard at what they think would profit them best, and try to be exceptional in their chosen fields. With these ways they believe that they could fulfill their desires. What they do not know is that these ways would, in the long run, be their short-comings. An example given on the book are the Spartans, who focused on creating a society dedicated to the art of war, they devoid them of pleasure and removed their system of money believing that it would ruin their discipline; they learned nothing but survival and warfare. With that they did not know how to handle money and luxury, as their territory progressed and expanded they needed to cope with the changes as they win and conquer which they were not able to accomplish, and resulted to their downfall.

The objective of this law is to make someone be unpredictable, and difficult to understand by the enemies. It will enable them to be in the lead without the enemies actually knowing that they are being defeated, but later on realize that they are losing which would most probably create fear and lower their morale. This way the enemies would find it difficult to know what you think as well as your moves while you can completely predict what they think and how they move. This law also gives importance to a person’s ability to adapt to the changes and uncertainty, wherein they would not falter and get confused when the time comes that they encounter great changes.

If one creates this shell or supposedly protection, one does not become open to the world and the changes accompanying it. With that it will become difficult for that person to adapt to the changes and being rigid and unable to move on; making that person predictable and open to the attack of an enemy. So if you would want to be powerful and great, you must not submit to a specific plan or tactic, you must be capable of changing these plans depending on what happened and what changed throughout the whole situation, and one could be assured of the great chance of victory.

Alysa Marie D. Alberto

Hi18-L

LAW #35: MASTER THE ART OF TIMING

This law can be summarized and can easily be understood by analogy to the game of Chess:


Long time. Patiently, you wait before making your move. You carefully set up your pieces, moving them on the free squares, not eating the pieces of your opponent, yet.


Forced time. This is the part when you move/attack which rattles your opponent because you put him in a trap. You have created an unforeseen situation for him, and he is forced to act quickly, making moves that were unplanned, to save the more valuable pieces. This way, you upset his timing.


End time. Finally, when things are going as they should be, you should quickly strike like a snake and hit the button: checkmate. Game Over.


Chess is really about the art of timing. You devise your plans, patiently setting up the pieces on their positions. And when the time comes, you surprise your enemy with your attacks.


Time can be on or against your side. If you do not act quickly, or if you act too impulsively, it may spell out doom. It’s so easy to say, but to master the art of timing can be as powerful as to controlling the future. Napoleon’s defeat at the battle of Waterloo can be said to be a result of bad timing on his part. The night before the battle, it rained. The heavy guns sank and they could not properly charge the enemy on the wet field. Also, it was bad timing for the French when Blucher arrived on time to backup the English.


Time is really just a concept, a perspective. It is the only resource which each man equally has. It’s our way of putting order into a chaotic universe. What makes it seem faster or longer than it should be is when emotions play up. The trick here is to be in control of your emotions, and thus in control your time. This being said, I think it’s the most practical and most important rule of power.



Jaclyn Lourdes Yap

Hi18 K

LAW # 25: RE-CREATE YOURSELF

What do kings, generals and pharaohs have in common?

HEADGEARS

2 important things for this power:

Societies Perception

Your Image

As the 25th law of power states: RE-CREATE YOURSELF. Meaning: not to be controlled by society and how it creates your image, create a new identity that garners attention then everything else falls to pieces after.

In my opinion, it simply means:

Image = Power

The standard image given to you means nothing (unless you’re of royal blood though, lucky guys).

Ever heard of a female Pope?

One is Pope Joan, who dressed up as a man to become a Pope. She slowly went up the ranks until she became one. However, she gave birth while trying to mount a horse ending her “mamacy”.

It’s still a mystery but, it shows an important point; how one could seize power by dressing up. People having no power can obtain it by simply changing his image. Like if signet rings were to be worn by non-ruling class people way back when in Egypt, giving them authority, anyone can gain power by creating an image that demands one.

BUT, being able to stand out is not all that is important. Anyone can stand out, in a good way or bad, depending on the people around you.

Take the first monotheist from Egypt, Akhenaten. His idea was good but, it was at the wrong place at the wrong time. For this idea to work you need to be “in” yet “out” at the same time. Have an idea that everyone can relate with not only you.

SO, more than the inner goodness, the outer image projected plays a much more important role. People who don’t know you would judge you from your appearance. For people in power it’s important because they wouldn’t really meet everyone they’re ruling, so the creation of “that” image (along with the skills or maybe even without it) is a must to get respect, in a way, power.

Changing your image can benefit you in so many ways.

I mean, if you were to save a serial killer wearing a coat against say a priest wearing bloody and tattered clothes from a sinking ship… not knowing who they are, who would you save when next to you is someone with a knife impaled deeply in his face?


"If you look like you know what you’re talking about, most of the time people will believe you"

JR Resma

HI 18 - K

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Law 30: Make your Accomplishments Seem Effortless

Law thirty revolves around the idea that every action commited in order to reach a goal must be executed with absolute ease and grace. Kind of how Tony Stark, aka iron man, presented himself towards society as both powerful and wealthy at the same time. One must constrain the techniques he or she used in order to accomplish certain tasks.

It is important to note that whenever one executes different tasks, regardless of whether or not it points to business, one must do it gracefully and elegantly. Remember, people never want to see the flaws in your actions. And by carrying out your tasks in a way that seems flawless, will influence people to look up to you. Snefru who was an Egyptian pharaoh during the 4th Dynasty ruled like a god, elegant in every manner, thus resulting to his people believing in him and worshipping him as if he were a god.

Have you ever heard the phrase “Speech is great; but silence is greater” or “Silence is the ultimate weapon of power”? These phrases were coined up by Thomas Carlyle Charles De Gaulle, arguably two of the most powerful and wealthy men throughout history. When you lose or release the information you used in order to achieve your accomplishments, it raises questions. Thus lowering the way people view you. Take it from Lex Luther, Superman’s “nemesis”, from “Smallville”. He conceals all of his accomplishments to keep a competitive advantage over the information that he gathers. Silence is a gift that should not be taken for granted.

It is evident that most, if not all, human beings have the urge to point out their accomplishments and how they distinctl­y completed them. It is our nature to be praised and recognized with what we accomplish. This should be avoided at all times no matter how tempting it may feel. Beware of revealing your tricks and strategies to other people, for they may be used at your expense.

The main question that revolves around this law rests on ones perception of success and happiness. You may find yourself in the shoes of certain heroes. Always silent, always hiding their tricks up their sleeve. Is it worth hiding in solitude and keeping silent for the sake of absolute power over others? Or is it worth being open towards others regarding your accomplishments and how you executed them at the expense of gaining absolute power and control?

Submitted by:
Richard Gerhard B. Hahn
II BS Communications Technology Management
History 18, Section L
Prof. Andrea Jalandoni

Law 19: Know Who You’re Dealing with – Do Not Offend the Wrong Person

If you know both yourself and your enemy, you can come out of hundreds of battles without danger.”

                  - Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Lack of information often leads to hasty conclusions, which in turn lead to choices often regretted by those involved. Underestimation (or overestimation, in some cases) often stem from such cases of misinformation. One such event happened back in 1920 when American art dealers were suffering terrible losses. Their buyers were slowly dying off and there were no other people who would replace them – at least, not anytime soon. Trying to avoid any further losses, they set aside their differences and joined together in hopes of saving themselves.

One of these dealers went by the name of Joseph Duveen. Under normal circumstances, Duveen would wait and try to understand the thought process of his potential victims. However, everything was far from normal when one is on the brink of losing everything so he decided to go on with the plan he and his associates came up with. The plan would have been flawless, they would enthrall Henry Ford - the wealthiest man in America back then - with books that showed the alleged '100 Greatest Paintings in the World'. Once Ford buys the paintings from them (they had them all), their problems would be solved and Ford would've been the world's greatest collector. But when they offered the three-volume set of books to their potential savior (they gave them to him as a gift to further captivate him into falling for their plan), Ford just told them that he had no need for the originals because all of them were right there in the books that they just gave him.

Not everyone works the same way. This was the lesson that Duveen learned with his brief encounter with Henry Ford. Ford was simply too much of a simpleton to actually fall for the trap that had been set up for him. If only he had decided to examine his target for a while longer, Duveen's plan would have worked (or another plan may have been formulated) for him and his associates.

Information is one of the most important – if not dangerous – resource one can ever hope to have. The only problem left really is that those around you can analyze and use information against you. Try to appear to be what you are not; that would be the only possible way to counteract what others may be plotting against you. All that’s left to do afterwards is to watch them wonder what probably went wrong.

Kevin Bjorn Villanueva Umali

Hi 18-L

LAW 39- STIR UP WATERS TO CATCH FISH

Bursting into infuriation against an opponent certainly does not signify authority. People often take things too personally that they lose their demeanor and snap right at their adversary. It becomes humorous when they start believing that their outbursts indicate power. Tantrums neither terrorize nor stir loyalty. They actually generate suspicions and apprehensions about one’s power and they bring out one’s weakness. To demonstrate one’s aggravation is to show that one has lost his/her supremacy to shape events.

Back in the 1800’s, Napoleon discovered that his foreign minister Talleyrand had conspired against him. While they were holding their meeting, Napoleon started talking about people who were plotting against him. Simultaneously, Talleyrand stood there, looking unmoved by Napoleon’s rambling, as if he had nothing to do with the matter. Napoleon was pushed to the edge at the sight of Talleyrand’s nonchalance and just blew up. He started yelling at him and later exclaimed, “What about your wife? You never told me that San Carlos was your wife’s lover!”. Now, did Talleyrand’s betrayal have to do anything with his wife? I don’t think so.

Napoleon clearly displayed weakness when he got enraged. He directed his anger towards his enemy. Whenever these kinds of occurrences take place, a person should bear in mind that a treacherous act is not directed exclusively at him/her. The cause is much bigger and is not worth the trouble to comprehend. Napoleon took everything personally so he let his fury get the best of him.

It would be best to stay calm when your enemy is angry. It is then that you ultimately gain an advantage. So stir the waters, let the fish go up the surface, get them to act before they are ready, and let hold of the situation. Beware however, because some are best left at the bottom of the pond. There are those who never fall prey even to the sneakiest of acts.

Monica Copuyoc Hi18- L

Law 12: Use selective honesty and generosity to disarm your victim

Some say that there are two kinds of people in this world, those that deceive, and those that are deceived. In an extremist point of view you have to make a choice. If there are only two kinds of people in this world; would you want to be manipulated, or the one in control of things?

According to this law, these are the steps on how to deceive people:

a. Pick a potential victim (preferably the meek).

b. Build up your disguise. You should have a reputable name because the people will not fall for the trap otherwise. Be honest, generous, and sincere. You must not be transparent at all costs to avoiding jeopardizing the risk of your cover being blown. (Keep in mind that your objective is to break down your victim’s barrier so that he/she may be vulnerable for your advantage.)

c. Device a plan that will give you the most gains. Make sure that is feasible and fool proof. Since you can only go so far with this plan, the plan should be flawless.

d. Take your time. Set up everything and process into the plan.

e. Once your potential victim trusts you and you have completely deceived them into giving in (with a big amount of money, promise of promotion, etc.), execute your plan.

f. Enjoy the fruits of your deception (money, pride, etc.)

Does this work in our world today? Where there is too much hostility and people distrust each other by default, is there any room for even the chance of planning this scheme or would there be a failure right away? Also, imagine yourself as the corrupt person. Given a choice in deceiving people, would you risk building a rapport for a long time for a bigger reward (but a bigger risk of blowing your cover) or push through with small time deals (will give small but guaranteed rewards)?

Mara Liboro
Hi18 - K

Law 40: Despise the Free Lunch

This law points out that nothing is more costly than something given for free. Receiving a gift from someone puts one in the position of being under his/her debt. And this is often indicative of one’s inferiority to the gift-giver. Otherwise, why else would you think Blair Waldorf would pay her enemy for keeping mum about her dirty secret in the show called Gossip Girl? As leader of the pack, she just has to be the one in control.

Think about the famous people in history who won their battles by employing this tactic. Pietro Aretino, for example, knew that in order to win the great Marquis of Mantua as a patron for his writing career, he shouldn’t appear to be in need. Instead, he wrote the Marquis a poem and offered it to him it as a gift. By doing so, not only was he able to make himself equal and free from the Marquis’ control, but he also got what he needed.

Albeit giving something for free can be deemed to be an act of bribery, we can’t deny that it’s a powerful tactic. From the gift-giver’s perspective, it works well to one’s advantage. Lorenzo de Medici, heir to the banking empire in Italy, often wielded the weapon of patronage in facing his enemies. Though his act’s motives were questionable, it proved to be a clever thing to do since it has effectively diluted the people’s opinions of his ugly source of wealth. People like Medici knew well that generosity was highly capable of softening people up to be deceived, and that was what he succeeded at.

It’s not uncommon to expect something in return when you do someone a favor. In fact, it’s an innate trait in most of us. Even our friends would do so. Personally, I think being indebted to someone is a psychological thing. Feeling like you owe someone just because he did you a favor is more like a state of mind and a matter of choice.

When your friend has wronged you and you have reason to prolong your anger towards him, would you submit to waving the white flag when he suddenly hands you a gift? What if it’s one of those presents that you’ve wanted for a long time but never really had the means to obtain? Would you stoop down and take that as an opportunity? Or would you stick to your reasons and remain steadfast?

Chua Rojas, Serica Ruth
HI18 - L