The first Law of Power.
The Summary of 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene.
Bite-sized Laws of Power series by Certified Reads.
Law 1: Never Outshine the Master
Judgment: “Always make those above you feel comfortably superior. In your desire to please or impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite — inspire fear and insecurity. Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are, and you will attain the heights of power.”
Transgression of the Law: In 1661, Finance Minister Nicolas Fouquet threw an opulent party to impress King Louis XIV of France. The party was so lavish that it outshone the king’s own extravagances. This violated the law as it threatened the king’s ego, making him feel inferior in front of his court. Enraged and threatened, King Louis XIV had Fouquet arrested. Fouquet spent the rest of his life in prison.
Observance of the Law: Contrastingly, in the early 17th century, Galileo Galilei skillfully navigated the power dynamics with his patron, Pope Urban VIII. Despite his revolutionary scientific discoveries, Galileo always let the Pope feel intellectually superior, hence, not threatening the Pope’s authority. His strategy helped him secure continued patronage and avoid the fate of many of his contemporaries.
Keys to Power: Don’t make those in power feel threatened by your abilities. Enhance their power and brilliance. This approach will help you gain their favor and make your path to success smoother.
Reversal: There might be instances where your superior encourages competition and values rising talent. In such cases, displaying your abilities might be rewarded. However, such situations demand a keen sense of judgment and understanding of the environment.
Image/Symbol: Picture the sun and its planets. The planets, in their course, do not outshine the sun; they orbit around it, reflecting its light. In the context of this law, be a planet that enhances the brilliance of your master, the sun.
Do this until you are powerful enough to become THE SUN.
Do you understand?
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