Always make those above you feel comfortably superior
Never put too much trust in friends – learn how to use enemies
Conceal your intentions
Always say less than necessary
So much depends on reputation – guard it with your life
Court attention at all costs
Get others to do the work for you, but always take the credit. Never do for yourself what others can do for you
Make other people come to you, use bait if necessary
Win through actions never through argument
Infection: avoid the unlucky and unhappy
Learn to keep people dependent on you
When asking for help appeal to peoples self interest, never to their mercy or gratitude
Pose as a friend, work as a spy
Crush your enemy totally
Use absence to increase respect and honor
Keep others in suspended terror, cultivate an air of unpredictability
Do not build fortresses to defend yourself, isolation is dangerous
Know who you are dealing with, do not offend the wrong person
Do not commit to anyone
Play a sucker to catch a sucker, seem dumber than your mark
Use the surrender tactic – turn weakness into power
Concentrate your forces
Play the perfect courtier
Recreate yourself
Keep your hands clean
Play on peoples need to believe to create a cult like following
Enter action with boldness
Plan all the way to the end
Make your accomplishments seem effortless
Control your options, get others to play with the cards you deal
Play to peoples fantasies
Discover each mans thumbscrews
Act like a king to be treated like one
Master the art of timing
Disdain things you cannot have, ignoring them is your best revenge
Create compelling spectacles
Think ask you like but behave like others
Stir up waters to catch fish
Despise the free lunch
Avoid stepping into a great man’s shoes
Strike the sheppard and the sheep will scatter
Work on the hearts and minds of others
Disarm and infuriate with the mirror effect
Preach the need for change, but never reform too much at once
Never appear too perfect
Do not go past the mark you aimed for, in victory learn when to stop
Assume formlessness