4th Law by Robert Greene

1. THE 48 LAW OF POWER
- Robert Greene

2. 4TH LAW
ALWAYS SAY LESS THAN NECESSARY

3. INTRODUCTION
 The more you say more common
you appear and less in control.
 Saying something banal (boring)
 make it vague, open-ended and sphinx like.
 Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying
less.
 The more you say, the more likely you are to say
something foolish.

4. TRANSGRESSION
• Gnaeus Marcus aka Coriolanus
– A great military hero
• Won many important battle
• Save Rome from calamity (collapse)
• Few Romans knew him personally
– As Legendary
• In 454 BC
• Entered Politics
• Speech
– Show Scars
– Proof of his valor
– Patriotism
- an act that goes against a law

5. WON HEART
 Made entry to Forum escorted

6. DOWN FALL
• Overconfidence on election day
• Another Speech
• Addressed wealthy citizen
• Arrogant and insolent word
• Sour joke appealing patricians
• News of speech goes viral
• People rebel against him
• Last Speech of Coriolanus
• Started slowly and softly
• People got angry
• People shouted and silent him
• Lifelong banishment (deportation)

7. INTERPRETATION
 Before entering politics
 Evokes awe
 People knows less
 A Rome's legend
 Appeared to Public
 Reveal mystery of himself
 Mystery vanished
 Common Soldier
 If said less
 People would never offended by him
 His true feelings never reveals

8. OBSERVANCE
 Noble, Minister
- an act that goes observe a law
 Spend nights debating state issue
 Two representative
 Present solution to king Louis XIV
 Representative dictate the issues
 Louis listen in silence
 Says “I shall see.” and walk away.
 No another word from king, only result.

9. INTERPRETATION
 Man with few words.
 Famous saying “I am State”.
 His infamous remark “I shall see.”
 Reply for all manner of requests.
 Nobody knew
 What he wanted to hear?
 What he thinks?
 Louis silence kept people under his thumb.

10. KEYS TO POWER
 Human are machine
 Of Interpretation and explanation
 They want to know what other are thinking.
 Silence keep person in defensive mode
 People reveals valuable information and Their
weaknesses for filling the silence
 Saying less is not for kings
 Less you say
 More profound and mysterious you appear

11. KEYS TO POWER (CON’T)
 Andy Warhol – An Artist
 It is impossible to get people to do what you wanted them to do by
talking to them.
 They would disobey and subvert you wishes.
 Andy Success
 In interviews he say something vague and ambiguous.
 Marcel Duchamp (20th Century Artist)
 Less you say about work more the people ask.
 Rebeller Ryleyev
 Was about to hanged but rope break.
 People assumed, It is heavenly choice.
 Ryleyev said "You see, in Russia they don't know how to do anything
properly, not even how to make rope!"
 He was hanged next day.

12. LESSON
 Once the words are out, you cannot take them
back.

13. REVERSAL
 There are times when it is unwise to be silent.
 Directing
 Gossiping
 Silence can arouse doubt and even insecurity,
especially in your superiors.
 A vague or ambiguous comment can open you up
to interpretations you had not bargained for.
 By bending your listener's ear with talk, you can
distract and mesmerize them the more you talk.
 By talking more, and making yourself appear
weaker and less intelligent than your mark, you can
practice deception with greater ease.

14. “Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.”
- Dr. Seuss