FILM
The Boom In Regional Films
India's economic prosperity is scripting an unlikely story: The market for regional films has come roaring back, with Bhojpuri to Tamil to Punjabi to Telugu movies raking in record moolah at the box office.
By T.V. Mahalingam
Reel rush: Filmgoers at Prasads IMax, Hyderabad. 245 films were made in Telugu last year
In January last year, something queer happened in Mumbai. The Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Family was released simultaneously with the über-cool, ultra dark Sanjay Dutt thriller Zinda. Both movies had tepid openings and flopped subsequently. But that's hardly strange. Flops, especially costly ones, are more the norm than the exception in Bollywood. What was bizarre was the fact that the competition for Big-B and Deadly-D came from unlikely quarters-Manoj Tiwari, the Jerry Lewis of Bhojpuri cinema, who sang, danced and, of course, emoted his way to box office glory. The movie, Dehati Babu, went on to become the biggest Bhojpuri hit of 2006.
The success of Dehati Babu is no flash in the pan. The once down-in-the-dumps industry has been on a roll for the last three years. Today, Bhojwood has its own Oscars, cheekily christened, BFA-the Bhojpuri Film Awards. Star rates have more than tripled over the last year, with Manoj Tiwari charging as much as Rs 50 lakh per film. "The number of Bhojpuri movies being produced almost doubled from 39 in 2005 to 76 last year. That makes it the fastest growing film industry in India," says Supran Sen, Secretary, Film Federation of India.
THE TELUGU FILM INDUSTRY
Films produced in 2006: 245
Number of hits (2006): 10
Number of distribution territories: 3
Top grosser last year (2006): Pokkiri with close to Rs 40 crore (the highest ever in the industry's 75-year history)
Other major hits: Stalin (Rs 33 crore), and Bommarillu (Rs 20 crore)
Major movie-going towns: Nellore, Tenali, Miryalguda and Nandiyal
Number of multiplexes in state capital: Two
Average size of big budget movie: Rs 12-15 crore
Average size of medium budget movie: Rs 5-8 crore
Average time taken for movie making: 2.5 months
Top stars and their fee per film: Chiranjeevi, Rs 3.5 crore; Balakrishna, Rs 2 crore; Nagarjuna, Rs 2 crore; Venkatesh, Rs 1 crore to Rs 1.5 crore; Ravi Teja, Rs 1 crore-plus
Reel rush: Filmgoers at Prasads IMax, Hyderabad. 245 films were made in Telugu last year; Telugu actor Chiranjeevi (bottom)
The Bhojpuri industry is not the only one that's tasting success. Here's a quick quiz. In which language were the most films produced in India in 2006? No, it's not Hindi. The answer-Telugu. "Of the 1,091 movies produced in India last year, 245 were made in Telugu, 223 in Hindi and 162 in Tamil," reveals Sen. Basically, only one in every five movies made in India is churned out by Bollywood. And it's just not the volume of regional movies being made that's astonishing. The Telugu industry registered its biggest hit ever with Pokkiri, which raked in close to Rs 40 crore in box office collections. In fact, industry association FICCI had valued the Indian film industry at Rs 6,800 crore in 2005. The industry is projected to grow at CAGR of 18 per cent to Rs 15,300 crore by 2010. "It would be safe to assume that the size of the regional film industry today would be about 55-60 per cent of the total Indian film industry," says a leading film analyst. That means regional film industry revenues of Rs 4,400 crore in 2006.
The Story so Far
Packed house: With box office collections close to Rs 40 crore, Pokkiri was a Telugu blockbuster that was remade in Tamil as well (above)
Evidently, regional Indian cinema has achieved in the past three years what every corporate in India also has on its wish list-attract funds, hire and retain fresh talent and go global. But things weren't always this good. For Bhojpuri cinema, for instance, the 90's were a horrific period. Less than 20 movies were being made a year, and most of them flopped. 2004 was a watershed year with superhit movies like Panditji Bataai Na Biyah Kab Hoyee and Sasura Bada Paisewala. The success of these films opened up a market, which led to a spate of first-time producers thronging to make Bhojpuri movies. Like Sudhakar Pandey, who has produced hit Bhojpuri movies such as Sasura Bada Paisewala, and Daroga Babu I Love You. "I had a shaukh (hobby) for music. And I used to produce Bhojpuri music albums with popular singers like Manoj Tiwari. These albums used to cost Rs 10-15 lakh to make. And then, I realised that it was possible to make a Bhojpuri film for Rs 30-35 lakh. That's how I got into movies," says Pandey, who used to be in the 'clearing and forwarding business' before making a plunge into movie production in 2002. According to industry watchers, in 2006 alone, Rs 90 crore worth of Bhojpuri movies were produced-up from about Rs 55 crore in 2005. In fact, liquor baron Vijay Mallya is said to be bankrolling a Bhojpuri movie, even as Balaji Telefilms is remaking Hindi blockbuster Sholay in Bhojpuri with yesteryear matinee idol Jeetendra playing Thakur.
THE TAMIL FILM INDUSTRY
Films produced in 2006: 162
Number of hits (2006): 25, five were mega hits
Top grosser last year: Varalaaru, Rs 55 crore
Other major hits: Vettaiyadu Valaiyadu, Rs 50 crore; Tiruttu Payale, Rs 40 crore; Imsai Arasan 23am Pulikesi, Rs 15 crore
Major movie-going towns: Madurai, Coimbatore, Salem, Tirunelveli and Tiruchirappalli
Number of multiplexes in state capital: 18 screens that can be termed as multiplex; number likely to go up to 80 by 2010
Average size of big budget movie: Rs 22 crore
Average size of medium budget movie: Rs 7 crore
Top stars and their fee per film: Rs 5 crore or 30 per cent of movie budget. Super stars Kamal Hassan and Rajinikanth charge anything upwards of Rs 9 crore
Starting young: Kishen made his directorial debut at 10
The story is similar in other regional industries, too. Ask 70-year-old D. Ramanaidu, the man who holds a Guinness Book record for most movies made under one banner, on what's driving people to make more Telugu movies, and he'll tell you as it is. "There are no entry barriers here. If you have the money, you can get to promote a film. That's why we are now seeing NRIs, real estate brokers getting into this. Nearly 70 per cent of new crop of film promoters today are such people," says Ramanaidu, who points out that only 10 per cent of the movies go on to become hits.
Other film industry watchers in Hyderabad support this view. "Every month, at least a couple of people with no film background and as diverse as being into brick and sand business come to me for a signature to join the producers council," says D. Suresh Babu, President, Suresh Productions, and elder son of Ramanaidu and elder brother of well known Tollywood star Venkatesh.
The Bengali film industry, renowned for its brand of arty and sedate cinema, is also witnessing a turnaround. "The industry, seven-eight years ago, was plagued by the maladies of low budgets, poor production values and zilch marketing effort. That's passé now," says Prabhat Roy, one of the best-known film directors. The turnaround started in 2002 and since then, budgets have increased and production standards have improved. The Bengali film industry now churns out 50 movies a year with the market estimated to be worth around Rs 150 crore.
As a result, big Bollywood banners are foraying into the industry and "Ideas", a local film production company floated by Bengali superstar Prosenjit, is working on producing Bengali films. "If you make a good vernacular film, production costs are much lower and you tend to make more profits,'' says Shrikant Mohta, Director, Shri Venkatesh Films, a leading production house. As a result, Bengali actresses such as Rituparna Sengupta, Roopa Ganguly and Indrani Halder have floated production houses.
The boom in regional movies has also resulted in more and more films being shot in studios down south. "In the last one year, there has been a 50 per cent increase in the number of movies being shot here," says G. Sudhakar, General Manager (Film Marketing), Ramoji Film City. However, Mumbai continues to remain the major hub for film production, thanks to the spurt in Bhojpuri, Marathi and Punjabi movies. According to the Film Federation of India, Mumbai was the biggest centre for film production, accounting for 403 of the 1,091 films produced. Hyderabad accounted for 220 films followed by Chennai at 205 films.
New Stars, New Rules
Bhojpuri movie star: Ravi Kishen
Tamil New Year's day (April 14) will witness the clash of celluloid titans- Rajinikanth and Kamal Hassan-with the release of their mega-budget movies, Sivaji and Dasavatharam. Both movies have been made at budgets exceeding Rs 30 crore. Even though both movies are likely to open to packed houses, things have changed substantially since the 90's when the duo ruled the box office. A new breed of actors including Vikram, Surya, Ajith and Vijay has emerged as dependable box office stars.
That has resulted in two things. One, the budgets and returns of movies have got bigger. For example, Kamal Hassan's previous movie, Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu (2006), was made at a cost of Rs 24 crore and grossed Rs 50 crore. Two, a lot more medium-sized and small-budget 'experimental' movies are being produced and becoming successful. Tamil industry watchers believe that in the first half of 2006, 35 per cent of the movies that came out were made within the budget of Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 3 crore. Similarly in the Telugu industry, almost half of the movies produced are mid-budget ventures (Rs 3-5 crore). The boom in budget movies can be partly attributed to the burgeoning costs of the stars of the South Indian film industry. Industry insiders say that Tamil 'superstar' Rajinikanth charges upwards of Rs 9 crore, while Telugu 'megastar' Chiranjeevi demands anything above Rs 3.5 crore.
THE KANNADA FILM INDUSTRY
Films produced in 2006: 67
Number of hits (2006): 12
Number of distribution territories: Seven
Top grosser last year (2006): My Autograph, Rs 6 crore
Other major hits: Jothe Jotheyali, Huballi and Sevanthi Sevanthi
Major movie-going towns: Hubli, Belguam, Dharwad, Mysore, Bellary and Mandya
Number of multiplexes in state capital: Five; total theatres in major cities, 1,200
Average size of big budget movie: Rs 3.5 crore
Average size of medium budget movie: Rs 75 lakh
Average time taken for movie making: 7 months
Top stars and their fee per film: Shivaraj Kumar, Puneet, Ravichandran, Sudeep, Upendra. All charge upwards of Rs 30 lakh
Such steep prices have forced producers and directors to look beyond predictable star casts and run-of-the-mill plots. Take the case of the Kannada industry, popularly referred to as Sandalwood. While the industry was driven for decades by pairing popular (and ageing) heroes such as Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan and (former mp) Ambareesh with a crop of lesser paid (and often much younger) actresses, producers and directors seem to have taken a reality check recently. "There was a wave of poorly-made remakes for many years, but that has changed recently with movies such as c/o Footpath, Nenapirali, Mungarina Malle and Jothe Jotheyali all providing some fresh ideas and that too from first-time producers," says H.R. Srikanth, who produced his 11-old-year-son Kishen's directorial debut c/o Footpath. Moviemakers such as Srikanth also say the industry is getting more professional, with over-the-counter payments, bound scripts and new ideas all slowly, but surely, becoming the norm.
Not Just Box Office
Ready to roll: Director Prabhat Roy (bespectacled) says low budget Bengali films are a thing of yore
Regional producers are also beginning to focus on non-theatrical revenues like music rights, VCD rights sales and international rights sales. Even laggards like the Punjabi film industry have learnt to tap non-theatrical revenues. Manmohan Singh, a cinematographer-turned-director, has made blockbuster movies such as Jee Aayan Nu, Asa Nu Maan Watna Da and Yaaran Naal Baharan. His last movie, Dil Apna Punjabi (2006), was the first movie in the state to cross the magical Rs 10-crore mark in revenues.
This tips-produced movie had a 12-week run at the box office and did business worth Rs 4 crore in the country. Singh also released the movie in Australia, Norway, New Zealand, France, Spain, Italy and Germany, apart from usual markets like the UK, the us and Canada. "Even DVD, VCD distribution is a huge revenue-earner. For Dil Apna Punjabi, we did something between Rs 1.25-Rs 1.5 crore from both domestic and overseas market," says Singh.
THE BHOJPURI FILM INDUSTRY
Films produced in 2006: 77
Number of hits (2006): Five
Number of distribution territories: Bihar, UP, Mumbai, and parts of Punjab and West Bengal
Top grosser last year (2006): Dehati Babu, Rs 1.45 crore
Average size of big budget movie: Rs 55 lakh (recently movies have been made for Rs 1-1.5 crore)
Average size of medium budget movie: Rs 35 lakh
Average time taken for movie making: 2-4 months
Top stars and their fee per film: Manoj Tiwari, Rs 30-45 lakh; Ravi Kishen, Rs 15-25 lakh; Nagma, Rs 8-12 lakh; Rambha, Rs 5-10 lakh
THE BENGALI FILM INDUSTRY
Films produced in 2006: 35
Number of hits in 2006: Four
Number of distribution territories: Six major territories, plus 1 overseas
Top grosser last year (2006): MLA Fata Kesto, Rs 80 lakh-Rs 1 crore
Major movie-going towns: Haldia, Behrampur, Siliguri, Burdwan and Malda
Number of multiplexes in state capital: Four
Average size of big budget movie: Rs 1.5-1.6 crore
Average size of medium budget movie: Rs 70-80 lakh
Average time taken for movie making: Six months
Top stars and their fee per film: Mithun Chakraborty, Rs 15 lakh-Rs 50 lakh; Prosenjit, Rs 10 lakh-Rs 35 lakh; Jeet, Rs 10-30 lakh
THE PUNJABI FILM INDUSTRY
Films produced in 2006: 12
Number of hits (2006): Four
Number of distribution territories: Punjab, Haryana, parts of Delhi and Himachal Pradesh
Top grosser last year (2006): Dil Apna Punjabi, Rs 10-12 crore
Major movie-going towns: Ludhiana, Chandigarh Jalandhar, Amritsar & Patiala
Number of multiplexes in state capital: One
Average size of big budget movie: Rs 3-6 crore
Average size of medium budget movie: Rs 1.5 crore
Average time taken for movie making: 35-50 days
Top stars and their fee per film: Harbhajan Maan, Rs 60 lakh; Gurdas Maan, Rs 55 lakh; Babbu Maan, Rs 30 lakh; Neeru Bajwa, Rs 20 lakh.
Audio, DVD, VCD and theatrical rights for Rajinikanth's yet to be released Sivaji are being negotiated by Chennai-based AVM studios for a release in Europe, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and West Asia. The movie is also slated to hit theaters in the US, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Mauritius. Bhojpuri movie producers too have started seriously selling VCD and music rights. "Music rights are sold at Rs 7-15 lakh per movie, while hit VCD rights can sell between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 22 lakh. There is a huge audience for Bhojpuri movies in countries like Fiji, Nepal, West Indies and Indonesia," says Bhojpuri director Rajkumar R. Pandey.
With audiences like these, it won't be long before a Ravi Kishen or a Balakrishna becomes the face of Indian cinema across the world. Cooking roast chicken on Big Brother (think Shilpa Shetty) may not be the only way.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Stocks
TELEDATA--- High Risk/High Gain Stock...
People are only talking about the stocks which didnot performed after demerger, but didnot talked about stocks which has done well before and after demerger. Best example is reliance which has moved up more then 200 % after demerger. Talk about indiabulls which has moved more then 400% before demerger and still after demerger it is holding nearly at the same value. Also shyam telecom and also silverline which is another one going to demerge and had already moved more than 200% from its years low, but yes silverlines results also play a part in that.
another thing is that if you see the earnings and profit expectations of the demerged companies than that is great.
If company delievers even half of what they had declared still the valuations will be go like this
Teledata Informatics - Predicted 11.7 EPS - Information Technology company - 15 should be the PE but even if marget gives 5 then rate is 70 Rs.
Teledata Marine - Predicted EPS 30 - Shipping and Education - 5 Should be the PE but even at 3 PE the rate is at 90.
Teledata Technology - Predicted EPS 20 - Another IT company - Redington another E.g of similiar profile - 12 should be the PE but even at 5 PE the rate is 100.
So if you invest 55000 today for 1000 shares then the value should be minimum 65000 + 45000 + 50000 = 160000 which is nearly 200 % more than current rate.
Just imagine these are half values so full valuuation can give what rate in a year time.
Also if you see the companies last 2-3 quarters performance then it is sure that they will definately give 50 % of what they are declaring.
AIR DECCAN (Deccan Airways)---Now tradin around 94...for long Term Invsetment...Breakeven in this year
DECCAN GOLD....company is in looses but good to invest a little bit for long term...if they find gold then this stock is going to be gold..now trading arround 13rs...Now the price for yellow metal is at high, more profits due to high price...
People are only talking about the stocks which didnot performed after demerger, but didnot talked about stocks which has done well before and after demerger. Best example is reliance which has moved up more then 200 % after demerger. Talk about indiabulls which has moved more then 400% before demerger and still after demerger it is holding nearly at the same value. Also shyam telecom and also silverline which is another one going to demerge and had already moved more than 200% from its years low, but yes silverlines results also play a part in that.
another thing is that if you see the earnings and profit expectations of the demerged companies than that is great.
If company delievers even half of what they had declared still the valuations will be go like this
Teledata Informatics - Predicted 11.7 EPS - Information Technology company - 15 should be the PE but even if marget gives 5 then rate is 70 Rs.
Teledata Marine - Predicted EPS 30 - Shipping and Education - 5 Should be the PE but even at 3 PE the rate is at 90.
Teledata Technology - Predicted EPS 20 - Another IT company - Redington another E.g of similiar profile - 12 should be the PE but even at 5 PE the rate is 100.
So if you invest 55000 today for 1000 shares then the value should be minimum 65000 + 45000 + 50000 = 160000 which is nearly 200 % more than current rate.
Just imagine these are half values so full valuuation can give what rate in a year time.
Also if you see the companies last 2-3 quarters performance then it is sure that they will definately give 50 % of what they are declaring.
AIR DECCAN (Deccan Airways)---Now tradin around 94...for long Term Invsetment...Breakeven in this year
DECCAN GOLD....company is in looses but good to invest a little bit for long term...if they find gold then this stock is going to be gold..now trading arround 13rs...Now the price for yellow metal is at high, more profits due to high price...
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Finance
Earnings Per Share - EPS
The portion of a company's profit allocated to each outstanding share of common stock. EPS serves as an indicator of a company's profitability.
Calculated as:=Net Income/Avg Outstanding shares
Price-Earnings Ratio - P/E Ratio
valuation ratio of a company's current share price compared to its per-share earnings.
Calculated as: Market value of Share/EPS(Earnings per share)
Market Value
1.The current quoted price at which investors buy or sell a share of common stock or a bond at a given time. Also known as "market price".
2. The market capitalization plus the market value of debt. Sometimes referred to as "total market value".
The 48 Laws of Power
The 48 Laws of Power
by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers
Law 1
Never Outshine the Master
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.
Law 2
Never put too Much Trust in Friends, Learn how to use Enemies
Be wary of friends-they will betray you more quickly, for they are easily aroused to envy. They also become spoiled and tyrannical. But hire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a friend, because he has more to prove. In fact, you have more to fear from friends than from enemies. If you have no enemies, find a way to make them.
Law 3
Conceal your Intentions
Keep people off-balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions. If they have no clue what you are up to, they cannot prepare a defense. Guide them far enough down the wrong path, envelope them in enough smoke, and by the time they realize your intentions, it will be too late.
Law 4
Always Say Less than Necessary
When you are trying to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear, and the less in control. Even if you are saying something banal, it will seem original if you make it vague, open-ended, and sphinxlike. Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less. The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish.
Law 5
So Much Depends on Reputation – Guard it with your Life
Reputation is the cornerstone of power. Through reputation alone you can intimidate and win; once you slip, however, you are vulnerable, and will be attacked on all sides. Make your reputation unassailable. Always be alert to potential attacks and thwart them before they happen. Meanwhile, learn to destroy your enemies by opening holes in their own reputations. Then stand aside and let public opinion hang them.
Law 6
Court Attention at all Cost
Everything is judged by its appearance; what is unseen counts for nothing. Never let yourself get lost in the crowd, then, or buried in oblivion. Stand out. Be conspicuous, at all cost. Make yourself a magnet of attention by appearing larger, more colorful, more mysterious, than the bland and timid masses.
Law 7
Get others to do the Work for you, but Always Take the Credit
Use the wisdom, knowledge, and legwork of other people to further your own cause. Not only will such assistance save you valuable time and energy, it will give you a godlike aura of efficiency and speed. In the end your helpers will be forgotten and you will be remembered. Never do yourself what others can do for you.
Law 8
Make other People come to you – use Bait if Necessary
When you force the other person to act, you are the one in control. It is always better to make your opponent come to you, abandoning his own plans in the process. Lure him with fabulous gains – then attack. You hold the cards.
Law 9
Win through your Actions, Never through Argument
Any momentary triumph you think gained through argument is really a Pyrrhic victory: The resentment and ill will you stir up is stronger and lasts longer than any momentary change of opinion. It is much more powerful to get others to agree with you through your actions, without saying a word. Demonstrate, do not explicate.
Law 10
Infection: Avoid the Unhappy and Unlucky
You can die from someone else’s misery – emotional states are as infectious as disease. You may feel you are helping the drowning man but you are only precipitating your own disaster. The unfortunate sometimes draw misfortune on themselves; they will also draw it on you. Associate with the happy and fortunate instead.
Law 11
Learn to Keep People Dependent on You
To maintain your independence you must always be needed and wanted. The more you are relied on, the more freedom you have. Make people depend on you for their happiness and prosperity and you have nothing to fear. Never teach them enough so that they can do without you.
Law 12
Use Selective Honesty and Generosity to Disarm your Victim
One sincere and honest move will cover over dozens of dishonest ones. Open-hearted gestures of honesty and generosity bring down the guard of even the most suspicious people. Once your selective honesty opens a hole in their armor, you can deceive and manipulate them at will. A timely gift – a Trojan horse – will serve the same purpose.
Law 13
When Asking for Help, Appeal to People’s Self-Interest,
Never to their Mercy or Gratitude
If you need to turn to an ally for help, do not bother to remind him of your past assistance and good deeds. He will find a way to ignore you. Instead, uncover something in your request, or in your alliance with him, that will benefit him, and emphasize it out of all proportion. He will respond enthusiastically when he sees something to be gained for himself.
Law 14
Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy
Knowing about your rival is critical. Use spies to gather valuable information that will keep you a step ahead. Better still: Play the spy yourself. In polite social encounters, learn to probe. Ask indirect questions to get people to reveal their weaknesses and intentions. There is no occasion that is not an opportunity for artful spying.
Law 15
Crush your Enemy Totally
All great leaders since Moses have known that a feared enemy must be crushed completely. (Sometimes they have learned this the hard way.) If one ember is left alight, no matter how dimly it smolders, a fire will eventually break out. More is lost through stopping halfway than through total annihilation: The enemy will recover, and will seek revenge. Crush him, not only in body but in spirit.
Law 16
Use Absence to Increase Respect and Honor
Too much circulation makes the price go down: The more you are seen and heard from, the more common you appear. If you are already established in a group, temporary withdrawal from it will make you more talked about, even more admired. You must learn when to leave. Create value through scarcity.
Law 17
Keep Others in Suspended Terror: Cultivate an Air of Unpredictability
Humans are creatures of habit with an insatiable need to see familiarity in other people’s actions. Your predictability gives them a sense of control. Turn the tables: Be deliberately unpredictable. Behavior that seems to have no consistency or purpose will keep them off-balance, and they will wear themselves out trying to explain your moves. Taken to an extreme, this strategy can intimidate and terrorize.
Law 18
Do Not Build Fortresses to Protect Yourself – Isolation is Dangerous
The world is dangerous and enemies are everywhere – everyone has to protect themselves. A fortress seems the safest. But isolation exposes you to more dangers than it protects you from – it cuts you off from valuable information, it makes you conspicuous and an easy target. Better to circulate among people find allies, mingle. You are shielded from your enemies by the crowd.
Law 19
Know Who You’re Dealing with – Do Not Offend the Wrong Person
There are many different kinds of people in the world, and you can never assume that everyone will react to your strategies in the same way. Deceive or outmaneuver some people and they will spend the rest of their lives seeking revenge. They are wolves in lambs’ clothing. Choose your victims and opponents carefully, then – never offend or deceive the wrong person.
Law 20
Do Not Commit to Anyone
It is the fool who always rushes to take sides. Do not commit to any side or cause but yourself. By maintaining your independence, you become the master of others – playing people against one another, making them pursue you.
Law 21
Play a Sucker to Catch a Sucker – Seem Dumber than your Mark
No one likes feeling stupider than the next persons. The trick, is to make your victims feel smart – and not just smart, but smarter than you are. Once convinced of this, they will never suspect that you may have ulterior motives.
Law 22
Use the Surrender Tactic: Transform Weakness into Power
When you are weaker, never fight for honor’s sake; choose surrender instead. Surrender gives you time to recover, time to torment and irritate your conqueror, time to wait for his power to wane. Do not give him the satisfaction of fighting and defeating you – surrender first. By turning the other check you infuriate and unsettle him. Make surrender a tool of power.
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 24
Play the Perfect Courtier
The perfect courtier thrives in a world where everything revolves around power and political dexterity. He has mastered the art of indirection; he flatters, yields to superiors, and asserts power over others in the mot oblique and graceful manner. Learn and apply the laws of courtiership and there will be no limit to how far you can rise in the court.
Law 25
Re-Create Yourself
Do not accept the roles that society foists on you. Re-create yourself by forging a new identity, one that commands attention and never bores the audience. Be the master of your own image rather than letting others define if for you. Incorporate dramatic devices into your public gestures and actions – your power will be enhanced and your character will seem larger than life.
Law 26
Keep Your Hands Clean
You must seem a paragon of civility and efficiency: Your hands are never soiled by mistakes and nasty deeds. Maintain such a spotless appearance by using others as scapegoats and cat’s-paws to disguise your involvement.
Law 27
Play on People’s Need to Believe to Create a Cultlike Following
People have an overwhelming desire to believe in something. Become the focal point of such desire by offering them a cause, a new faith to follow. Keep your words vague but full of promise; emphasize enthusiasm over rationality and clear thinking. Give your new disciples rituals to perform, ask them to make sacrifices on your behalf. In the absence of organized religion and grand causes, your new belief system will bring you untold power.
Law 28
Enter Action with Boldness
If you are unsure of a course of action, do not attempt it. Your doubts and hesitations will infect your execution. Timidity is dangerous: Better to enter with boldness. Any mistakes you commit through audacity are easily corrected with more audacity. Everyone admires the bold; no one honors the timid.
Law 29
Plan All the Way to the End
The ending is everything. Plan all the way to it, taking into account all the possible consequences, obstacles, and twists of fortune that might reverse your hard work and give the glory to others. By planning to the end you will not be overwhelmed by circumstances and you will know when to stop. Gently guide fortune and help determine the future by thinking far ahead.
Law 30
Make your Accomplishments Seem Effortless
Your actions must seem natural and executed with ease. All the toil and practice that go into them, and also all the clever tricks, must be concealed. When you act, act effortlessly, as if you could do much more. Avoid the temptation of revealing how hard you work – it only raises questions. Teach no one your tricks or they will be used against you.
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.
Law 32
Play to People’s Fantasies
The truth is often avoided because it is ugly and unpleasant. Never appeal to truth and reality unless you are prepared for the anger that comes for disenchantment. Life is so harsh and distressing that people who can manufacture romance or conjure up fantasy are like oases in the desert: Everyone flocks to them. There is great power in tapping into the fantasies of the masses.
Law 33
Discover Each Man’s Thumbscrew
Everyone has a weakness, a gap in the castle wall. That weakness is usual y an insecurity, an uncontrollable emotion or need; it can also be a small secret pleasure. Either way, once found, it is a thumbscrew you can turn to your advantage.
Law 34
Be Royal in your Own Fashion: Act like a King to be treated like one
The way you carry yourself will often determine how you are treated; In the long run, appearing vulgar or common will make people disrespect you. For a king respects himself and inspires the same sentiment in others. By acting regally and confident of your powers, you make yourself seem destined to wear a crown.
Law 35
Master the Art of Timing
Never seem to be in a hurry – hurrying betrays a lack of control over yourself, and over time. Always seem patient, as if you know that everything will come to you eventually. Become a detective of the right moment; sniff out the spirit of the times, the trends that will carry you to power. Learn to stand back when the time is not yet ripe, and to strike fiercely when it has reached fruition.
Law 36
Disdain Things you cannot have: Ignoring them is the best Revenge
By acknowledging a petty problem you give it existence and credibility. The more attention you pay an enemy, the stronger you make him; and a small mistake is often made worse and more visible when you try to fix it. It is sometimes best to leave things alone. If there is something you want but cannot have, show contempt for it. The less interest you reveal, the more superior you seem.
Law 37
Create Compelling Spectacles
Striking imagery and grand symbolic gestures create the aura of power – everyone responds to them. Stage spectacles for those around you, then full of arresting visuals and radiant symbols that heighten your presence. Dazzled by appearances, no one will notice what you are really doing.
Law 38
Think as you like but Behave like others
If you make a show of going against the times, flaunting your unconventional ideas and unorthodox ways, people will think that you only want attention and that you look down upon them. They will find a way to punish you for making them feel inferior. It is far safer to blend in and nurture the common touch. Share your originality only with tolerant friends and those who are sure to appreciate your uniqueness.
Law 39
Stir up Waters to Catch Fish
Anger and emotion are strategically counterproductive. You must always stay calm and objective. But if you can make your enemies angry while staying calm yourself, you gain a decided advantage. Put your enemies off-balance: Find the chink in their vanity through which you can rattle them and you hold the strings.
Law 40
Despise the Free Lunch
What is offered for free is dangerous – it usually involves either a trick or a hidden obligation. What has worth is worth paying for. By paying your own way you stay clear of gratitude, guilt, and deceit. It is also often wise to pay the full price – there is no cutting corners with excellence. Be lavish with your money and keep it circulating, for generosity is a sign and a magnet for power.
Law 41
Avoid Stepping into a Great Man’s Shoes
What happens first always appears better and more original than what comes after. If you succeed a great man or have a famous parent, you will have to accomplish double their achievements to outshine them. Do not get lost in their shadow, or stuck in a past not of your own making: Establish your own name and identity by changing course. Slay the overbearing father, disparage his legacy, and gain power by shining in your own way.
Law 42
Strike the Shepherd and the Sheep will Scatter
Trouble can often be traced to a single strong individual – the stirrer, the arrogant underling, the poisoned of goodwill. If you allow such people room to operate, others will succumb to their influence. Do not wait for the troubles they cause to multiply, do not try to negotiate with them – they are irredeemable. Neutralize their influence by isolating or banishing them. Strike at the source of the trouble and the sheep will scatter.
Law 43
Work on the Hearts and Minds of Others
Coercion creates a reaction that will eventually work against you. You must seduce others into wanting to move in your direction. A person you have seduced becomes your loyal pawn. And the way to seduce others is to operate on their individual psychologies and weaknesses. Soften up the resistant by working on their emotions, playing on what they hold dear and what they fear. Ignore the hearts and minds of others and they will grow to hate you.
Law 44
Disarm and Infuriate with the Mirror Effect
The mirror reflects reality, but it is also the perfect tool for deception: When you mirror your enemies, doing exactly as they do, they cannot figure out your strategy. The Mirror Effect mocks and humiliates them, making them overreact. By holding up a mirror to their psyches, you seduce them with the illusion that you share their values; by holding up a mirror to their actions, you teach them a lesson. Few can resist the power of Mirror Effect.
Law 45
Preach the Need for Change, but Never Reform too much at Once
Everyone understands the need for change in the abstract, but on the day-to-day level people are creatures of habit. Too much innovation is traumatic, and will lead to revolt. If you are new to a position of power, or an outsider trying to build a power base, make a show of respecting the old way of doing things. If change is necessary, make it feel like a gentle improvement on the past.
Law 46
Never appear too Perfect
Appearing better than others is always dangerous, but most dangerous of all is to appear to have no faults or weaknesses. Envy creates silent enemies. It is smart to occasionally display defects, and admit to harmless vices, in order to deflect envy and appear more human and approachable. Only gods and the dead can seem perfect with impunity.
Law 47
Do not go Past the Mark you Aimed for; In Victory, Learn when to Stop
The moment of victory is often the moment of greatest peril. In the heat of victory, arrogance and overconfidence can push you past the goal you had aimed for, and by going too far, you make more enemies than you defeat. Do not allow success to go to your head. There is no substitute for strategy and careful planning. Set a goal, and when you reach it, stop.
Law 48
Assume Formlessness
By taking a shape, by having a visible plan, you open yourself to attack. Instead of taking a form for your enemy to grasp, keep yourself adaptable and on the move. Accept the fact that nothing is certain and no law is fixed. The best way to protect yourself is to be as fluid and formless as water; never bet on stability or lasting order. Everything changes.
by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers
Law 1
Never Outshine the Master
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.
Law 2
Never put too Much Trust in Friends, Learn how to use Enemies
Be wary of friends-they will betray you more quickly, for they are easily aroused to envy. They also become spoiled and tyrannical. But hire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a friend, because he has more to prove. In fact, you have more to fear from friends than from enemies. If you have no enemies, find a way to make them.
Law 3
Conceal your Intentions
Keep people off-balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions. If they have no clue what you are up to, they cannot prepare a defense. Guide them far enough down the wrong path, envelope them in enough smoke, and by the time they realize your intentions, it will be too late.
Law 4
Always Say Less than Necessary
When you are trying to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear, and the less in control. Even if you are saying something banal, it will seem original if you make it vague, open-ended, and sphinxlike. Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less. The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish.
Law 5
So Much Depends on Reputation – Guard it with your Life
Reputation is the cornerstone of power. Through reputation alone you can intimidate and win; once you slip, however, you are vulnerable, and will be attacked on all sides. Make your reputation unassailable. Always be alert to potential attacks and thwart them before they happen. Meanwhile, learn to destroy your enemies by opening holes in their own reputations. Then stand aside and let public opinion hang them.
Law 6
Court Attention at all Cost
Everything is judged by its appearance; what is unseen counts for nothing. Never let yourself get lost in the crowd, then, or buried in oblivion. Stand out. Be conspicuous, at all cost. Make yourself a magnet of attention by appearing larger, more colorful, more mysterious, than the bland and timid masses.
Law 7
Get others to do the Work for you, but Always Take the Credit
Use the wisdom, knowledge, and legwork of other people to further your own cause. Not only will such assistance save you valuable time and energy, it will give you a godlike aura of efficiency and speed. In the end your helpers will be forgotten and you will be remembered. Never do yourself what others can do for you.
Law 8
Make other People come to you – use Bait if Necessary
When you force the other person to act, you are the one in control. It is always better to make your opponent come to you, abandoning his own plans in the process. Lure him with fabulous gains – then attack. You hold the cards.
Law 9
Win through your Actions, Never through Argument
Any momentary triumph you think gained through argument is really a Pyrrhic victory: The resentment and ill will you stir up is stronger and lasts longer than any momentary change of opinion. It is much more powerful to get others to agree with you through your actions, without saying a word. Demonstrate, do not explicate.
Law 10
Infection: Avoid the Unhappy and Unlucky
You can die from someone else’s misery – emotional states are as infectious as disease. You may feel you are helping the drowning man but you are only precipitating your own disaster. The unfortunate sometimes draw misfortune on themselves; they will also draw it on you. Associate with the happy and fortunate instead.
Law 11
Learn to Keep People Dependent on You
To maintain your independence you must always be needed and wanted. The more you are relied on, the more freedom you have. Make people depend on you for their happiness and prosperity and you have nothing to fear. Never teach them enough so that they can do without you.
Law 12
Use Selective Honesty and Generosity to Disarm your Victim
One sincere and honest move will cover over dozens of dishonest ones. Open-hearted gestures of honesty and generosity bring down the guard of even the most suspicious people. Once your selective honesty opens a hole in their armor, you can deceive and manipulate them at will. A timely gift – a Trojan horse – will serve the same purpose.
Law 13
When Asking for Help, Appeal to People’s Self-Interest,
Never to their Mercy or Gratitude
If you need to turn to an ally for help, do not bother to remind him of your past assistance and good deeds. He will find a way to ignore you. Instead, uncover something in your request, or in your alliance with him, that will benefit him, and emphasize it out of all proportion. He will respond enthusiastically when he sees something to be gained for himself.
Law 14
Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy
Knowing about your rival is critical. Use spies to gather valuable information that will keep you a step ahead. Better still: Play the spy yourself. In polite social encounters, learn to probe. Ask indirect questions to get people to reveal their weaknesses and intentions. There is no occasion that is not an opportunity for artful spying.
Law 15
Crush your Enemy Totally
All great leaders since Moses have known that a feared enemy must be crushed completely. (Sometimes they have learned this the hard way.) If one ember is left alight, no matter how dimly it smolders, a fire will eventually break out. More is lost through stopping halfway than through total annihilation: The enemy will recover, and will seek revenge. Crush him, not only in body but in spirit.
Law 16
Use Absence to Increase Respect and Honor
Too much circulation makes the price go down: The more you are seen and heard from, the more common you appear. If you are already established in a group, temporary withdrawal from it will make you more talked about, even more admired. You must learn when to leave. Create value through scarcity.
Law 17
Keep Others in Suspended Terror: Cultivate an Air of Unpredictability
Humans are creatures of habit with an insatiable need to see familiarity in other people’s actions. Your predictability gives them a sense of control. Turn the tables: Be deliberately unpredictable. Behavior that seems to have no consistency or purpose will keep them off-balance, and they will wear themselves out trying to explain your moves. Taken to an extreme, this strategy can intimidate and terrorize.
Law 18
Do Not Build Fortresses to Protect Yourself – Isolation is Dangerous
The world is dangerous and enemies are everywhere – everyone has to protect themselves. A fortress seems the safest. But isolation exposes you to more dangers than it protects you from – it cuts you off from valuable information, it makes you conspicuous and an easy target. Better to circulate among people find allies, mingle. You are shielded from your enemies by the crowd.
Law 19
Know Who You’re Dealing with – Do Not Offend the Wrong Person
There are many different kinds of people in the world, and you can never assume that everyone will react to your strategies in the same way. Deceive or outmaneuver some people and they will spend the rest of their lives seeking revenge. They are wolves in lambs’ clothing. Choose your victims and opponents carefully, then – never offend or deceive the wrong person.
Law 20
Do Not Commit to Anyone
It is the fool who always rushes to take sides. Do not commit to any side or cause but yourself. By maintaining your independence, you become the master of others – playing people against one another, making them pursue you.
Law 21
Play a Sucker to Catch a Sucker – Seem Dumber than your Mark
No one likes feeling stupider than the next persons. The trick, is to make your victims feel smart – and not just smart, but smarter than you are. Once convinced of this, they will never suspect that you may have ulterior motives.
Law 22
Use the Surrender Tactic: Transform Weakness into Power
When you are weaker, never fight for honor’s sake; choose surrender instead. Surrender gives you time to recover, time to torment and irritate your conqueror, time to wait for his power to wane. Do not give him the satisfaction of fighting and defeating you – surrender first. By turning the other check you infuriate and unsettle him. Make surrender a tool of power.
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 24
Play the Perfect Courtier
The perfect courtier thrives in a world where everything revolves around power and political dexterity. He has mastered the art of indirection; he flatters, yields to superiors, and asserts power over others in the mot oblique and graceful manner. Learn and apply the laws of courtiership and there will be no limit to how far you can rise in the court.
Law 25
Re-Create Yourself
Do not accept the roles that society foists on you. Re-create yourself by forging a new identity, one that commands attention and never bores the audience. Be the master of your own image rather than letting others define if for you. Incorporate dramatic devices into your public gestures and actions – your power will be enhanced and your character will seem larger than life.
Law 26
Keep Your Hands Clean
You must seem a paragon of civility and efficiency: Your hands are never soiled by mistakes and nasty deeds. Maintain such a spotless appearance by using others as scapegoats and cat’s-paws to disguise your involvement.
Law 27
Play on People’s Need to Believe to Create a Cultlike Following
People have an overwhelming desire to believe in something. Become the focal point of such desire by offering them a cause, a new faith to follow. Keep your words vague but full of promise; emphasize enthusiasm over rationality and clear thinking. Give your new disciples rituals to perform, ask them to make sacrifices on your behalf. In the absence of organized religion and grand causes, your new belief system will bring you untold power.
Law 28
Enter Action with Boldness
If you are unsure of a course of action, do not attempt it. Your doubts and hesitations will infect your execution. Timidity is dangerous: Better to enter with boldness. Any mistakes you commit through audacity are easily corrected with more audacity. Everyone admires the bold; no one honors the timid.
Law 29
Plan All the Way to the End
The ending is everything. Plan all the way to it, taking into account all the possible consequences, obstacles, and twists of fortune that might reverse your hard work and give the glory to others. By planning to the end you will not be overwhelmed by circumstances and you will know when to stop. Gently guide fortune and help determine the future by thinking far ahead.
Law 30
Make your Accomplishments Seem Effortless
Your actions must seem natural and executed with ease. All the toil and practice that go into them, and also all the clever tricks, must be concealed. When you act, act effortlessly, as if you could do much more. Avoid the temptation of revealing how hard you work – it only raises questions. Teach no one your tricks or they will be used against you.
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.
Law 32
Play to People’s Fantasies
The truth is often avoided because it is ugly and unpleasant. Never appeal to truth and reality unless you are prepared for the anger that comes for disenchantment. Life is so harsh and distressing that people who can manufacture romance or conjure up fantasy are like oases in the desert: Everyone flocks to them. There is great power in tapping into the fantasies of the masses.
Law 33
Discover Each Man’s Thumbscrew
Everyone has a weakness, a gap in the castle wall. That weakness is usual y an insecurity, an uncontrollable emotion or need; it can also be a small secret pleasure. Either way, once found, it is a thumbscrew you can turn to your advantage.
Law 34
Be Royal in your Own Fashion: Act like a King to be treated like one
The way you carry yourself will often determine how you are treated; In the long run, appearing vulgar or common will make people disrespect you. For a king respects himself and inspires the same sentiment in others. By acting regally and confident of your powers, you make yourself seem destined to wear a crown.
Law 35
Master the Art of Timing
Never seem to be in a hurry – hurrying betrays a lack of control over yourself, and over time. Always seem patient, as if you know that everything will come to you eventually. Become a detective of the right moment; sniff out the spirit of the times, the trends that will carry you to power. Learn to stand back when the time is not yet ripe, and to strike fiercely when it has reached fruition.
Law 36
Disdain Things you cannot have: Ignoring them is the best Revenge
By acknowledging a petty problem you give it existence and credibility. The more attention you pay an enemy, the stronger you make him; and a small mistake is often made worse and more visible when you try to fix it. It is sometimes best to leave things alone. If there is something you want but cannot have, show contempt for it. The less interest you reveal, the more superior you seem.
Law 37
Create Compelling Spectacles
Striking imagery and grand symbolic gestures create the aura of power – everyone responds to them. Stage spectacles for those around you, then full of arresting visuals and radiant symbols that heighten your presence. Dazzled by appearances, no one will notice what you are really doing.
Law 38
Think as you like but Behave like others
If you make a show of going against the times, flaunting your unconventional ideas and unorthodox ways, people will think that you only want attention and that you look down upon them. They will find a way to punish you for making them feel inferior. It is far safer to blend in and nurture the common touch. Share your originality only with tolerant friends and those who are sure to appreciate your uniqueness.
Law 39
Stir up Waters to Catch Fish
Anger and emotion are strategically counterproductive. You must always stay calm and objective. But if you can make your enemies angry while staying calm yourself, you gain a decided advantage. Put your enemies off-balance: Find the chink in their vanity through which you can rattle them and you hold the strings.
Law 40
Despise the Free Lunch
What is offered for free is dangerous – it usually involves either a trick or a hidden obligation. What has worth is worth paying for. By paying your own way you stay clear of gratitude, guilt, and deceit. It is also often wise to pay the full price – there is no cutting corners with excellence. Be lavish with your money and keep it circulating, for generosity is a sign and a magnet for power.
Law 41
Avoid Stepping into a Great Man’s Shoes
What happens first always appears better and more original than what comes after. If you succeed a great man or have a famous parent, you will have to accomplish double their achievements to outshine them. Do not get lost in their shadow, or stuck in a past not of your own making: Establish your own name and identity by changing course. Slay the overbearing father, disparage his legacy, and gain power by shining in your own way.
Law 42
Strike the Shepherd and the Sheep will Scatter
Trouble can often be traced to a single strong individual – the stirrer, the arrogant underling, the poisoned of goodwill. If you allow such people room to operate, others will succumb to their influence. Do not wait for the troubles they cause to multiply, do not try to negotiate with them – they are irredeemable. Neutralize their influence by isolating or banishing them. Strike at the source of the trouble and the sheep will scatter.
Law 43
Work on the Hearts and Minds of Others
Coercion creates a reaction that will eventually work against you. You must seduce others into wanting to move in your direction. A person you have seduced becomes your loyal pawn. And the way to seduce others is to operate on their individual psychologies and weaknesses. Soften up the resistant by working on their emotions, playing on what they hold dear and what they fear. Ignore the hearts and minds of others and they will grow to hate you.
Law 44
Disarm and Infuriate with the Mirror Effect
The mirror reflects reality, but it is also the perfect tool for deception: When you mirror your enemies, doing exactly as they do, they cannot figure out your strategy. The Mirror Effect mocks and humiliates them, making them overreact. By holding up a mirror to their psyches, you seduce them with the illusion that you share their values; by holding up a mirror to their actions, you teach them a lesson. Few can resist the power of Mirror Effect.
Law 45
Preach the Need for Change, but Never Reform too much at Once
Everyone understands the need for change in the abstract, but on the day-to-day level people are creatures of habit. Too much innovation is traumatic, and will lead to revolt. If you are new to a position of power, or an outsider trying to build a power base, make a show of respecting the old way of doing things. If change is necessary, make it feel like a gentle improvement on the past.
Law 46
Never appear too Perfect
Appearing better than others is always dangerous, but most dangerous of all is to appear to have no faults or weaknesses. Envy creates silent enemies. It is smart to occasionally display defects, and admit to harmless vices, in order to deflect envy and appear more human and approachable. Only gods and the dead can seem perfect with impunity.
Law 47
Do not go Past the Mark you Aimed for; In Victory, Learn when to Stop
The moment of victory is often the moment of greatest peril. In the heat of victory, arrogance and overconfidence can push you past the goal you had aimed for, and by going too far, you make more enemies than you defeat. Do not allow success to go to your head. There is no substitute for strategy and careful planning. Set a goal, and when you reach it, stop.
Law 48
Assume Formlessness
By taking a shape, by having a visible plan, you open yourself to attack. Instead of taking a form for your enemy to grasp, keep yourself adaptable and on the move. Accept the fact that nothing is certain and no law is fixed. The best way to protect yourself is to be as fluid and formless as water; never bet on stability or lasting order. Everything changes.
The Art of War
Warfare is the Way of deception. ?
Therefore, if able, appear unable,
if active, appear not active,
if near, appear far,
if far, appear near. ?
If they have advantage, entice them;
if they are confused, take them,
if they are substantial, prepare for them,
if they are strong, avoid them,
if they are angry, disturb them,
if they are humble, make them haughty,
if they are relaxed, toil them,
if they are united, separate them. ?
Attack where they are not prepared, go out to where they do not expect. ?
This specialized warfare leads to victory, and may not be transmitted beforehand
Generally in warfare:
If ten times the enemy's strength, surround them;
if five times, attack them;
if double, divide them;
if equal, be able to fight them;
if fewer, be able to evade them;
if weaker, be able to avoid them. ?
Therefore, a smaller army that is inflexible will be captured by a larger one. ?
Therefore, there are five dangerous traits of a general:
He who is reckless can be killed. ?
He who is cowardly can be captured. ?
He who is quick tempered can be insulted. ?
He who is moral can be shamed. ?
He who is fond of the people can be worried. ?
These five traits are faults in a general, and are disastrous in warfare.
The place of battle must not be made known to the enemy.
If it is not known, then the enemy must prepare to defend many places. ?
If he prepares to defend many places, then the forces will be few in number. ?
Therefore, if he prepares to defend the front, the back will be weak.
If he prepares to defend the back, the front will be weak.
If he prepares to defend the left, the right will be weak.
If he prepares to defend the right, the left will be weak.
If he prepares to defend everywhere, everywhere will be weak. ?
The few are those preparing to defend against others, the many are those who make others prepare to defend against them. ?
Therefore, if one knows the place of battle and the day of battle, he can march a thousand li and do battle. ?
If one does not know the place of battle and the day of battle, then his left cannot aid his right, and his right cannot aid his left;
his front cannot aid his back, and his back cannot aid his front. ?
How much less so if he is separated by tens of li, or even a few li. ?
Based on my calculations, though Yueh's troops were many, what advantage was this to them in respect to victory?
Therefore I say, victory can be achieved. ?
Though the enemy is many, he can be prevented from doing battle.
Therefore, know the enemy's plans and calculate their strengths and weaknesses. ?
Therefore, if able, appear unable,
if active, appear not active,
if near, appear far,
if far, appear near. ?
If they have advantage, entice them;
if they are confused, take them,
if they are substantial, prepare for them,
if they are strong, avoid them,
if they are angry, disturb them,
if they are humble, make them haughty,
if they are relaxed, toil them,
if they are united, separate them. ?
Attack where they are not prepared, go out to where they do not expect. ?
This specialized warfare leads to victory, and may not be transmitted beforehand
Generally in warfare:
If ten times the enemy's strength, surround them;
if five times, attack them;
if double, divide them;
if equal, be able to fight them;
if fewer, be able to evade them;
if weaker, be able to avoid them. ?
Therefore, a smaller army that is inflexible will be captured by a larger one. ?
Therefore, there are five dangerous traits of a general:
He who is reckless can be killed. ?
He who is cowardly can be captured. ?
He who is quick tempered can be insulted. ?
He who is moral can be shamed. ?
He who is fond of the people can be worried. ?
These five traits are faults in a general, and are disastrous in warfare.
The place of battle must not be made known to the enemy.
If it is not known, then the enemy must prepare to defend many places. ?
If he prepares to defend many places, then the forces will be few in number. ?
Therefore, if he prepares to defend the front, the back will be weak.
If he prepares to defend the back, the front will be weak.
If he prepares to defend the left, the right will be weak.
If he prepares to defend the right, the left will be weak.
If he prepares to defend everywhere, everywhere will be weak. ?
The few are those preparing to defend against others, the many are those who make others prepare to defend against them. ?
Therefore, if one knows the place of battle and the day of battle, he can march a thousand li and do battle. ?
If one does not know the place of battle and the day of battle, then his left cannot aid his right, and his right cannot aid his left;
his front cannot aid his back, and his back cannot aid his front. ?
How much less so if he is separated by tens of li, or even a few li. ?
Based on my calculations, though Yueh's troops were many, what advantage was this to them in respect to victory?
Therefore I say, victory can be achieved. ?
Though the enemy is many, he can be prevented from doing battle.
Therefore, know the enemy's plans and calculate their strengths and weaknesses. ?
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