Law 24: Play The Perfect Courtie
The 48 Laws Of Power Summary Series
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Judgement
“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 most oblique and graceful manner. Learn and apply the laws of courtier-ship and there will be no limit to how far you can rise in the court.”
A courtier is someone who attends a royal court as an adviser or companion to the king or queen. To be a courtier was quite a dangerous game because they were often used as a scapegoat. Living the life of a courtier was like walking life on a tight rope; courtiers had to learn to master the balance between pleasing, while not pleasing too much. It was a dangerous game, but there is a lot to learn from these magicians of behaviour.
So how do we make these stories relatable to the common 21st century man and women? Think of this law as exemplifying the modern day workplace and social group.
Your boss = the king.
Your superiors = other nobility.
Your colleagues = other courtiers.
As we continue to the 15 laws of court politics, reflect on how the following power and social dynamics can relate to your social group and workplace.
The Laws Of Court Politics
