Law 5: So Much Depends On Reputation Guard It With Your Life

The 48 Laws Of Power Summary Series

Judgement

“Reputation is the cornerstone of power: through reputation alone you can intimidate and win; once it slips 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.”

Observance Of The Law

The following story is from ‘China’s War of the Three Kingdoms’ (A.D. 207–265). During the war there was a great general named Chuko Liang.

Leading the huge forces of the Shu Kingdom Chuko dispatched his army while he rested in a small town with only a handful of soldiers. Suddenly he was told that a force of 150,000 troops under Sima Yi was approaching.