What I Learned from the 48 Laws of Power: Law 4 Part 1

ALWAYS SAY LESS THAN NECESSARY JUDGMENT

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 not real, it will seem original if you make it meaningful, open-ended, and difficult to understand.

People with power impress and intimidate by saying less.

The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish.

There is a story of a man who was a great military hero of ancient Rome. He was known by few personally because he spent most of his time on the battlefield, making him something of a legendary figure. He then wanted to exploit his reputation and enter politics. When he was to address the public before the election, he began by displaying the dozens of scars he had accumulated in battle, and this moved the crowd because it showed his valor and patriotism. This made his election seem certain.

But on the day of polling, he spoke his mind when addressing the citizen, all that grandeur and mystery vanished. He bragged and blustered like a common soldier. He insulted and slandered people as if he felt threatened and insecure. Suddenly he was not at all what the people had imagined. The discrepancy between the legend and the reality proved immensely disappointing to those who wanted to believe in their hero. The more he said, the less powerful he appeared a person who…