NEVER OUTSHINE THE MASTER

永远不要盖过上司的风头
Yǒngyuǎn bùyào gàiguò shàngsī de fēngtóu

Always make those above you feel comfortable in their sense of superiority. 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 them appear more brilliant than they are – and you will attain the heights of power.

永远要让上司在自我优越感中感到舒适。为了取悦或打动他们，不要表现得太过出色，否则你可能会适得其反，引发他们的恐惧和不安。让他们显得比实际更聪明——你就会获得更高的权力。
Yǒngyuǎn yào ràng shàngsī zài zìwǒ yōuyuègǎn zhōng gǎndào shūshì. Wèile qǔyuè huò dǎdòng tāmen, bùyào biǎoxiàn dé tài guò chūsè, fǒuzé nǐ kěnéng huì shìdéqífǎn, yǐnfā tāmen de kǒngjù hé bù’ān. Ràng tāmen xiǎnde bǐ shíjì gèng cōngmíng—nǐ jiù huì huòdé gèng gāo de quánlì.

NEVER PUT TOO MUCH TRUST IN FRIENDS, LEARN HOW TO USE ENEMIES

不要对朋友过于信任，学会利用敌人
Bùyào duì péngyǒu guòyú xìnrèn, xuéhuì lìyòng dírén

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.
对朋友要保持警惕——他们更容易背叛你，因为他们很容易生出嫉妒之心。他们还会变得骄横专横。但如果雇佣一个前敌人，他反而会比朋友更忠诚，因为他有更多需要证明的东西。事实上，你应该更怕朋友而不是敌人。如果你没有敌人，那就想办法制造敌人。
Duì péngyǒu yào bǎochí jǐngtì—tāmen gèng róngyì bèipàn nǐ, yīnwèi tāmen hěn róngyì shēngchū jídù zhī xīn. Tāmen hái huì biàn dé jiāo héng zhuān héng. Dàn rúguǒ gùyòng yīgè qián dírén, tā fǎn’ér huì bǐ péngyǒu gèng zhōngchéng, yīnwèi tā yǒu gèng duō xūyào zhèngmíng de dōngxī. Shíjì shang, nǐ yīnggāi gèng pà péngyǒu ér bùshì dírén. Rúguǒ nǐ méiyǒu dírén, nà jiù xiǎng bànfǎ zhìzào dírén.

CONCEAL YOUR INTENTIONS

隐藏你的意图
Yǐncáng nǐ de yìtú

Keep people off balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions. Without a clue as to what you are up to, they cannot prepare a defense. Guide them far enough down the wrong path, envelop them in enough smoke, and by the time they realize your intentions, it will be too late.
让人们失去平衡，并始终蒙在鼓里，不要透露你行动背后的目的。如果他们不知道你的计划，他们就无法防备。引导他们走上错误的道路，用烟雾掩盖真相，到他们发现你的意图时，已经为时已晚。
Ràng rénmen shīqù pínghéng, bìng shǐzhōng méng zài gǔ lǐ, bùyào tòulù nǐ xíngdòng bèihòu de mùdì. Rúguǒ tāmen bù zhīdào nǐ de jìhuà, tāmen jiù wúfǎ fángbèi. Yǐndǎo tāmen zǒushàng cuòwù de dàolù, yòng yānwù yǎngài zhēnxiàng, dào tāmen fāxiàn nǐ de yìtú shí, yǐjīng wéi shí yǐ wǎn.

MAKE OTHERS COME TO YOU – USE BAIT IF NECESSARY

让别人来找你——必要时用诱饵
Ràng biérén lái zhǎo nǐ—bìyào shí yòng yòu’ěr

When you force others to act, you are 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.

当你迫使别人行动时，控制权在你手中。让对手来找你总比你主动出击好，因为这会使他不得不放弃原本的计划。用丰厚的利益作诱饵将他引诱过来，然后伺机而动。这样，你就掌握了局面。
Dāng nǐ pòshǐ biérén xíngdòng shí, kòngzhì quán zài nǐ shǒuzhōng. Ràng duìshǒu lái zhǎo nǐ zǒng bǐ nǐ zhǔdòng chūjī hǎo, yīnwèi zhè huì shǐ tā bùdébù fàngqì yuánběn de jìhuà. Yòng fēnghòu de lìyì zuò yòu’ěr jiāng tā yǐnyòu guòlái, ránhòu sìjī ér dòng. Zhèyàng, nǐ jiù zhǎngwòle júmiàn.

WIN THROUGH YOUR ENEMIES, NOT THROUGH FRIENDS

通过敌人取胜，而非朋友
Tōngguò dírén qǔshèng, ér fēi péngyǒu

Friendship and alliances can obscure your intentions. An enemy, however, is clear and sharp, forcing you to stay alert. Seek out opponents and learn to use them to your advantage. Opposition makes you stronger.

友谊和同盟可能会掩盖你的意图，而敌人则让你更加清晰敏锐，促使你保持警觉。寻找对手，并学会利用他们的存在为自己谋利。对抗让你变得更强大。
Yǒuyì hé tóngméng kěnéng huì yǎngài nǐ de yìtú, ér dírén zé ràng nǐ gèngjiā qīngxī mǐnruì, cùshǐ nǐ bǎochí jǐngjué. Xúnzhǎo duìshǒu, bìng xuéhuì lìyòng tāmen de cúnzài wéi zìjǐ móulì. Duìkàng ràng nǐ biàn dé gèng qiángdà.

DO NOT COMMIT TO ANYONE

不轻易承诺任何人
Bù qīngyì chéngnuò rènhé rén

Do not tie yourself to any cause or group. By maintaining your independence, you remain in control – others will vie for your attention and allegiance. Stay above the fray, and you will be in a position to play one side against the other.

不要将自己捆绑在任何事业或群体上。保持独立，你就能掌握局势——他人会争相博得你的青睐和支持。超然物外，你就能在两方之间游刃有余，操纵局面。
Bùyào jiāng zìjǐ kǔnbǎng zài rènhé shìyè huò qúntǐ shàng. Bǎochí dúlì, nǐ jiù néng zhǎngwò júshì—tārén huì zhēngxiāng bódé nǐ de qīnglài hé zhīchí. Chāorán wùwài, nǐ jiù néng zài liǎng fāng zhījiān yóurèn yǒuyú, cāozòng júmiàn.

PLAY A SUCKER TO CATCH A SUCKER – SEEM DUMBER THAN YOUR MARK

扮蠢捉傻——装得比对方更笨
Bàn chǔn zhuō shǎ—zhuāng de bǐ duìfāng gèng bèn

No one likes feeling stupider than the next person. The trick is to make your victims feel smart – and not just smart, but smarter than you. Once convinced of this, they will never suspect that you have ulterior motives.

没有人喜欢觉得自己比别人笨。关键在于让你的目标觉得自己聪明——不仅聪明，而且比你还聪明。一旦他们相信了这一点，就永远不会怀疑你另有所图。
Méiyǒu rén xǐhuān juéde zìjǐ bǐ biérén bèn. Guānjiàn zàiyú ràng nǐ de mùbiāo juéde zìjǐ cōngmíng—bùjǐn cōngmíng, érqiě bǐ nǐ hái cōngmíng. Yīdàn tāmen xiāngxìnle zhè yīdiǎn, jiù yǒngyuǎn bú huì huáiyí nǐ lìngyǒu suǒ tú.

USE SELECTIVE HONESTY AND GENEROSITY TO DISARM YOUR VICTIM

用选择性的诚实和慷慨解除目标的戒心
Yòng xuǎnzéxìng de chéngshí hé kāngkǎi jiěchú mùbiāo de jièxīn

A single act of honesty or generosity can cover dozens of deceitful moves. By being openly generous or honest at the right moment, you gain a reputation that will disarm the most suspicious. Once your selective honesty opens a hole in their armor, you can deceive and manipulate them at will.

一次真诚或慷慨的行为足以掩盖多次欺骗。选择在关键时刻表现出慷慨或诚实，可以为你赢得声誉，并消除对方的戒备。一旦你的诚实在他们的防线中打开缺口，你就可以随意操控他们。
Yīcì zhēnchéng huò kāngkǎi de xíngwéi zúyǐ yǎngài duōcì qīpiàn. Xuǎnzé zài guānjiàn shíkè biǎoxiàn chū kāngkǎi huò chéngshí, kěyǐ wéi nǐ yíngdé shēngyù, bìng xiāochú duìfāng de jièbèi. Yīdàn nǐ de chéngshí zài tāmen de fángxiàn zhōng dǎkāi quēkǒu, nǐ jiù kěyǐ suíyì cāokòng tāmen.

KNOW WHO YOU’RE DEALING WITH – DO NOT OFFEND THE WRONG PERSON

了解对手——不可冒犯不该冒犯的人
Liǎojiě duìshǒu—bùkě màofàn bù gāi màofàn de rén

Choose your opponents carefully. Some people will retaliate in destructive ways if you cross them. Recognize their strengths and avoid conflict with those who could endanger your position.

要谨慎选择对手。有些人一旦被冒犯会采取极具破坏性的报复。认清对方的实力，避免与那些可能危及你地位的人发生冲突。
Yào jǐnshèn xuǎnzé duìshǒu. Yǒuxiē rén yídàn bèi màofàn huì cǎiqǔ jíjù pòhuài xìng de bàofù. Rènqīng duìfāng de shílì, bìmiǎn yǔ nàxiē kěnéng wéijí nǐ dìwèi de rén fāshēng chōngtū.

DO NOT BUILD FORTRESSES TO PROTECT YOURSELF – ISOLATION IS DANGEROUS

不要筑堡自保——孤立很危险
Bùyào zhù bǎo zìbǎo—gūlì hěn wēixiǎn

Isolation cuts you off from valuable information and allies. Interact with others and form networks to ensure your safety and influence. Staying connected allows you to gather intelligence and spot threats early.

自我隔绝会让你失去重要的信息和盟友。与他人交往并建立网络才能确保你的安全和影响力。保持联系能让你及时获取情报，并提早发现威胁。
Zìwǒ géjué huì ràng nǐ shīqù zhòngyào de xìnxī hé méngyǒu. Yǔ tārén jiāowǎng bìng jiànlì wǎngluò cáinéng quèbǎo nǐ de ānquán hé yǐngxiǎnglì. Bǎochí liánxì néng ràng nǐ jíshí huòqǔ qíngbào, bìng tízǎo fāxiàn wēixié.

KNOW WHEN TO SURRENDER – TURN WEAKNESS INTO STRENGTH

懂得认输——将弱势转为优势
Dǒngdé rènshū—jiāng ruòshì zhuǎn wéi yōushì

Sometimes retreating is the smartest strategy. By surrendering at the right moment, you conserve resources and can regroup. A tactical surrender puts you in a better position to strike when the timing is favorable.

有时退让是最明智的策略。在关键时刻认输，可以保存实力并重新整合。战术性的退让让你在时机成熟时占据有利位置。
Yǒushí tuìràng shì zuì míngzhì de cèlüè. Zài guānjiàn shíkè rènshū, kěyǐ bǎocún shílì bìng chóngxīn zhěnghé. Zhànshù xìng de tuìràng ràng nǐ zài shíjī chéngshú shí zhànjù yǒulì wèizhì.

CONCENTRATE YOUR FORCES

集中力量
Jízhōng lìliàng

Intensity defeats extensity. Rather than spreading your energy thin across many goals, focus all your efforts on a single objective. This concentration will multiply your power and give you a decisive advantage.

集中精力胜于分散。不要将你的能量分散在多个目标上，而是专注于一个目标。这样的集中会放大你的力量，为你带来决定性的优势。
Jízhōng jīnglì shèng yú fēnsàn. Bùyào jiāng nǐ de néngliàng fēnsàn zài duō gè mùbiāo shàng, ér shì zhuānzhù yú yīgè mùbiāo. Zhèyàng de jízhōng huì fàngdà nǐ de lìliàng, wéi nǐ dài lái juédìngxìng de yōushì.

PLAY TO PEOPLE’S FANTASIES

迎合人们的幻想
Yínghé rénmen de huànxiǎng

People are often ruled by illusions and dreams. By feeding their fantasies, you gain power over them. Reality can be harsh, so offer them an escape, and they will come to depend on you.

人们常常被幻想和梦想所支配。通过迎合他们的幻想，你就能掌控他们。现实可能很残酷，所以提供他们一个逃避的途径，他们便会依赖于你。
Rénmen chángcháng bèi huànxiǎng hé mèngxiǎng suǒ zhīpèi. Tōngguò yínghé tāmen de huànxiǎng, nǐ jiù néng zhǎngkòng tāmen. Xiànshí kěnéng hěn cánkù, suǒyǐ tígōng tāmen yīgè táobì de tújìng, tāmen biàn huì yīlài yú nǐ.

DISCOVER EACH MAN’S THUMBSCREW

找到每个人的弱点
Zhǎodào měi gèrén de ruòdiǎn

Everyone has vulnerabilities or desires. Find these and use them to your advantage. Identifying someone’s weakness allows you to exert control over them without them realizing it.

每个人都有弱点或欲望。找到这些并加以利用。识别某人的弱点能让你不动声色地掌控他们。
Měi gèrén dōu yǒu ruòdiǎn huò yùwàng. Zhǎodào zhèxiē bìng jiāyǐ lìyòng. Shíbié mǒurén de ruòdiǎn néng ràng nǐ bù dòng shēngsè de zhǎngkòng tāmen.

BE ROYAL IN YOUR OWN FASHION: ACT LIKE A KING TO BE TREATED LIKE ONE

以王者之姿行事：想被尊为王者，就要像王者那样行事
Yǐ wángzhě zhī zī xíngshì: Xiǎng bèi zūn wéi wángzhě, jiù yào xiàng wángzhě nàyàng xíngshì

Project confidence and demand respect. If you carry yourself like royalty, people will instinctively treat you with honor. How you present yourself shapes others’ perceptions of your power.

展现自信并要求尊重。如果你表现得像王者，人们自然会本能地尊敬你。你的举止决定了别人如何看待你的力量。
Zhǎnxiàn zìxìn bìng yāoqiú zūnzhòng. Rúguǒ nǐ biǎoxiàn de xiàng wángzhě, rénmen zìrán huì běnnéng de zūnjìng nǐ. Nǐ de jǔzhǐ juédìngle biérén rúhé kàndài nǐ de lìliàng.

MASTER THE ART OF TIMING

掌握时机的艺术
Zhǎngwò shíjī de yìshù

Timing is everything in strategy. Know when to act and when to wait. Rushing can spoil your plans, while hesitation can cause you to miss opportunities. The right action at the right time makes all the difference.

时机在策略中至关重要。要知道什么时候行动，什么时候等待。急于求成会破坏计划，而犹豫不决会错失良机。恰当时机的行动能起到决定性作用。
Shíjī zài cèlüè zhōng zhìguān zhòngyào. Yào zhīdào shénme shíhòu xíngdòng, shénme shíhòu děngdài. Jíyú qiúchéng huì pòhuài jìhuà, ér yóuyù bù jué huì cuòshī liángjī. Qiàdàng shíjī de xíngdòng néng qǐ dào juédìngxìng zuòyòng.

DISDAIN THE THINGS YOU CANNOT HAVE: IGNORING THEM IS THE BEST REVENGE

轻蔑无法得到的东西：忽略是最好的报复
Qīngmiè wúfǎ dédào de dōngxī: Hūlüè shì zuì hǎo de bàofù

Desiring the unattainable weakens you. Instead, show indifference to what you cannot have, and it will lose its power over you. This is the ultimate form of psychological control.

渴求无法得到的东西会削弱你。相反，表现出对其的无动于衷，这样它就无法再左右你。这是心理控制的最高境界。
Kěqiú wúfǎ dédào de dōngxī huì xuēruò nǐ. Xiāngfǎn, biǎoxiàn chū duì qí de wúdòngyúzhōng, zhèyàng tā jiù wúfǎ zài zuǒyòu nǐ. Zhè shì xīnlǐ kòngzhì de zuìgāo jìngjiè.

CREATE COMPELLING SPECTACLES

创造引人入胜的景象
Chuàngzào yǐnrén rùshèng de jǐngxiàng

Dazzle and impress people with striking displays. This distracts them from your true intentions while leaving them in awe. Spectacle builds your reputation and makes you seem larger than life.

用令人惊叹的展示来吸引和震慑人们。这会分散他们对你真实意图的注意力，同时令他们钦佩不已。精彩的展示能塑造你的声望，让你显得超凡脱俗。
Yòng lìng rén jīngtàn de zhǎnshì lái xīyǐn hé zhènshè rénmen. Zhè huì fēnsàn tāmen duì nǐ zhēnshí yìtú de zhùyì lì, tóngshí lìng tāmen qīnpèi bùyǐ. Jīngcǎi de zhǎnshì néng sùzào nǐ de shēngwàng, ràng nǐ xiǎndé chāofán tuōsú.

THINK AS YOU LIKE, BUT BEHAVE LIKE OTHERS

思想自由，行为合群
Sīxiǎng zìyóu, xíngwéi héqún

Your true thoughts should remain hidden. Outwardly, conform to societal norms to avoid drawing unwanted attention. Privately, maintain your own beliefs and strategies.

你的真实想法应该保密。表面上，要遵循社会规范以避免引起不必要的注意。私下里，保持你的信念和策略。
Nǐ de zhēnshí xiǎngfǎ yīnggāi bǎomì. Biǎomiàn shàng, yào zūnxún shèhuì guīfàn yǐ bìmiǎn yǐnqǐ bù bìyào de zhùyì. Sīxià lǐ, bǎochí nǐ de xìnniàn hé cèlüè.

STIR UP WATERS TO CATCH FISH

浑水摸鱼
Húnshuǐ mōyú

Chaos creates opportunity. When things are in disarray, people make mistakes. Use confusion to your advantage by seizing opportunities others overlook.

混乱中往往隐藏着机会。在局势动荡时，人们容易犯错。利用这种混乱，抓住别人忽略的机会。
Hùnluàn zhōng wǎngwǎng yǐncáng zhe jīhuì. Zài júshì dòngdàng shí, rénmen róngyì fàncuò. Lìyòng zhè zhǒng hùnluàn, zhuāzhù biérén hūlüè de jīhuì.

DESPISE THE FREE LUNCH

不要贪图免费的午餐
Bùyào tāntú miǎnfèi de wǔcān

Nothing in life is truly free. Free offers often come with hidden costs or obligations. Be wary of generosity that seems too good to be true.

世上没有免费的午餐。免费提供的东西往往暗藏代价或义务。对看似慷慨的馈赠保持警惕。
Shìshàng méiyǒu miǎnfèi de wǔcān. Miǎnfèi tígōng de dōngxī wǎngwǎng àncáng dàijià huò yìwù. Duì kànsì kāngkǎi de kuìzèng bǎochí jǐngtì.

AVOID STEPPING INTO A GREAT MAN’S SHOES

避免走进伟人的脚步
Bìmiǎn zǒujìn wěirén de jiǎobù

When following in the footsteps of a great person, you’ll always be compared and overshadowed. Forge your own path and create a distinct legacy.

追随伟人的脚步会让你时常被比较并黯然失色。开辟自己的道路，创造独特的成就。
Zhuīsuí wěirén de jiǎobù huì ràng nǐ shícháng bèi bǐjiào bìng ànrán shīsè. Kāipì zìjǐ de dàolù, chuàngzào dútè de chéngjiù.

STRIKE THE SHEPHERD AND THE SHEEP WILL SCATTER

打蛇打七寸：攻击领袖，瓦解其众
Dǎ shé dǎ qī cùn: Gōngjī lǐngxiù, wǎjiě qí zhòng

Disrupting a group is easiest by removing its leader. Eliminate the source of authority, and followers will become directionless and disorganized.

最有效的方式是直接攻击领导者。去除权威的核心，其追随者便会失去方向而混乱无序。
Zuì yǒuxiào de fāngshì shì zhíjiē gōngjī lǐngdǎozhě. Qùchú quánwēi de héxīn, qí zhuīsuízhě biàn huì shīqù fāngxiàng ér hùnluàn wúxù.

WORK ON THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF OTHERS

赢得人心和思想
Yíngdé rénxīn hé sīxiǎng

Control people not just through force, but by winning their emotions and intellect. Persuade others to align with your vision willingly.

不仅要通过武力控制他人，更要赢得他们的情感和理智。说服他们心甘情愿地认同你的愿景。
Bùjǐn yào tōngguò wǔlì kòngzhì tārén, gèng yào yíngdé tāmen de qínggǎn hé lǐzhì. Shuōfú tāmen xīngāngqíngyuàn de rèntóng nǐ de yuànjǐng.

DISARM AND INFURIATE WITH THE MIRROR EFFECT

以镜像效应使人无力且愤怒
Yǐ jìngxiàng xiàoyìng shǐ rén wúlì qiě fènnù

Imitate others to neutralize their power. Mirroring behavior can confuse, disarm, or provoke anger, making it a potent psychological tool.

模仿他人以削弱他们的力量。镜像行为会让对方困惑、失去招架之力，甚至激怒他们，是一种强大的心理武器。
Mófǎng tārén yǐ xuēruò tāmen de lìliàng. Jìngxiàng xíngwéi huì ràng duìfāng kùnhuò, shīqù zhāojià zhī lì, shènzhì jīnù tāmen, shì yī zhǒng qiángdà de xīnlǐ wǔqì.

PREACH THE NEED FOR CHANGE, BUT NEVER REFORM TOO MUCH AT ONCE

倡导变革，但切勿一次性改革太多
Chàngdǎo biàngé, dàn qièwù yīcìxìng gǎigé tài duō

People resist sudden change. Introduce reforms gradually to avoid backlash, giving others time to adjust and accept new ideas.

人们往往抗拒突如其来的变化。逐步推行改革，避免激起强烈的反对，让人们有时间适应并接受新的想法。
Rénmen wǎngwǎng kàngjù tūrúqílái de biànhuà. Zhúbù tuīxíng gǎigé, bìmiǎn jīqǐ qiángliè de fǎnduì, ràng rénmen yǒu shíjiān shìyìng bìng jiēshòu xīn de xiǎngfǎ.

NEVER APPEAR TOO PERFECT

不要显得过于完美
Bùyào xiǎnde guòyú wánměi

Perfection arouses envy. Display occasional flaws to make yourself relatable and deflect jealousy.

完美会引起嫉妒。展示些许缺陷，让自己更具亲和力，并减少他人的妒忌。
Wánměi huì yǐnqǐ jídù. Zhǎnshì xiēxǔ quēxiàn, ràng zìjǐ gèng jù qīnhélì, bìng jiǎnshǎo tārén de dùjì.

ASSUME FORMLESSNESS

保持无形
Bǎochí wúxíng

Adapt constantly to avoid being pinned down. Flexibility and unpredictability prevent others from anticipating your next move.

不断适应变化，避免被抓住弱点。灵活和不可预测性能让对手无法猜测你的下一步行动。
Bùduàn shìyìng biànhuà, bìmiǎn bèi zhuāzhù ruòdiǎn. Línghuó hé bùkě yùcè xìng néng ràng duìshǒu wúfǎ cāicè nǐ de xiàyībù xíngdòng.