Law 39 of 48
Stir Up Waters to Catch Fish.
Create disruption or controversy to attract attention and generate opportunities. By stirring up the waters, you can provoke discussion, challenge the status quo, and position yourself to capitalize on emerging trends or changes in circumstances.
Independent commentary on a principle popularised in The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the authors or their publishers.
What it actually means
Anger is both a tell and a handle. Someone who can reliably upset you gets to choose the moment you make your worst decision, which is why provocation is more often deliberate than accidental. Read this defensively: the person who stays calm keeps control of the timing.
Where you would have seen it
A colleague makes a small dismissive remark about your work in front of others, and does it again every week. You finally snap in a meeting, and the story afterwards is your temper rather than the pattern of remarks.
Try it today
When something lands badly today, wait until tomorrow morning before responding. Write the reply now if it helps, but do not send it.
Where this shows up
Law 39 tends to come up in these parts of life. Follow a path to read the other laws that belong with it:
Laws that go with it
If law 39 landed, these are the entries people usually read next — they cover overlapping ground: law 22, law 23, law 25.
Transform Weakness into Power.
Fighting a battle you cannot win burns the resources you would need for the one you can.
NegotiatingAt WorkComposureLaw 23Concentrate Your Forces.
Spread effort produces movement without result.
Leading PeopleComposureAt WorkLaw 25Create a Powerful Image That Stands Out.
Nobody carries a full picture of you in their head.
ComposureAt Work