Greene's typology of people you should recognise before you deceive or offend them.
Robert Greene's framework, from 48 Laws of Power, pp. 207 to 218.
The Arrogant and Proud Man
Touchy pride leads to vengeance out of all proportion, so flee at the first sign of oversensitive pride.
The Hopelessly Insecure Man
A fragile ego nurses hurt and attacks in small bites, so disappear for a long time if you have harmed him.
Mr. Suspicion
He sees the worst in everyone and is easy to deceive and turn against others, but dangerous if you become his target.
The Serpent with a Long Memory
He shows no anger, calculates and waits to take revenge, so crush him completely or get him out of your sight.
The Plain, Unassuming and Often Unintelligent Man
He is hard to deceive because he does not recognise the bait, so test him with a joke and, if his reaction is literal, proceed at your own risk.
From chapter: LAW 19, pp. 207–218
The ability to measure people and know who you are dealing with is, Greene says, the most important skill in gathering and conserving power. Muhammad, shah of Khwarezm, insulted Genghis Khan's embassy and lost his empire, J. Frank Norfleet spent five years and his marriage hunting the swindlers who conned him of $45,000, the ruler of Cheng slighted a poor exiled prince who came back with an army, and Duveen's pitch to Henry Ford failed because Ford was too literal minded to be deceived. Greene gives five dangerous types of mark and warns never to rely on instinct or on the version people give of themselves. He says the law has no reversal.
