---
title: "Five dangerous types of mark"
description: "Greene's typology of people you should recognise before you deceive or offend them."
canonical: https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/48-laws-of-power/five-dangerous-types-of-mark/
updated: 2026-11-03
---

# Five dangerous types of mark

> 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.

Framework 9 of 27 from [48 Laws of Power](https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/48-laws-of-power/index.md) by Robert Greene. Category: Lead generation.

## The steps

1. **The Arrogant and Proud Man.** Touchy pride leads to vengeance out of all proportion, so flee at the first sign of oversensitive pride.
2. **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.
3. **Mr. Suspicion.** He sees the worst in everyone and is easy to deceive and turn against others, but dangerous if you become his target.
4. **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.
5. **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.

## Where it comes from

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.

## The animation

24 seconds, 4:5, no sound.

- MP4: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/48-laws-of-power/five-dangerous-types-of-mark.mp4
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- Still, dark: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/48-laws-of-power/five-dangerous-types-of-mark-dark.png