---
title: "Working on hearts and minds"
description: "How Greene says to seduce people into moving your way."
canonical: https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/48-laws-of-power/working-on-hearts-and-minds/
updated: 2026-11-03
---

# Working on hearts and minds

> How Greene says to seduce people into moving your way.

Robert Greene's framework, from 48 Laws of Power, pp. 551 to 563.

Framework 25 of 27 from [48 Laws of Power](https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/48-laws-of-power/index.md) by Robert Greene. Category: Life and thinking.

## The steps

1. **Step back and read the person.** Calculate the target's emotional makeup and psychological weaknesses before acting.
2. **Work on emotions and intellectual weaknesses.** Aim at both individual psychology and shared emotions such as love, hate and jealousy.
3. **Alternate harshness with mercy.** Use a dramatic jolt or contrast so that relief wins their hearts.
4. **Use symbolic gestures.** Show goodwill or shared suffering to make people identify with you.
5. **Show how it benefits them.** Cover a blatant appeal to self-interest with a noble cause.
6. **Enlist expressive people and widen your base.** Keep an artist or intellectual close and win allies on all levels.

## Where it comes from

From chapter: LAW 43, pp. 551–563

Coercion creates a reaction that works against you, whereas seduction makes people want to move your way. Marie-Antoinette never tried to charm or persuade, spent lavishly at the Petit Trianon while France starved, and went to the guillotine with no defenders. Chuko Liang won the barbarian king Menghuo's loyalty by capturing and releasing him seven times and treating his soldiers with respect, so no occupying force was needed. Greene says to study each target's psychology, aim at primary emotions, alternate harshness and mercy, use symbolic gestures, appeal to self-interest under a noble cause, keep an artist or intellectual to speak to minds, and widen your support base. He says there is 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/working-on-hearts-and-minds.mp4
- MP4, dark: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/48-laws-of-power/working-on-hearts-and-minds-dark.mp4
- Still: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/48-laws-of-power/working-on-hearts-and-minds.png
- Still, dark: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/48-laws-of-power/working-on-hearts-and-minds-dark.png