{"id":1391,"date":"2019-09-24T09:33:31","date_gmt":"2019-09-24T13:33:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=1391"},"modified":"2022-03-08T09:47:06","modified_gmt":"2022-03-08T13:47:06","slug":"48-laws-of-power-law-46-never-appear-too-perfect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/48-laws-of-power-law-46-never-appear-too-perfect\/","title":{"rendered":"Law 46: Never Appear Too Perfect (48 Laws of Power)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Overview of Law #46: <\/strong>Never Appear Too Perfect<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your talents and achievements will generate envy. The envious will work quietly against you. To forestall or mitigate envy, admit to a flaw or weakness, emphasize the role of luck<\/a>, or downplay your talents. Envy is extremely dangerous \u2014 recognize it and don\u2019t let it escalate. This is why you should never appear too perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Principles<\/strong> of Law 46<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your success will arouse the envy of those around you, and can bring harm upon you, if you don\u2019t recognize the signs and stop it before it grows into a destructive force.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With little exception, your talent, accomplishment, and public admiration will generate unease in others<\/strong>. The reason is that most people have an inflated sense of self-worth<\/a>. Your success punctures their balloon \u2014 they\u2019re not as talented or as smart as they thought. They may even be mediocre. This stirs up envy and feelings of inferiority. This is why it’s important to never appear too perfect.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People may disguise their envy by criticizing you<\/strong> (for instance by saying you got where you are by taking advantage of others), or they\u2019ll praise you excessively. Others will be indirect, working quietly and persistently to undermine you. Signs of envy include sarcastic remarks or open expressionf of resentment.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Law 46 of the 48 Laws of Power<\/a>, the people you should fear the most<\/a> are those close to you<\/strong> \u2014  the family, friends, peers, and acquaintances you\u2019ve outshone.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although you may not recognize that someone\u2019s jealousy is building, you\u2019ll eventually feel the brunt of it \u2014 unless you learn to prevent or de-escalate it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Often your obliviousness and your own actions will stir up envy<\/strong>. By being aware of your actions and tendencies, you can mitigate it.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are two of the ways people help create envy and appear too perfect:<\/p>\n\n\n\n