48 Laws of Power - Law 12: Use Selective Honesty and Generosity to Disarm Your Victim
At its core, this law suggests that a single act of honesty or generosity can lower someone's defenses more effectively than a hundred reassurances. When you offer something genuine - whether it's a confession, a gift, or a favor - people naturally become more trusting. This creates an opening that can be exploited strategically. The mechanism is simple: we're hardwired to reciprocate. When someone is honest with us or gives us something, we feel obligated to return the gesture. This psychological principle, known as reciprocity, is so powerful that it can override our better judgment. In History: Conquerors would offer generous terms to one city while planning to brutally subjugate others. ...