Welcome to MALICIA AS A GAME OF POWER. This blog series aims to delve deep into the realm of Strategy. Throughout the series, we will explore various aspects of dealing with certain people, offering insights on effective communication, conflict resolution, and building meaningful connections. Additionally, we will provide valuable tips on avoiding scammers, protecting oneself from online fraud, and maintaining a secure online presence.
Navigating the world we live in can be challenging. In this series, we will share practical guidance on making informed decisions, embracing opportunities, and overcoming obstacles on the path to success. Whether it’s negotiation, identifying manipulation, or honing leadership skills, this series will equip you with the knowledge to thrive in interpersonal dynamics and strategic decision-making. We will also explore personal branding, self-presentation, and managing online reputation, empowering you to craft a compelling image in today’s digital world. Join us as we unravel the complexities of power dynamics and relations, arming you with the expertise to emerge victorious in your pursuits.
In this installment, We will explore the 9th law of power in the book, the 48 laws of power by Robert Greene. You can but a copy by clicking HERE.
The ninth law (law 9) of the 48 Laws of Power is: Win through your actions, never through argument.
Argument vs Action. Why one is immeasurably better than the other will be explored. See, we all argue at some point or another but this might not be the wisest course of action unless we take the time to consider the implications of our words and decisions. Engaging in disputes can often lead to confusion and conflict, detracting from the goal we initially set out to achieve. Not only does argumentation consume valuable time and energy, but it can also escalate tensions, creating divides that hinder our ability to work as a cohesive unit. On the contrary, taking decisive action allows us to move forward and fosters positive change, encouraging collaboration and understanding among individuals. When we prioritize action over argument, we create an environment conducive to growth and innovation, paving the way for solutions rather than prolonging disagreements. Embracing action encourages us to focus on tangible outcomes, driving us towards shared objectives and collective success while minimizing the friction that often accompanies heated debates.
The exploration delves deeply into Law 9 of Robert Greene’s seminal work, The 48 Laws of Power, which forcefully advocates for “Winning Through Your Actions, Never Through Argument.” This principle, at its core, is a call for silent, irrefutable demonstration of capability over the hollow noise of verbal defense or aggressive challenge. This analysis is uniquely filtered and enriched through the perspective of an angoleiro, a revered practitioner and master of Capoeira Angola.
The angoleiro tradition is not merely a martial art; it is a profound philosophy steeped in subtlety, historical resistance, and the deep, often concealed, art of movement, rhythm, and strategy. This tradition provides an unparalleled and powerful lens for interpreting Law 9, transforming an intellectual concept into a visceral, lived experience.
In the roda—the dynamic circle where Capoeira is played—the philosophy of Law 9 is put into immediate practice. The master angoleiro understands instinctively that verbal confrontation, whether in the form of boasting, complaint, or even aggressive argument about the game’s rules or quality, is almost always a display of insecurity and poor strategy. Such noise distracts from the core purpose: demonstrating mastery.
True power in the roda is not measured by the volume of one’s voice, but by the efficacy, control, poise, and intelligence of the physical game. The body becomes the argument; the execution is the evidence. If an angoleiro is challenged or criticized, they do not launch into a verbal defense; they simply allow their next movement, their jogo (game), to serve as the silent, devastating retort.
We will explore how the core tenets of Capoeira Angola perfectly embody and elevate Law 9:
- Espera (Patience and Waiting): This is the strategic non-action that precedes decisive action. The angoleiro waits, not out of fear, but to study the opponent’s rhythm, weaknesses, and emotional state. In the context of Law 9, espera means resisting the urge to argue or react immediately. By withholding a verbal response, one maintains control, allowing the opponent to exhaust their energy and reveal their hand, making the eventual physical action all the more impactful and unanswerable.
- Deceptive Slowness: Capoeira Angola often employs a slow, fluid, almost dance-like pace. This slowness is a tactical ruse. It lulls the opponent into a false sense of security, masking the explosive potential held in reserve. This aligns with Law 9 by avoiding an overt, aggressive challenge. Instead of arguing for dominance, the master simply presents a disarmingly calm exterior, only to strike with “irrefutable grace and precision” when the timing is perfect.
- Malícia (Malice/Strategic Cunning): This is the highest form of intelligence in Capoeira—the use of the opponent’s own energy, momentum, and hubris against them. A master angoleiro never wastes energy fighting a direct battle; they shift, evade, and redirect. This is the ultimate expression of Law 9: why argue and expend social or emotional capital when one can use the opponent’s own aggressive verbal energy (or physical attack) to create the opening for a silent, winning action?
In essence, a master angoleiro rarely needs to argue about the quality of their game or the righteousness of their moves because they execute them with a quiet authority that defies critique. The silent action speaks louder than any defense or aggressive challenge, proving mastery and dominance without resorting to the weakness of a verbal skirmish. This approach transforms the intellectual concept of Law 9 into a dynamic, lived philosophy of silent, decisive action and strategic non-confrontation—a victory earned not in the theater of words, but in the undeniable reality of the executed jogo.
I’d like to thank Shayan Wahedi for his captivating video and hard work in creating quality content. Check out his YouTube channel HERE for a variety of engaging videos, exploring the laws of power.
Jogo Corpo Fechado 