Welcome to MALICIA AS A GAME OF POWER, a blog series that explores the strategies of human interactions, including communication, conflict resolution, negotiation, and manipulation. It discusses leadership, personal branding, and online reputation management, providing practical strategies for influence and relationship-building. Through analysis and examples, the series aims to help readers navigate interpersonal relationships successfully.
In this installment, we will explore the 33nd law of power in the book, the 48 laws of power by Robert Greene. You can buy a copy by clicking HERE.
LAW 33 DISCOVER EACH MANS THUMBSCREW
Discover each man’s thumbscrew, which emphasizes the importance of understanding what drives and motivates individuals, highlights the necessity of recognizing the unique pressures and vulnerabilities that each person holds. By engaging deeply with others, we unveil their personal strengths and weaknesses, allowing us to navigate our interactions more effectively.
This principle suggests that by identifying the metaphorical “thumbscrew” of a person—be it their desires, fears, or insecurities—we can influence them in a manner that is beneficial for both parties. By gaining a deeper understanding of what motivates them, we create pathways for meaningful engagement, allowing us to tailor our interactions to resonate more profoundly. This nuanced approach not only enables us to respond better to their needs but also encourages open dialogues, where both sides can share their perspectives without fear of judgment. U
ltimately, this knowledge cultivates empathy and fosters stronger relationships, as we learn to align our approaches to accommodate their needs and aspirations. This, in turn, enhances collaboration and fosters trust, allowing for a communal environment where ideas can flourish and individuals feel valued, leading to a more cohesive and constructive relationship dynamic.
How to use The 33rd Law of Power in an ethical way: The Art of Strategic Discretion
The 33rd Law of Power, often interpreted as “Discover Each Man’s Thumbscrew,” speaks to the human tendency to focus on an individual’s specific weaknesses, insecurities, or desires—the leverage point that, when pressed, can be used to control or manipulate them. While this law, in its rawest form, is a tool for calculated influence and sometimes ruthless power, it is possible and necessary to reinterpret and apply its core principle—strategic understanding of human nature—in an ethical framework.
To utilize the essence of this law ethically, one must shift the focus from exploitation to empathy, effective communication, and collaboration.1. Shift the Focus: From “Thumbscrew” to “Motivator”
Instead of seeking a “weakness” to exploit, an ethical application involves identifying a person’s core motivator, driver, or aspiration. This requires deep, empathetic listening and observation, aimed at understanding what truly matters to them.
- Ethical Goal: To understand the individual’s deepest needs and professional/personal goals to better align your shared objectives, creating a mutually beneficial partnership.
- The Approach: Ask thoughtful, open-ended questions. Pay attention to what frustrates them (their pain points) and what excites them (their passions). These are not vulnerabilities to be exploited, but keys to effective, ethical collaboration.
2. Strategic Discretion and Respect for Privacy
The original law encourages probing and revealing secrets. The ethical corollary demands extreme discretion and respect for privacy. The knowledge gained about a person’s “motivator” is a sacred trust, never to be weaponized or shared.
- Ethical Goal: To build trust through reliability and confidentiality. When people know you understand them deeply but respect their boundaries, they are more willing to open up and commit to shared goals.
- The Approach: Use the knowledge only to tailor your communication style, provide appropriate support, or delegate tasks that align with their strengths and motivations. Never introduce their personal “pain points” into a professional or public discussion.
3. Application: Influence Through Mutual Benefit
The power derived from this ethical interpretation is not coercive; it is influential. Instead of forcing action, you structure proposals and tasks in a way that naturally aligns with the individual’s self-interest and sense of purpose.
| Unethical Application (Manipulation) | Ethical Application (Influence) |
| Exploitation: Find a flaw and threaten to expose it unless demands are met. | Alignment: Identify a personal ambition and show how the current task is a direct stepping stone toward it. |
| Coercion: Pressure a person by targeting their greatest insecurity (e.g., fear of failure). | Empowerment: Delegate a task that is a stretch goal, appealing to their desire for growth and recognition. |
| Self-Serving: Use the knowledge solely to advance your own position at their expense. | Collaborative: Use the knowledge to structure a deal that genuinely benefits both parties, ensuring they feel valued. |
Conclusion
The 33rd Law of Power can be ethically redeemed by reframing its central tenet. The goal is not to gain leverage over others, but to gain insight into them. By replacing the cold search for a “thumbscrew” with the warm effort of understanding a person’s genuine “motivator,” the law transforms from a cynical tool of control into a powerful mechanism for building strong, productive, and respectful relationships. The ethical use of this knowledge is a foundation for true, sustainable leadership built on mutual respect and genuine human connection.
The 33rd Law of Power, as seen through the eyes of an Angoleiro, is not merely a set of strategic rules, but a deep philosophical reflection on survival, adaptation, and the subtle art of influence within a complex, often adversarial, world.
The Angoleiro, a practitioner of Capoeira Angola—the older, more traditional, and less overtly acrobatic form of the Afro-Brazilian martial art—embodies this law in every roda (the circle where Capoeira is played) and every move (jogo). The 33rd Law of Power, often summarized as “Discover Each Man’s Thumbscrew,” resonates with the core Angoleiro principle: Know your opponent (and yourself) better than they know themselves.
Elaboration on the Angoleiro’s Interpretation:
- The “Thumbscrew” as Vulnerabilidade (Vulnerability) and Abertura (Opening):
- In Capoeira Angola, the “thumbscrew” is not solely a psychological weakness or a secret desire, but a physical or rhythmic abertura—an opening in the opponent’s defense. This abertura is rooted in their natural movement pattern, their preferred stance, or their internal rhythm (ginga).
- The Angoleiro does not rush the attack. They spend the initial phase of the jogo in deep, low, and deceptive ginga, observing the opponent’s “signature” movement. They look for the moment when the opponent’s weight is momentarily misplaced, when they commit too heavily to one side, or when their breathing changes—this is the physical thumbscrew, the point of maximum vulnerabilidade.
- The Malandragem of Psychological Leverage:
- Beyond the physical, the Angoleiro utilizes malandragem—a term encompassing street smarts, cleverness, and cunning deception. This is the psychological aspect of the law. The Angoleiro seeks to disrupt the opponent’s emotional and mental balance.
- This is achieved through:
- Deception (Disimulação): Feigning fatigue, boredom, or distraction to lull the opponent into overconfidence.
- Musical Manipulation: Using the berimbau and accompanying instruments to slow down the pace, inviting the opponent to relax, only to strike with sudden, explosive speed (axé). Conversely, speeding up the music to push a naturally slow player into making a panicked mistake. The rhythm controls the mind.
- Emotional Taunting (Provocação): Using a look, a subtle smile, or a perfectly timed chamada (call-out) to incite anger, fear, or a desire for reckless, flashy moves, pulling the opponent away from their center and discipline. The thumbscrew here is the opponent’s ego.
- The Saber (Knowledge) of Context:
- An Angoleiro understands that the “thumbscrew” is context-dependent. A move that worked in one roda against one person will not work in another. The law is not about finding a universal weakness, but a momentary one.
- The true power lies in the constant, active research into the opponent’s style:
- Does he favor a high defense? Attack low.
- Is he afraid of getting close? Use the jogo de dentro (inside game), forcing intimacy and discomfort.
- Does he rely on a single, powerful move? Lead him to commit to that move, then evade and counter.
Conclusion:
For the Angoleiro, the 33rd Law is about mastering the art of observation and patience (Paciência). Power is not seized through brute force, but carefully extracted through knowledge. By discovering the opponent’s “thumbscrew”—be it a misplaced foot, a hurried breath, or a fragile ego—the Angoleiro can control the entire jogo without ever appearing to struggle, turning the opponent’s own nature into their ultimate undoing. The path to power is the path of subtle insight.
Jogo Corpo Fechado 