Remember! Whatever one achieves in life is directly proportional to one’s attitude. Life returns to what one does.
What Is The Laws of Human Nature About?
Everyone knows about Isaac Newton. He was an absolute genius. He changed Physics with his laws forever. But despite being a brilliant brain, he never understood human nature. He often misjudged human nature. Therefore, this is what he said about human nature: “I can calculate the motion of the heavenly bodies but not the madness of people.” Human is the most complex creatures. Human nature is entirely different from all other living creatures because human is the only creatures that have a lethal combination of wisdom and emotions, and this is what has been discussed in The Laws of Human Nature.
Understanding this combination is the key to mastering relationships, influence, and personal growth.
Who Is Robert Greene?
One who understands human nature has a better chance of success, but how to understand human nature is a million-dollar question. This question has so brilliantly been answered in the book “The Laws of Human Nature,” written by Robert Greene, which will blow your mind. Robert Greene is also the best-selling author of “The 48 Laws of Power“. But his book “The Laws of Human Nature” goes far beyond “The 48 Laws of Power”. Therefore, everyone must read it. It will give you such an understanding of human psychology and nature that you will cherish it all your life.
Robert Greene has given 18 laws of human nature in the book The Laws of Human Nature, but all the laws are equally significant.
1. Law of Irrationality, We Are Ruled by Emotions, Not Logic: We think today’s modern human beings are clever, intelligent, and rational, and make decisions based on wisdom, not emotions. But in reality, we make decisions based on emotions, not on rationality, and that’s why most of our decisions are incorrect.
Thousands of years ago, there was a famous statesman in Athens called Pericles. He used to spend time alone before making important decisions. After evaluating the consequences, he always made the best decision in the interest of the common masses. Therefore, people absolutely loved him. We can learn a lot from the passion capital of Pericles. This is easy to say, but applying it practically is a challenge. Thinking objectively about any of the issues, one will face problems, and these problems are called bias.
Bias is such a thought that has no logic or reason, and these biases are driven by our emotions and cognitive processes. There are dozens of biases in psychology, as per The Laws of Human Nature, like confirmation bias, conviction bias, group bias, appearance bias, superiority bias, blame bias, and so on. To make a sound and strong decision, one must know these biases to avoid falling into their trap.
Confirmation Bias: Whenever we decide whether in our professional or personal life, we search for evidence to make the best decision possible. But interestingly, we only search for the evidence that confirms our current belief. We wish the belief that lives in our minds should be acknowledged, which takes us away from the truth. Therefore, we tend to shun reality. Thus, to avoid confirmation bias, searching for evidence is entirely different from your existing belief. Be as skeptical as you can.
Conviction Bias: To a great extent, it is a self-explanatory bias. Conviction bias happens when you think, “I believe in this idea so strongly, it must be true”. Your conviction about the idea is so strong that you nullify and void the rest of the factors. Usually, when a political or religious leader talks to us with strong conviction and full authority, with heated words and gestures, it seems to us that whatever he says is 100% correct. But this is not always true. Therefore, one must always be careful.
Appearance Bias: According to this bias of The Laws of Human Nature, people are judged based on their outward appearance. But appearances can be really misleading. This is called the “Halo Effect” in the language of Psychology. The “Halo Effect” is when one trait of a person or thing is used to make an overall judgment of that person or thing.
We often assume that good-looking people are also kind and trustworthy, but this is not always true. This happens because we tend to fall for appearances. We judge people based on their physical and superficial appearance. We tend to judge someone’s inner qualities based on their outward appearance. Let’s remember that true beauty lies within. Therefore, it is essential to strive to understand individuals at a deeper level.
Group Bias: We do whatever the group endorses. This is also called band-within-effect. We are social animals. Therefore, we don’t like isolation, and to belong to a group, we adopt its ideology, which is also called group thinking. On many occasions, our thoughts are different from those of the group, but we fear if we voice our point of view, then we might be ostracized. Therefore, we become the victims of this fear and calmly turn our heads in the direction where the group is headed.
Blame Bias: We often believe that we learn from our mistakes, but in reality, we tend to avoid or escape from them. Because it is too painful to look at our mistakes, and if a mistake occurs, we blame someone else for it. This is called self-serving bias in psychology. There is a saying, “Success has many fathers, while failure is an orphan”.
Superiority Bias: Because of this bias in The Laws of Human Nature, we think we are superior, decent, rational, and intelligent to others, but in reality, this is not so. We ignore our mistakes and shortcomings, which is the recipe for disaster. We have to create a balance between our emotions and rationality.
2. Law of Narcissism, Turning Self-Love into Empathy: “Narcissism” is a unique word of the English language that means self-love. A narcissist needs more praise, validation, and appreciation. Such people have the desire to be appreciated regularly. One should praise their hair, clothes, selfies, and gestures. Standing in front of a mirror and looking at and praising themselves for hours. These are mild symptoms of narcissism. Instagram is full of such a kind of personality disorder. But in reality, everyone is a narcissist at their own level. However, there is such a dangerous narcissism called Deep Narcissism.
It is dangerous because, within two to five years, it makes its position in our personality. This is the age when, for the first time, a child comes out of his mother’s lap and tries to discover his self-image. Parents should appreciate their child and give him time and attention at this age. This develops his positive self-image.
Deep narcissists can be identified by their behavior. They become furious with rage if you challenge them. They are oversensitive and usually consider themselves correct. In relation, deep narcissists view their partner as their extension and try to isolate their partners for better control. Our goal must be to invert narcissism into empathy, but what is empathy? Empathy means understanding and sharing others’ feelings. So that you can understand the situation of other people. You should know what their feelings and frustrations are. Be attentive to their needs and be a good listener. This will work wonders for you. If you develop these habits, you begin to understand the beauty of humanity.
3. Law of Role Playing, People Wear Masks Every Day: People indeed wear masks in daily life. This mask is worn to hide the real personality. Every person wants to look confident, intelligent, diligent, and attractive. Therefore, every person tries hard to hide jealousy, insecurity, and envy. If the fake identity of someone is accepted as real, his true feelings will never be known.
Fortunately, there are some cracks in this mask. Because of these cracks, people often express their real feelings, sentiments, and unconscious desires through body language or non-verbal cues unintentionally. Now, you must master this language to become an expert in reading people. People fall for appearances. Therefore, you can also fool people with your appearance to play with their emotions and perceptions. You can do your role-playing and do it to favor your cause.
Otherwise, his self-image will be distorted, and right from this point, deep narcissism begins. Usually, parents of such children are self-narcissists and snub their personalities while trying to control them. Such children develop strange personalities when they grow. Children with this personality type need constant exposure to new people, environments, praise, appreciation, and attention. Conversely, introverted children of this type often seem detached or lost in their own world. They may also feel superior or isolated, and many are at risk of developing drug addiction.
4. Law of Compulsive Behaviour, Strong vs Toxic Character: According to this law in The Laws of Human Nature, we should measure the strength of people’s character. Because character is the thing that one never loses. You will know if a person has a loose character or a deep character in due course of time.
Therefore, if you want to know the real behavior of people, then try to know their true character. This will give you insights into their personalities that nothing else can give you. If you want to judge the character of someone, then note how they react in times of adversity. People of strong character always face hardships with responsibility. This is a sign of strength. However, on the other side, there will be toxic people whose responses will be opposite. But these toxic people are also of various types.
Initially, you will be impressed by the Hyper Perfectionist’s behavior as they strive for excellence in everything they do to maintain the highest standard. But with time, you will discover that the story is different. They are perfectionists because they don’t know how to delegate. They trust no one. Therefore, always watch these sorts of individuals and deal with them accordingly.
There is another type of toxic people known as Relentless Rebels. Initially, living with such people may seem exciting because they are known for rebelling against authority and going against the system. They also tend to have a great sense of humor, due to which people are attracted to them. But, if you scratch the surface, they have insecure personalities under a rebellious nature. These types of people are usually maltreated by their parents in their childhood. That’s why they tend to hate power and authority. Therefore, be very careful with the rebels you meet in your life.
The Personalizer is another type of toxic person. They are thoughtful and sensitive. They seem intelligent, and they are usually good to work with. But with time, it becomes clear that their sensitivity is only for themselves. Their sensitivity is only directed inward. If you do anything wrong with them, they will remember it for months and years, and make sure you remember it too. They also present themselves as victims. That’s why their personalities eventually become toxic.
Then you will meet some Drama Magnets who always remain busy with it. They possess unusual energy. They have dozens of stories to tell. Their features are very animated. You will enjoy talking to them. But a time comes when their drama becomes ugly, and they show you their real face. These kinds of people will ensnare you in their drama in such a way that you will never be able to escape.
Then come the “Big Talkers“. These people tend to speak grandiosely, but deep inside their personalities, there is no substance. These people never complete any work and eventually blame others for it.
The Savior is another kind of toxic individual. You believe that, at last, you have discovered the individual you have been searching for. This person will give you acquittal from all your problems, but in reality, he will control you. Whenever you try to be independent, he depresses your personality, and he becomes quite aggressive. You think that he is a solution to all your problems, but actually, he is the real problem.
You will meet a lot of such toxic people in your life. The primary intention of discussing them is to prevent encountering them. Do not demean or belittle them, but observe them. Be very careful and always tilt to the people of strong character.
5. Law of Covetousness, Become an Object of Desire: According to this law in The Laws of Human Nature, we should make ourselves an object of desire, but how do we achieve it? It is a question of concern. If you constantly show up everywhere and every time, you will gradually lose your dignity and value. Make sure to be selective and intentional about where and when you present yourself.
That is the reason the big celebrities or stars limit their attendance. They are seen rarely. They create a mystery around them. Therefore, it is essential to use strategic absence to make people desire your return. Conduct yourself in a way that people want to possess you, but never let them know who will possess you. The people must be shown the thing they desire. They will become your crazy lovers, and you will be a timeless dream for them. Most people indeed live their lives in a narrow timeframe.
In the context of time, our emotions tend to be negative as it reminds us of aging and an uncertain future. So, we are petrified of time. We always fall for short-term things, which is one of the biggest mistakes in our lives. We never focus on the big picture. Instead of long-term thinking, we focus on low-hanging fruit. Due to this, though we get short-term joy, we never get long-term success.
6. Law of Short-Sightedness, Focus on the Long Term: Most people lack perseverance. Perseverance is such a superpower that makes you successful in life. If we read the life stories of successful people, we find one common thing in their lives: long-term dedication. This is one of the most essential qualities to differentiate between a champion and a mediocre individual.
7. Law of Defensiveness, How to Persuade Without Offending: When you go to bring about a change in people, people will resist. People usually never like change. They tend to repel people when they try to change them. Now, what to do in such a situation?
We commit a mistake when we convince others. We enforce our opinion on them, which is absolutely wrong. Because people think their free will is being attacked. They don’t feel independent. Focus on people if you want to change them. Give them importance. Listen to them. Make them feel important. Let them do the talking. Do not hesitate to take an inferior position to make the others seem superior. When you win their trust, they will play in your hands. They will do what you want them to do.
French Philosopher Jean De La Bruyere has said a wonderful thing about the conversation with the people, “The true spirit of conversation consists more in bringing out the cleverness of others than in showing a great deal of it yourself: he who goes away pleased with himself and his own wit is also pleased with you. Most men seek less to be instructed, and even to be amused, than to be praised and applauded”. How to persuade people is a big question. For it, there are five strategies:-
First, you have to develop yourself as an expert listener. There is a reason why we have been given one tongue and two ears. Remember, everyone loves to be heard, and if you become that listener, this listening power will make you an expert persuader.
The second strategy is to infect people with a good mood. The mood of the people should be good after meeting you. You should radiate positive vibes, because of which people will be eager to meet you.
The third strategy is to confirm their self-opinion. Make people the center of attraction rather than you becoming yourself. Give them autonomy and win them with your goodness.
The fourth strategy is to allay the insecurities of people. Every person is insecure somehow concerning looks, creative power, masculinity, power status, uniqueness, or popularity, etc. You must protect them from such kinds of insecurities.
The fifth strategy is to use people’s resistance and stubbornness in your favor. There may be some individuals in your life who are headstrong. They may be more resistant to change. They often do the opposite of what people say to them. First, they will ask for advice. Then, they will point out dozens of flaws in your advice. You should play mental judo with such kinds of people. Use their emotions, their language, and their rigidity in your favor. If you tell him what he is doing is right, he will go the opposite way. Because you have advised him, and with the advice, he never agrees, as he is a rebellious soul.
8. The Law of Self-Sabotage, Your Attitude Defines Your Life: Every person has a different ideology to view the world. This ideology can build or destroy our lives. Remember, attitude is directly proportional to achievement. Therefore, what you achieve in life is the result of your attitude. Life returns exactly what your attitude is. Being a pessimist can lead to negative outcomes, but if you are an optimist and always look at the brighter side of things, things will always fall in place for you.
Therefore, it’s important to remember that your attitude can have a significant impact on your personal growth. Don’t let a negative attitude sabotage your progress. Explore the limit of your willpower, and you will be surprised how far your willpower will take you in life. A negative and toxic person not only harms himself but also those around him. A negative person also has a negative influence on their team.
There are a lot of categories of negative people discussed in The Laws of Human Nature. Some have hostile attitudes. Such people spread hatred all around. Some have anxious attitudes. These individuals tend to focus on problems in every aspect of their lives. They are always suffering from excusitis. Some people have avoidant attitudes. Such kind of people hesitate to take responsibility. Some people have a depressive attitude. These people always remain anxious even on the most joyous occasions.
Arthur Schopenhauer has said beautifully, “This is why the same external events or circumstances affect no two people alike; even with perfectly similar surroundings, everyone lives in a world of his own. The world in which a man lives shapes itself chiefly by the way in which he looks at it, and so it proves different to different men. To one, it is barren, dull, and superficial: to another, rich, interesting, and full of meaning.
On hearing of the interesting events that have happened in the course of man’s experience, many people will wish that similar things had happened in their lives too, completely forgetting that they should be envious rather than the mental aptitude which lent those events the significance they possess when he describes them”.
Remember, your thoughts become things.
The Laws of Human Nature vs The 48 Laws of Power
Robert Greene became a global name after writing The 48 Laws of Power. That book focuses on how power operates in the real world, how people gain it, use it, and sometimes misuse it. It teaches strategies to protect yourself from manipulation and to navigate competitive environments.
However, the Laws of Human Nature go much deeper. While The 48 Laws of Power deals with the external world of power, The Laws of Human Nature deals with the internal world of psychology and emotions. It helps us understand why people behave the way they do, the hidden motives, fears, and desires that drive every action.
If The 48 Laws of Power teaches you how to deal with others, The Laws of Human Nature teaches you how to understand them. One shows you how to play the game of power; the other shows you what’s happening inside the players. Therefore, both are masterpieces in their own way, but The Laws of Human Nature takes you one step closer to self-mastery.
Final Thoughts
The Laws of Human Nature is not just a book; it’s a mirror that reflects who we truly are. It helps us understand the hidden forces that control our behavior and shape our relationships. Once you begin to see through people’s masks and understand their emotions, life becomes less confusing and more meaningful.
Robert Greene’s message is clear in his book “The Laws of Human Nature”: the greatest power of all is self-awareness. The more you understand human nature, the better decisions you make, the wiser you become, and the more peaceful your life turns out to be.
So, if you really wish to understand yourself and others, read The Laws of Human Nature. It will open your eyes to the truth about people, emotions, and life itself. Remember, wisdom begins when we start observing not the world outside, but the world within.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is The Laws of Human Nature about?
The Laws of Human Nature is a psychology and self-development book by Robert Greene that explores why people behave the way they do. It explains human emotions, unconscious motives, biases, fears, and desires, helping readers understand themselves and others more deeply.
Who is the author of The Laws of Human Nature?
The book is written by Robert Greene, a bestselling author known for works like The 48 Laws of Power, The Art of Seduction, and Mastery. In this book, he focuses on human psychology rather than power alone.
How many laws are there in The Laws of Human Nature?
Robert Greene presents 18 laws of human nature, each focusing on a specific psychological pattern such as irrationality, narcissism, defensiveness, envy, short-sightedness, and self-sabotage.
Is The Laws of Human Nature a psychology book?
Yes, but it is written for general readers, not academics. It combines psychology, philosophy, history, and real-life examples to explain complex human behavior in an accessible way.
What is the main message of The Laws of Human Nature?
The central message is that self-awareness is the greatest power. By understanding your emotions and the hidden motives of others, you can make better decisions, improve relationships, and avoid manipulation and self-destruction.
How does The Laws of Human Nature help in real life?
The book helps readers:
- Understand emotional biases and irrational behavior
- Improve relationships and communication
- Identify toxic personalities
- Control reactions instead of being controlled by emotions
- Develop empathy and emotional intelligence
What is the Law of Irrationality in The Laws of Human Nature?
The Law of Irrationality explains that humans are driven more by emotions than logic. Our decisions are often influenced by cognitive biases such as confirmation bias, superiority bias, and group bias.
What does Robert Greene say about narcissism?
According to the Law of Narcissism, everyone is narcissistic to some degree. The book explains how to recognize deep narcissism in others and transform self-love into empathy to build healthier relationships.
Is The Laws of Human Nature better than The 48 Laws of Power?
Both books serve different purposes. The 48 Laws of Power focuses on external power and strategy, while The Laws of Human Nature focuses on internal psychology and emotional mastery. Many readers consider The Laws of Human Nature deeper and more transformative.
Can beginners read The Laws of Human Nature?
Yes. Although the book is detailed, it is written in a story-based and explanatory style, making it suitable for beginners interested in psychology, self-improvement, and human behavior.
Is The Laws of Human Nature useful for personal growth?
Absolutely. The book is widely regarded as a powerful guide to self-growth, helping readers overcome self-sabotage, negative attitudes, emotional reactions, and destructive patterns.
What kind of people should read The Laws of Human Nature?
This book is ideal for:
- Students and self-learners
- Leaders and professionals
- Entrepreneurs and strategists
- Anyone interested in psychology, relationships, and self-mastery
What makes The Laws of Human Nature different from other self-help books?
Unlike typical motivational books, it does not rely on clichés. Instead, it uses historical figures, psychological research, and real human behavior to reveal uncomfortable but powerful truths.
Is The Laws of Human Nature worth reading?
Yes. If you want to understand why people act the way they do, protect yourself from manipulation, and develop emotional intelligence, The Laws of Human Nature is a must-read.
