48 laws · one a day
The laws of power, one a day on your Lock Screen.
A quiet, book-like companion built around the 48 laws. Each morning a single law appears on your Lock Screen and Home Screen. Every one is explained in plain English, with an example and one small thing to try.
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What's inside
Made to be read, not scrolled past
Restrained typography, a palette of red, deep blue and gold, and no feed to fall into. It is closer to a small private library than another quote app.
It arrives without opening anything
The law is written to your Lock Screen and Home Screen widget every day. You read it the way you read the time — in a glance, on the way past.
Every law, always available
It is not a drip feed you cannot outrun. If you want to work through the collection in a sitting, or jump straight to law 33, you can.
Explained for now, not 1998
Every law is written up twice: once as the classic statement, and once as what it actually means in an office, a family or a negotiation today.
One practice per law
Each entry ends with a single small action you can take today. That is the difference between reading about power and noticing it working.
Paths through the laws
The laws are organised by where they show up — work, relationships, negotiation, persuasion — so you can read the ones that match your week.
Quizzes and favourites
Test your recall, and keep the laws you keep coming back to in one place instead of scrolling for them.
Every law, in four parts
What makes an entry different from a quote
A quote tells you something happened. An entry tells you what it means, where it shows up, and what to do about it. Here is our entry for law 4, exactly as it appears in the app.
Law 4
Always Say Less than Necessary.
When communicating, always say less than you think is necessary. Avoid unnecessary elaboration or divulging too much information. This strategy can help maintain an air of mystery and control the flow of information in conversations.
What it actually means
People hear a pause as composure and fill it in your favour; they hear volume as need. Saying less is not concealment, it is refusing to buy agreement with extra words. Most of what you add after your actual point is aimed at your own nerves rather than their understanding.
Where you would have seen it
You send a strong proposal, then follow up an hour later apologising for its length and offering to trim the budget. The client had objected to neither. Both are now on the table and the price only moves one way.
Try it today
Make one request today in a single sentence and send it without the softening paragraph you would normally attach.
Read the full entry for law 4, and the 14 other laws that touch on negotiation →
The collection
Commentary on all 48 laws
Written up here in our own words, and delivered one at a time in the app. Start with the ones most people meet first.
Never Outshine the Master.
When interacting with your superiors or mentors, avoid appearing more capable or accomplished than them.
At WorkLeading PeopleLaw 4Always Say Less than Necessary.
When communicating, always say less than you think is necessary.
NegotiatingComposureLaw 7Get Others to Do the Work, but Always Take the Credit.
Delegate tasks and responsibilities to others whenever possible, but ensure that you receive credit for their accomplishments.
At WorkLeading PeopleLaw 15Crush Your Enemy Totally.
When faced with adversaries or obstacles, strive for decisive victory by utterly defeating and neutralizing them.
Friends & FamilyNegotiatingLeading PeopleLaw 28Enter Action with Boldness.
Approach challenges and opportunities with confidence and decisiveness.
ComposureNegotiatingLaw 48Assume Formlessness.
Remain adaptable and flexible in your approach, avoiding rigid adherence to fixed strategies or identities.
Leading PeopleComposureBy situation
Start where your week is
The laws are grouped by where they actually surface — so you can read the ones that match the problem in front of you.
At Work
31 laws · Most of the laws play out in offices, in hierarchies and in rooms where somebody else signs off the work.
Leading People
16 laws · Laws about the person others look to.
Friends & Family
15 laws · Power does not switch off at the front door.
Persuasion
17 laws · Laws about how attention, reputation and presence actually move other people — and how to notice it being done to you.
Negotiating
14 laws · Money, terms, timing and wording.
Composure
15 laws · Laws about self-possession: saying less, acting with boldness, and not needing the room to agree with you before you move.
Guides
Where to start
The 48 laws, summarised
Every law in one place with a one-line reading of each. The fastest way to see the whole shape of it.
How to use the laws without becoming a villain
Reading them defensively, spotting them being used on you, and picking the three that are actually about your life.
Browse the index
All 48 entries, with the themes and situations each one covers.
FAQ
Questions people ask
What is Laws of Power?
Laws of Power is an iPhone app built around the 48 laws of power. One law is surfaced each day on your Lock Screen and Home Screen widget, and the full set of 48 is there to browse, read in order, or search. Each law comes with a plain-English explanation, a real-world example and one small practice to try.
Is it the same as Robert Greene's book?
No. The app is an independent study aid inspired by classical strategy literature. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to any publisher of the original book, and it does not reproduce it. The commentary here is written separately, for reflection.
Do I have to wait a day for each law?
Not if you don't want to. The daily rotation is the default rhythm, but the whole collection is available to read at any time once you have access — in order, by theme, or by jumping straight to a law that matches what you are dealing with.
Which iPhone do I need?
The app requires iOS 17.0 or later and is designed for iPhone. It is free to download, with in-app purchases to unlock full access.
Does the app collect my data?
The App Store privacy label for the app states that no data is collected. Your favourites, progress and notes stay on your device.
Is this a book summary I can cite?
The articles on this site explain each law in the app's own words, with an example and a practical step. They are written as prompts for reflection and self-study, not as legal, financial or professional advice.
Start tomorrow morning with a law on your Lock Screen
One law a day, delivered automatically. All 48 written up in our own words, with a practical step to try for each. Free to download, iOS 17.0 or later.
Laws of Power is independent commentary on principles popularised in The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the authors or their publishers, and it does not reproduce the book.