The 48 Laws of Power: Law 40 Summary & Analysis

Despise the free lunch. When you accept something for free, it usually comes with a hidden obligation, so it’s often better to pay full price and even be generous with your money. Money plays an important role of power, but many people fail to use it wisely, either chasing greed for its own sake or giving indiscriminately. While Francisco Pizarro brought immense wealth back to Spain from the Inca Empire, Spain failed to heed this law, greedily continuing to look for even more wealth and the mythical golden city of El Dorado, eventually leading to the demise of the Spanish Empire. By contrast, the Medicis of Florence, in spite of their wealth, followed this law by using their money carefully, using patronage to spread their influence and help bolster allies.

While it’s never wise to accept things for free, sometimes it’s wise to offer things for free, particularly for a con artist. You can exploit the fact that many people are lazy, and by expending a small amount, you can trick them into falling for a deception.