Dealing with aggressors

In The 50th Law, Robert Greene tells us that if an aggressor senses that you are the type of person who accepts and submits, they will push and push until they have established an exploitative relationship with you.

Greene says with aggressors, it’s better to fight them indirectly, concealing your intentions and working behind the scenes to create obstacles and confusion.

He tells the story of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who in 1936 faced a threat from a group inside his own political party, led by Huey Long, who tried to capitalize on people’s discontent with the New Deal. Long attacked him openly, in the media, and on the campaign trail.

Against his advisors' advice, FDR didn’t fight back directly. Instead, he let Long fill the air, knowing the public would soon grow tired. At the same time, he went to work behind the scenes to replace Long’s supporters in the party with his own and launched an investigation into Long’s dubious affairs. Long eventually lost momentum and Roosevelt won the 1936 election by a landslide.

Greene writes, “FDR understood the Basic principle in squaring off against aggressors who are direct and relentless. If you meet them head-on you are forced to fight on their terms. Unless you happen to be an aggressive type, you are generally at a disadvantage against those who have simple ideas and fierce energy.”

Tomorrow, we’ll see what Green has to say about dealing with passive aggressors.