27 August, 2007

Ferengi Rules of Acquisition

Rule #1 - Once you have their money, you never give it back.

Rule #2 - The best deal is the one that brings the most profit.

Rule #3 - Never spend more for an acquisition than you have to.

Rule #4 - Time and Latinum are precious.

Rule #5 - Always exaggerate your estimate.

Rule #6 - Never allow family to stand in the way of opportunity.

Rule #7 - Keep your ears open.

Rule #8 - Small print leads to large risk.

Rule #9 - Opportunity plus instinct equals profit.

Rule #10 - Greed is eternal.

Rule #11 - Even if it's free, you can always buy it cheaper.

Rule #12 - Anything worth selling is worth selling twice.

Rule #13 - Anything worth doing is worth doing for money.

Rule #14 - Keep your family close; keep your Latinum closer.

Rule #15 - Dead men close no deals.

Rule #16 - A deal is a deal, until a better one comes along.

Rule #17 - A contract is a contract is a contract - but only between Ferengi.

Rule #18 - A Ferengi without profit is no Ferengi at all.

Rule #19 - Satisfaction is not guaranteed.

Rule #20 - He who dives under the table today, lives to profit tomorrow.

Rule #21 - Never place friendship before profit.

Rule #22 - A wise man can hear profit in the wind.

Rule #23 - Nothing is more important than health, except money.

Rule #24 - Latinum can't buy happiness, but you can sure have a blast renting it.

Rule #25 - You pay for it, it's your idea.

Rule #26 - As the customers go, so goes the wise profiteer.

Rule #27 - There's nothing more dangerous than an honest businessman.

Rule #28 - Whisper your way to success.

Rule #29 - Always ask, "What's in it for me?"

Rule #30 - Talk is cheap, synthehol isn't.

Rule #31 - Never make fun of a Ferengi's mother.

Rule #32 - Be careful what you sell, it may do exactly what the customer expects.

Rule #33 - It never hurts to suck up to the boss.

Rule #34 - War is good for business.

Rule #35 - Peace is good for business.

Rule #36 - Neutrality is good for business.

Rule #37 - If it's free, take it and worry about hidden costs later.

Rule #38 - Everyone needs something.

Rule #39 - Friendship is temporary; profit is forever.

Rule #40 - She can touch your lobes, but never your Latinum.

Rule #41 - Profit is its own reward.

Rule #42 - What's mine is mine.

Rule #43 - What's yours can be mine.

Rule #44 - Never confuse wisdom with luck.

Rule #45 - Expand or Die.

Rule #46 - Make your shop easy to find.

Rule #47 - Don't trust a man wearing a better suit than your own.

Rule #48 - The bigger the smile, the sharper the knife.

Rule #49 - Everything is worth something to somebody.

Rule #50 - Gratitude can bring on generosity.

Rule #51 - Reward anyone who adds to your profits so they will continue to do so.

Rule #52 - Never ask when you can take.

Rule #53 - Never trust anybody taller than you.

Rule #54 - Never trust a Ferengi with bigger lobes.

Rule #55 - Advertise.

Rule #56 - Be discreet.

Rule #57 - Good customers are as rare as Latinum; treasure them.

Rule #58 - There is no substitute for success.

Rule #59 - Free advice is seldom cheap.

Rule #60 - Keep your lies consistent.

Rule #61 - Never underestimate the power of bribery.

Rule #62 - The riskier the road, the greater the profit.

Rule #63 - Share only what isn't yours.

Rule #64 - You don't need a store front to set up shop.

Rule #65 - Win or lose, there's always Huyperian beetle snuff.

Rule #66 - Double the price, then sell it half off.

Rule #67 - Always inspect the merchandise.

Rule #68 - A little ear stroking goes a long way.

Rule #69 - Ferengi are not responsible for the stupidity of other races.

Rule #70 - Ferengi are not responsible for the stupidity of other Ferengi.

Rule #71 - Close the deal, and then answer questions.

Rule #72 - Never trust your customers.

Rule #73 - If it gets you profit, sell your own mother.

Rule #74 - Knowledge equals profit.

Rule #75 - Home is where the heart is, but the stars are made of Latinum.

Rule #76 - Every once in a while, declare peace. "It confuses the hell out of your enemies".

Rule #77 - It's better to swallow your pride than to lose your profit.

Rule #78 - When the going gets tough, the tough change the rules.

Rule #79 - Beware of the Vulcan greed for knowledge.

Rule #80 - Greed is known by many names.

Rule #81 - There's a difference between being a coward and running away.

Rule #82 - The flimsier the product, the higher the price.

Rule #83 - Even the wealth of the Nagus started with one slip of Latinum.

Rule #84 - A friend is not a friend if he asks for a discount.

Rule #85 - Never let the competition know what you're thinking.

Rule #86 - When the odds are against you never give up; just quit.

Rule #87 - A friend in need means three times the profit.

Rule #88 - It ain't over 'till it's over.

Rule #89 - Ask not what your profits can do for you, ask what you can do for your profits.

Rule #90 - The Divine Treasury awaits.

Rule #91 - Hear all, trust nothing.

Rule #92 - There are many paths to profit.

Rule #93 - Act without delay! The sharp knife cuts quickly.

Rule #94 - Females and finances don't mix.

Rule #95 - Prejudice only eliminates customers.

Rule #96 - For every rule, there is an equal and opposite rule (except when there's not.)

Rule #97 - Enough... is never enough.

Rule #98 - Every man has his price.

Rule #99 - Trust is the biggest liability of all.

Rule #100 - If they take your first offer, you either asked too little, or offered too much.

Rule #101 - The only value of a collectible is what you can get somebody else to pay for it.

Rule #102 - Nature decays, but Latinum lasts forever.

Rule #103 - Sleep can interfere with negotiations.

Rule #104 - Faith moves mountains of inventory.

Rule #105 - Don't trust anyone who trusts you.

Rule #106 - There is no honor in poverty.

Rule #107 - A warranty is valid only if they can find you.

Rule #108 - Don't buy what you can't sell.

Rule #109 - Dignity and an empty sack is worth the sack.

Rule #110 - Playing dumb is often smart.

Rule #111 - Treat people in your debt like family, exploit them [ruthlessly].

Rule #112 - Never have sex with the boss' sister.

Rule #113 - Always have sex with the boss.

Rule #114 - The one in power defines morality.

Rule #115 - The best contract always has a lot of fine print.

Rule #116 - There's always a catch.

Rule #117 - Profit is the better part of valor.

Rule #118 - There is no profit in revenge.

Rule #119 - Never judge a customer by the size of his wallet, sometimes, good things come in small packages.

Rule #120 - Borrow on a handshake, lend in writing.

Rule #121 - Everything is for sale, including friendship.

Rule #122 - Do not forsake your profits and they will watch over you.

Rule #123 - Even a blind man can recognize the glow of Latinum.

Rule #124 - Diligent hands bring wealth.

Rule #125 - You can't make a deal if you're dead.

Rule #126 - Count it.

Rule #127 - Stay neutral in conflict so that you can sell supplies to both sides.

Rule #128 - Secrets are commodities, sell them.

Rule #129 - The fear of poverty is the beginning of knowledge.

Rule #130 - Never pay for sentiment, always charge for it.

Rule #131 - Information is profit.

Rule #132 - Never take no from someone who wasn't authorized to give you yes.

Rule #133 - Only those ideas that lead to profit are good.

Rule #134 - One good turn requires another.

Rule #135 - Never trust a beneficiary.

Rule #136 - Seek profit first and everything else will follow.

Rule #137 - Everything is negotiable.

Rule #138 - Wealth brings satisfaction.

Rule #139 - Wives serve, brothers inherit.

Rule #140 - Better great treasure with trouble than peace with poverty.

Rule #141 - Only fools pay retail.

Rule #142 - There's no such thing as an unfair advantage.

Rule #143 - Risk is part of the game... play it for all it's worth.

Rule #144 - There's nothing wrong with charity...as long as it winds up in your pocket.

Rule #145 - A little and often fills your pockets.

Rule #146 - Necessity is the mother of invention. Profit is the father.

Rule #147 - In all worthwhile labor there is profit.

Rule #148 - Wealth enables experience.

Rule #149 - Profit is encouragement to industry and enterprise.

Rule #150 - The way to become rich is to put all your Latinum in one sack, then watch the sack.

Rule #151 - The man is richest who's pleasures are cheapest.

Rule #152 - A lie is a way to tell the truth to someone who doesn't know.

Rule #153 - Sell the sizzle, not the steak.

Rule #152 - Work hard so you don't have to.

Rule #153 - When you have only 2 slips of Latinum left, buy bread with one, and bet the other.

Rule #154 - Pain passes, but profits remain.

Rule #155 - Power is 50% what you have and 50% what people think you have.

Rule #156 - Rainy days are good for business.

Rule #157 - Common sense is the collection of the customer's prejudices.

Rule #158 - The first principle of a rigid businessman is to always be flexible.

Rule #159 - There are no creeds in mathematics.

Rule #160 - Happiness is not mere possession of profit, but joy of acquisition.

Rule #161 - Beyond the mountains there are more mountains.

Rule #162 - Even in the worst of times, someone turns a profit.

Rule #163 - When a friend makes profit, you don't.

Rule #164 - Life does not guarantee equality of conditions, only of opportunity.

Rule #165 - Never let your sense of morals get in the way of opportunity.

Rule #166 - The success of any great transaction does not depend on odds.

Rule #167 - Earning is not only a duty it's a privilege.

Rule #168 - Whisper your way to success.

Rule #169 - Competition and fair play are mutually exclusive.

Rule #170 - The hand that feeds could be bitten.

Rule #171 - Blood is thicker than water, and Latinum is thicker than both.

Rule #172 - Chances aren't what they used to be.

Rule #173 - Dream, plan, believe, act.

Rule #174 - If you can't buy it, find someone who can.

Rule #175 - Gratitude is expensive.

Rule #176 - The wind always favors the best navigator.

Rule #177 - Know your enemies... but do business with them always.

Rule #178 - Power, leisure, and liberty are all words for profit.

Rule #179 - Opportunity may bring profit, friendship rarely does.

Rule #180 - Never discuss an opportunity with someone wealthier than you.

Rule #181 - Not even dishonesty can tarnish the shine of profit.

Rule #182 - The cost for profit is never too high.

Rule #183 - When it's a question of profit, everyone is of one belief.

Rule #184 - In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.

Rule #185 - Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises.

Rule #186 - There is no security, only opportunity.

Rule #187 - The philosophy of one is the common sense of another.

Rule #188 - A fool and his money are the best customer.

Rule #189 - Let others keep their reputation. You keep their money.

Rule #190 - Hear all, trust nothing.

Rule #191 - A Ferengi waits to bid until his opponents have exhausted themselves.

Rule #192 - Never cheat a Klingon... unless you're sure you can get away with it.

Rule #193 - Restlessness and discontent are the first necessities of desire.

Rule #194 - It's always good business to know about new customers before they walk in your door.

Rule #195 - You can't jump a 20 foot gorge in two 10 foot jumps.

Rule #196 - Listen to advice; then do what you want anyway.

Rule #197 - Pick battles big enough to matter, but small enough to win.

Rule #198 - You can't shake hands with a fist.

Rule #199 - The universe is not as difficult to comprehend as a Vulcan.

Rule #200 - A Ferengi chooses no side but his own.

Rule #201 - Wisdom consists of the anticipation of costs and consequences.

Rule #202 - The justification of profit is profit.

Rule #203 - New customers are like razor-backed Gree-worms... They can be succulent, but sometimes they bite back!

Rule #204 - It takes a Ferengi to cheat a Ferengi.

Rule #205 - Trust can be expensive.

Rule #206 - Distrust can be expensive.

Rule #207 - Sense without education is better than education without sense.

Rule #208 - Sometimes the only thing more dangerous than a question, is an answer.

Rule #209 - To many lobes spoil the deal.

Rule #210 - Always be smarter than the people you hire.

Rule #211 - Employees are the rungs on the ladder of success... don't hesitate to step on them.

Rule #212 - You're and your Latinum are all you've got.

Rule #213 - Those who concede to sell for less understand the value of business.

Rule #214 - Never begin a business negotiation on an empty stomach.

Rule #215 - Profit may not bring happiness, but there is no happiness without profit.

Rule #216 - Never gamble with an empath.

Rule #217 - You can't free a fish from water.

Rule #218 - Always know what you're buying.

Rule #219 - Possession is 11/10 of the law.

Rule #220 - Listen what they say while watching what they do.

Rule #221 - Computers can only give you the answers.

Rule #222 - The right to be heard does not automatically include the right to be believed.

Rule #223 - Beware the man who doesn't make time for oo-mox.

Rule #224 - Listen to your lobes.

Rule #225 - Always follow one step ahead.

Rule #226 - Learn the language; translators malfunction.

Rule #227 - Emulation with profit is better than innovation with none.

Rule #228 - Bid high and bid often.

Rule #229 - Latinum lasts longer than lust.

Rule #230 - If they're smarter than you, make them a lesser partner.

Rule #231 - There's a customer born every minute; be sure you're the first to find each one.

Rule #232 - Deal only with select clientele. (Those who are rich and not so bright.)

Rule #233 - Latinum doesn't grow on trees.

Rule #234 - There's nothing wrong with a good delusion.

Rule #235 - Duck; death is tall.

Rule #236 - You can't buy fate.

Rule #237 - It's good to want things, especially things you can't have.

Rule #238 - How I handle my business is none of yours.

Rule #239 - Never be afraid to mislabel a product.

Rule #240 - Do it yourself and keep it yourself.

Rule #241 - Never trust a hardworking employee.

Rule #242 - More is good... all is better.

Rule #243 - The more good will you can generate, the longer your customers stay.

Rule #244 - Because something's priceless doesn't mean it's not worthless.

Rule #245 - Benevolence is 50/50.

Rule #246 - Innocence is expensive.

Rule #247 - Don't negotiate with the underlings.

Rule #248 - Profit is in the details.

Rule #249 - Once it's sold stop selling.

Rule #250 - Precious things are for those that can prize them.

Rule #251 - Don't miss the opportunity by grabbing at the shadow.

Rule #252 - Little steps may prove great profit.

Rule #253 - Synthehol is the lubricant of choice for a customer's stuck purse.

Rule #254 - Better a fat slave than to starve free.

Rule #255 - A wife is a luxury... a smart accountant, a necessity.

Rule #256 - Accountants do not play the game; they only keep the score.

Rule #257 - Despise the things you cannot have.

Rule #258 - A slip in the hand is better than a bar in sight.

Rule #259 - Wealth not yours might well as not exist.

Rule #260 - Life's not fair. How else would you turn a profit?

Rule #261 - A wealthy man can afford anything except a conscience.

Rule #262 - A verbal contract isn't worth the paper it's written on.

Rule #263 - Never allow doubt to tarnish your lust for Latinum.

Rule #264 - Distrust interested advice.

Rule #265 - The customer is always right... until you get their Latinum.

Rule #266 - When in doubt, lie.

Rule #267 - If you believe it, they believe it.

Rule #268 - Hold on to what you have, but plan for future luck.

Rule #269 - Trying to please an enemy makes you the loser everytime.

Rule #270 - In business deals, a disruptor can be almost as important as a calculator.

Rule #271 - What we want is not always the most profitable.

Rule #272 - Think twice before leaping once.

Rule #273 - Don't waste your breath arguing with a Klingon; save it for the running you may have to do.

Rule #274 - Consider your next transaction while counting your Latinum.

Rule #275 - Foolish investment based on foolish advice is still foolish investment.

Rule #276 - Overbooking is standard practice.

Rule #277 - Anything worth fighting for is worth hiding from.

Rule #278 - Appearances are deceptive. Dress above yourself.

Rule #279 - Necessity knows no price.

Rule #280 - If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Rule #281 - Greed cannot overreach itself.

Rule #282 - The value of something is not in its use, but in its price.

Rule #283 - An individual is smart, a group is not.

Rule #284 - Deep down, everyone's a Ferengi.

Rule #285 - No good deed ever goes unpunished.

The Unwritten Rule - When no appropriate rule applies, make one up!|

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