The Daily Laws — Story Index

Source-oriented archive

This month-by-month index preserves provenance and PDF navigation. The canonical browsing structure is the theme-first 40 Stories library; use Theme Assignment Ledger to see each story’s primary thematic home.

⬅️ Stories MOC · Book note: The Daily Laws - Robert Greene · Self-improvement hub: 60.12 Self-Improvement · Source PDF: The Daily Laws - Robert Greene.pdf (file not included in this release)

Curated extraction

A page-by-page review of all 366 dated laws retained 85 reusable story records from 90 entries. 84 became new canonical stories; 1 materially overlapping scene was merged into an existing story as an additional PDF++ source.

Evidence boundary

These are concise paraphrases of accounts in The Daily Laws, not independent historical fact-checks and not endorsements of every tactic Greene describes. Labels distinguish biography, authorial interpretation, scripture, fiction, traditional anecdote, political history, and reported episodes. Open the collapsed source callout under any story to inspect the exact PDF viewer page(s).

Ethical boundary

Greene often analyzes deception, status, seduction, coercion, and manipulation. The collection preserves those examples for diagnosis and writing, while the “What it argues” sections separate persuasive effectiveness from honesty, consent, reciprocity, proportionality, and long-run trust.

Audit result

Exclusions were abstract instruction, generic scenarios, isolated quotations, Greene’s autobiographical material, or famous-name references without a concrete scene, choice, reversal, exchange, recurring practice, or concise life episode. When Greene’s personal recollection merely introduced a public figure’s story, only the public-figure narrative was retained.

Selection rule

A dated law was retained only when it contains:

1. a named notable figure, established fictional character, traditional religious or classical figure, or comparably recognizable public example;
2. a concrete scene, choice, reversal, exchange, recurring practice, or concise life episode; and
3. a transferable claim useful in writing, teaching, speaking, or reflection.

This is a story collection, not a quotation index. PDF++ page numbers use the PDF viewer’s numbering, not printed-page labels. A story supported by several laws is filed under its first source date and lists every additional source inside its PDF callout.

Months and stories

January — Your Life's Task (7)

• Marie Curie Recognizes Her Childhood Fascination in the Laboratory — biographical childhood anecdote; Identity, Calling & Belonging; January 2 PDF p. 17 (file not included in this release)
• Daniel Everett Follows a Border-Town Fascination into Linguistics — biographical career sketch; Identity, Calling & Belonging; January 5 PDF p. 20 (file not included in this release)
• Freddie Roach Turns a Forced Retirement into a Training Career — boxing career anecdote; Courage, Resilience & Adversity; January 6 PDF p. 21 (file not included in this release)
• Ramachandran Turns a Fascination with Anomalies into a Scientific Niche — biographical scientific profile; Identity, Calling & Belonging; January 8 PDF p. 23 (file not included in this release)
• Charlie Parker Shows John Coltrane What the Saxophone Could Express — jazz biographical anecdote; Mentorship, Belief & Human Potential; January 9 PDF p. 24 (file not included in this release)
• Martha Graham Finds in Dance the Language Words Could Not Supply — dance biographical anecdote; Identity, Calling & Belonging; January 11 PDF p. 26 (file not included in this release)
• Temple Grandin Converts a Predicted Limitation into Scientific Work — biographical disability and career account; Courage, Resilience & Adversity; January 12 PDF p. 27 (file not included in this release)

February — The Ideal Apprenticeship (9)

• Richard Gregory Becomes Ramachandran's Model of Playful Science — scientific mentorship account; Mentorship, Belief & Human Potential; February 8 PDF p. 57 (file not included in this release)
• Eiji Ichimura Learns Sushi by Watching from the Dish Pit — culinary apprenticeship account; Work, Ambition & Excellence; February 12 PDF p. 61 (file not included in this release)
• Aaron Rodgers Uses Three Years on the Sideline as an Apprenticeship — sports apprenticeship account; Work, Ambition & Excellence; February 16 PDF p. 65 (file not included in this release)
• Einstein Chooses the Patent Office for a Self-Apprenticeship — scientific career account with authorial time estimate; Work, Ambition & Excellence; February 17 PDF p. 66 (file not included in this release) · February 19 PDF p. 68 (file not included in this release)
• Boy Capel Gives Coco Chanel a Practical Apprenticeship — fashion-business mentorship account; Mentorship, Belief & Human Potential; February 22 PDF p. 71 (file not included in this release)
• Napoleon Studies Military Art Before He Commands Armies — military biographical profile; Learning, Curiosity & Discovery; February 23 PDF p. 72 (file not included in this release)
• Glenn Gould Learns from Guerrero Without Remaining in His Shadow — musical mentorship account; Mentorship, Belief & Human Potential; February 24 PDF p. 73 (file not included in this release)
• Leonardo Tests His Own Style in Verrocchio's Workshop — Renaissance workshop anecdote; Work, Ambition & Excellence; February 26 PDF p. 75 (file not included in this release)
• Louis XIV and Philip II Build Authority into New Palaces — comparative royal symbolism; Leadership, Power & Responsibility; February 27 PDF p. 76 (file not included in this release)

March — The Master at Work (9)

• Steve Jobs Carries His Father's Craftsman Ethic into Apple — biographical interpretation; Character, Integrity & Example; March 3 PDF p. 84 (file not included in this release)
• Proust Turns an Apparently Idle Life into Material for a Masterwork — literary biographical interpretation; Work, Ambition & Excellence; March 11 PDF p. 92 (file not included in this release)
• Henry Ford Treats Business Failure Like a Machine to Diagnose — entrepreneurial biographical interpretation; Courage, Resilience & Adversity; March 12 PDF p. 93 (file not included in this release)
• Leonardo Studies Light and Anatomy to Make Painting Feel Alive — Renaissance artistic and scientific profile; Learning, Curiosity & Discovery; March 14 PDF p. 95 (file not included in this release) · March 15 PDF p. 96 (file not included in this release)
• Toni Morrison Writes After the Children Are Asleep — author-reported literary anecdote; Work, Ambition & Excellence; March 18 PDF p. 99 (file not included in this release)
• Wagner Hears the Prelude to Das Rheingold in a Half-Dream — composer anecdote reported by Greene; Learning, Curiosity & Discovery; March 23 PDF p. 104 (file not included in this release)
• Mozart Lets Bach Change His Late Musical Language — musical biographical account; Learning, Curiosity & Discovery; March 25 PDF p. 106 (file not included in this release)
• Sherlock Holmes Solves Silver Blaze by the Dog That Did Not Bark — fictional detective scene; Judgment, Perception & Self-Knowledge; March 26 PDF p. 107 (file not included in this release)
• Jane Goodall Lives Close Enough to See Chimpanzee Society Differently — scientific fieldwork profile; Learning, Curiosity & Discovery; March 28 PDF p. 109 (file not included in this release)

April — The Perfect Courtier (8)

• Galileo Turns Jupiter's Moons into Medici Patronage — Renaissance patronage anecdote; Communication, Persuasion & Truth; April 2 PDF p. 119 (file not included in this release)
• Richelieu Rises by Finding the Power Behind the Throne — political-historical anecdote; Judgment, Perception & Self-Knowledge; April 3 PDF p. 120 (file not included in this release)
• Kissinger Lets Nixon Receive the Public Credit for China Diplomacy — authorial political-history interpretation; Leadership, Power & Responsibility; April 4 PDF p. 121 (file not included in this release)
• George Sand Builds a Public Character That Protects a Private Self — literary biographical profile; Identity, Calling & Belonging; April 5 PDF p. 122 (file not included in this release)
• Kissinger Meets the People Accused of Plotting to Kidnap Him — political anecdote reported by Greene; Conflict, Anger & Reconciliation; April 12 PDF p. 129 (file not included in this release)
• David Tests Saul's Intentions by Missing a Feast — scriptural narrative from 1 Samuel; Judgment, Perception & Self-Knowledge; April 18 PDF p. 135 (file not included in this release)
• Kissinger's Reaction to the Pentagon Papers Helps Create a Larger Crisis — authorial interpretation of political history; Leadership, Power & Responsibility; April 28 PDF p. 145 (file not included in this release)
• Walter Raleigh's Display of Versatility Accumulates Silent Enemies — authorial interpretation of court biography; Judgment, Perception & Self-Knowledge; April 30 PDF p. 147 (file not included in this release)

May — The Supposed Nonplayers of Power (8)

• Ch'ung-erh Remembers an Insult After Returning from Exile — classical Chinese political anecdote; Leadership, Power & Responsibility; May 5 PDF p. 156 (file not included in this release)
• Napoleon Feigns Weakness Before Austerlitz — military-history anecdote; Judgment, Perception & Self-Knowledge; May 6 PDF p. 157 (file not included in this release)
• Howard Hughes's Maverick Image Conceals a Pattern of Weak Businesses — business-history interpretation; Judgment, Perception & Self-Knowledge; May 11 PDF p. 162 (file not included in this release)
• Joseph Duveen Helps Build a Public Gallery That Also Protects His Market — art-market historical anecdote; Communication, Persuasion & Truth; May 12 PDF p. 164 (file not included in this release)
• Cosimo de' Medici Preserves Republican Forms While Emptying Their Power — Renaissance political-history sketch; Leadership, Power & Responsibility; May 16 PDF p. 169 (file not included in this release)
• Godunov and Washington Make Others Press Power upon Them — comparative political anecdote; Leadership, Power & Responsibility; May 20 PDF p. 173 (file not included in this release)
• Lesley Stahl's Critical Reagan Segment Becomes a Visual Advertisement — reported media anecdote; Communication, Persuasion & Truth; May 23 PDF p. 176 (file not included in this release)
• The Yellow Kid Uses Free Land and Red Ink to Sell the Fraud — con-artist anecdotes reported by Greene; Communication, Persuasion & Truth; May 24 PDF p. 178 (file not included in this release) · June 17 PDF p. 205 (file not included in this release)

June — The Divine Craft (7)

• Franklin Roosevelt Names Fear During a Bank Panic — presidential-history interpretation; enriches an existing canonical story; Leadership, Power & Responsibility; June 5 PDF p. 193 (file not included in this release)
• Marlborough Induces the French to Destroy the Fort He Wants Gone — military-history anecdote; Judgment, Perception & Self-Knowledge; June 8 PDF p. 196 (file not included in this release)
• Brunelleschi Feigns Illness Until Florence Sees Who Can Build the Dome — Renaissance architectural anecdote; Communication, Persuasion & Truth; June 19 PDF p. 207 (file not included in this release)
• Hitchcock Secures Creative Control One Concession at a Time — film-production profile; Work, Ambition & Excellence; June 21 PDF p. 209 (file not included in this release) · September 2 PDF p. 295 (file not included in this release)
• Victor Lustig Manufactures Mystery Before He Sells the Con — con-artist profile reported by Greene; Communication, Persuasion & Truth; June 25 PDF p. 213 (file not included in this release)
• Napoleon's Strategy Hardens into Convention — authorial military-biographical interpretation; Judgment, Perception & Self-Knowledge; June 26 PDF p. 214 (file not included in this release)
• P. T. Barnum Makes the Obvious Fraud Part of the Show — show-business anecdote reported by Greene; Communication, Persuasion & Truth; June 30 PDF p. 218 (file not included in this release)

July — The Seductive Character (7)

• Cora Pearl's Expectation of Independence Becomes Her Social Power — courtesan biographical profile as interpreted by Greene; Communication, Persuasion & Truth; July 9 PDF p. 231 (file not included in this release)
• Johannes Uses a Dull Suitor to Make Himself Seem Compelling — fictional manipulation from The Seducer’s Diary; Communication, Persuasion & Truth; July 13 PDF p. 235 (file not included in this release)
• Swann's Memories Attach a Melody and Gifts to Odette — fictional episode from Proust; Judgment, Perception & Self-Knowledge; July 15 PDF p. 237 (file not included in this release)
• Josephine Baker Creates—and Then Reinvents—Her Own World — performer biographical interpretation; Identity, Calling & Belonging; July 19 PDF p. 241 (file not included in this release) · August 6 PDF p. 261 (file not included in this release)
• Coco Chanel Makes Ordinary Materials Objects of Desire — fashion and marketing profile; Communication, Persuasion & Truth; July 21 PDF p. 243 (file not included in this release)
• Marlene Dietrich Studies Herself as Material for a Public Image — performer image-making profile; Identity, Calling & Belonging; July 24 PDF p. 246 (file not included in this release)
• Lou Andreas-Salomé Lets Absence Intensify Her Admirers' Pursuit — biographical seduction profile as interpreted by Greene; Communication, Persuasion & Truth; July 26 PDF p. 248 (file not included in this release)

August — The Master Persuader (14)

• Billy Wilder Gets Dietrich to Volunteer for the Role She Rejected — film-casting anecdote; Communication, Persuasion & Truth; August 2 PDF p. 257 (file not included in this release)
• Malcolm X Gives Disciplined Form to Anger Others Were Afraid to Voice — civil-rights oratory profile as interpreted by Greene; Communication, Persuasion & Truth; August 4 PDF p. 259 (file not included in this release)
• Christopher Wren Builds Columns That Stop Short of the Ceiling — architectural anecdote reported by Greene; Communication, Persuasion & Truth; August 5 PDF p. 260 (file not included in this release)
• Machiavelli Turns Political Exclusion into a Strategy of Writing — authorial interpretation of literary history; Communication, Persuasion & Truth; August 13 PDF p. 268 (file not included in this release)
• Lyndon Johnson Treats the End of Every Conversation as the Next Beginning — political persuasion profile; Communication, Persuasion & Truth; August 14 PDF p. 269 (file not included in this release)
• Hakuin Pays a Miser to Pray Until the Practice Becomes Its Own Reward — Zen teaching anecdote; Mentorship, Belief & Human Potential; August 16 PDF p. 271 (file not included in this release)
• Disraeli Answers Parliamentary Attacks with Humor Before Argument — political-oratory profile; Communication, Persuasion & Truth; August 17 PDF p. 273 (file not included in this release)
• Khrushchev Makes a Heckler Feel Why No One Challenged Stalin — reported political anecdote; Communication, Persuasion & Truth; August 18 PDF p. 274 (file not included in this release)
• Beaumarchais Lets a Tribunal Edit Trifles and Defend the Whole Play — theater and censorship anecdote; Communication, Persuasion & Truth; August 19 PDF p. 275 (file not included in this release)
• Milton Erickson Makes a Chronically Late Student's Entrance the Main Event — psychotherapy teaching anecdote; Mentorship, Belief & Human Potential; August 20 PDF p. 277 (file not included in this release)
• Hannibal Stages a Brutal Contest Before His Army Faces Rome — ancient military account as retold by Greene; Leadership, Power & Responsibility; August 21 PDF p. 278 (file not included in this release)
• Napoleon Uses Rare Praise and Rebuke to Hold an Army's Attention — military-leadership profile as interpreted by Greene; Leadership, Power & Responsibility; August 24 PDF p. 281 (file not included in this release)
• Xenophon Sees a Route Home for the Ten Thousand — classical military-history account; Leadership, Power & Responsibility; August 25 PDF p. 283 (file not included in this release)
• Marie de Vionnet Wins Strether's Help by Making Him Feel Understood — fictional relationship from Henry James; Communication, Persuasion & Truth; August 29 PDF p. 288 (file not included in this release)

September — The Grand Strategist (7)

• Napoleon Uses a Feint to Expose an Army's Flank — military-strategy profile; Judgment, Perception & Self-Knowledge; September 6 PDF p. 299 (file not included in this release)
• Miyamoto Musashi Forces Groups of Attackers into a Line — martial anecdote as retold by Greene; Courage, Resilience & Adversity; September 7 PDF p. 301 (file not included in this release)
• Pietro Aretino Turns Exposure of a Lie into a Story of Ascent — Renaissance literary anecdote; Communication, Persuasion & Truth; September 10 PDF p. 304 (file not included in this release)
• Caesar's Assassins Produce the Monarchy They Meant to Prevent — Roman political-history interpretation; Leadership, Power & Responsibility; September 13 PDF p. 308 (file not included in this release)
• A Tea Master Faces a Samurai with the Mind of a Tea Ceremony — traditional Japanese anecdote; Courage, Resilience & Adversity; September 14 PDF p. 309 (file not included in this release)
• Talleyrand Learns Secrets by Suppressing Himself in Conversation — diplomatic profile reported by a contemporary; Communication, Persuasion & Truth; September 21 PDF p. 317 (file not included in this release)
• Rommel's Intuition Grows from Immersion in Men, Machines, and Terrain — World War II military profile as interpreted by Greene; Judgment, Perception & Self-Knowledge; September 23 PDF p. 319 (file not included in this release)

October — The Emotional Self (3)

• Pericles Leaves the Assembly Until Anger No Longer Decides for Him — classical political profile as interpreted by Greene; Judgment, Perception & Self-Knowledge; October 4 PDF p. 335 (file not included in this release)
• Chekhov Uses the Writer's View to Understand—and Forgive—His Father — literary biographical interpretation; Conflict, Anger & Reconciliation; October 18 PDF p. 351 (file not included in this release)
• Dr. Jekyll's Repression Gives Mr. Hyde the Night — fictional episode from Robert Louis Stevenson; Judgment, Perception & Self-Knowledge; October 27 PDF p. 360 (file not included in this release)

November — The Rational Human (2)

• Lincoln Integrates Ambition, Melancholy, Humor, and Empathy — authorial interpretation of presidential biography; Judgment, Perception & Self-Knowledge; November 16 PDF p. 384 (file not included in this release)
• Joan Crawford Turns a Punitive Western into a New Apprenticeship — Hollywood career anecdote; Courage, Resilience & Adversity; November 22 PDF p. 390 (file not included in this release)

December — The Cosmic Sublime (4)

• Flannery O'Connor Lets Lupus Make Time Urgent — literary biographical interpretation; Mortality, Grief & Time; December 7 PDF p. 409 (file not included in this release)
• Virginia Woolf Returns to Cornwall and Finds Her Grief inside a Larger Time — literary biographical account; Mortality, Grief & Time; December 8 PDF p. 411 (file not included in this release)
• Dostoyevsky Faces a Firing Squad and Receives His Life Back — literary biographical episode; Mortality, Grief & Time; December 19 PDF p. 422 (file not included in this release)
• Defoe's Plague Narrator Watches Old Divisions Lose Their Force — literary-historical interpretation of A Journal of the Plague Year; Community, Cooperation & Connection; December 21 PDF p. 424 (file not included in this release)

Source and related notes

• The Daily Laws PDF (file not included in this release) — vault-local source
• The Daily Laws - Robert Greene — existing book note, notebook synthesis, and audit overview
• 60.12 Self-Improvement — canonical self-improvement hub
• Stories MOC · Theme Assignment Ledger · REFERENCES — library infrastructure and provenance