Rules of Acquisition

**The Ferengi Rules of Acquisition are seen as a moral code for most, if not all, of the Ferengi species.**

The Rules are said to be written by the first Grand Nagus, the ruler of the Ferengi people.

## Official Rules

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

2. The best deal is the one that brings the most profit. / Money is everything.

(*Disputed between two novel sources, "The 34th Rule" and "Strange New Worlds 9"*)

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

4. Sedition and treason are always profitable.

5. Always exaggerate your estimates.

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

7. Keep your ears open.

8. Small print leads to large risk.

9. Opportunity plus instinct equals profit.

10. Greed is eternal.

13. Anything worth doing is worth doing for money.

14. Sometimes the quickest way to find profits is to let them find you.

15. Dead men close no deals.

16. A deal is a deal.

17. A contract is a contract is a contract… but only between Ferengi.

18. A Ferengi without profit is no Ferengi at all.

19. Satisfaction is not guaranteed.

20. He who dives under the table today lives to profit tomorrow.

21. Never place friendship above profit.

22. A wise man can hear profit in the wind.

23. Nothing is more important than your health… except for your money.

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

29. Always ask: "What's in it for me?"

30. Confidentiality equals profit.

31. Never make fun of a Ferengi's mother.

33. It never hurts to suck up to the boss.

34. War is good for business.

35. Peace is good for business.

37. The early investor reaps the most interest.

39. Don't tell customers more than they need to know.

40. She can touch your lobes, but never your latinum.

41. Profit is its own reward.

43. Feed your greed, but not enough to choke it.

44. Never confuse wisdom with luck.

45. Expand or die.

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

48. The bigger the smile, the sharper the knife.

52. Never ask when you can take.

53. Never trust anybody taller than you.

54. Rate divided by time equals profit. (Also known as the "Velocity of Wealth")

55. Take joy from profit and profit from joy.

57. Good customers are as rare as latinum. Treasure them.

58. There is no substitute for success.

59. Free advice is seldom cheap.

60. Keep your lies consistent.

62. The riskier the road, the greater the profit.

63. Work is the best therapy - at least for your employees.

65. Win or lose, there's always Hupyrian beetle snuff.

66. Someone's always got bigger ears.

68. Risk doesn't always equal reward.

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

74. Knowledge equals profit.

75. Home is where the heart is, but the stars are made of latinum.

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

77. If you break it, I'll charge you for it.

79. Beware of the Vulcan greed for knowledge.

81. If the client feels like they got a fair price, then clearly they paid too little, and should be charged much more next time.

82. The flimsier the product, the higher the price.

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

87. Learn the customer's weaknesses so you can better take advantage of them.

88. Vengeance will cost you everything.

89. Ask not what your profits can do for you, but what you can do for your profits.

92. There are many paths to profit.

94. Females and finances don't mix.

95. Expand or die.

97. Enough… is never enough.

98. Every man has his price. / If you can't take it with you, don't go.

*Disputed from novel source, "I, Q"*

99. Trust is the biggest liability of all.

100. When it's good for business, tell the truth.

101. Profit trumps emotion.

102. Nature decays, but latinum lasts forever.

103. Sleep can interfere with opportunity.

104. Faith moves mountains... of inventory.

106. There is no honor in poverty.

108. Hope doesn't keep the lights on.

109. Dignity and an empty sack is worth the sack.

110. Exploitation begins at home.

111. Treat people in your debt like family… exploit them.

112. Never have sex with the boss' sister.

*(Also Rule #122, from DS9 episode "Playing God." **Needs verification.**)*

113. Always have sex with the boss.

115. If it sounds too good to be true, then you haven't been paying attention.

117. You can't free a fish from water.

121. Everything is for sale, even friendship.

122. Never have sex with the boss' sister.

*(Also Rule #112, from DS9 episode "Playing God." **Needs verification.**)*

123. Even a blind man can recognize the glow of latinum.

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

131. Time is latinum!

135. Listen to secrets, but never repeat them.

139. Wives serve, brothers inherit.

141. Only fools pay retail.

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

147. People love the bartender.

151. Even when you're a customer, sell yourself.

153. Sell the sizzle, not the steak.

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

168. Whisper your way to success.

170. People will buy anything - especially junk.

174. The customer is always right, as long as they have enough latinum.

177. Know your enemies… but do business with them always.

181. Not even dishonesty can tarnish the shine of profit. *(Also Rule #188. **Needs verification.**)*

*(Source: DS9 Reference Book "The Ferengi Rules of Acquisition")*

183. When life hands you ungaberries, make detergent.
*(Possibly similar to the Human phrase, "When life hands you lemons...")*

184. A Ferengi waits to bid until his opponents have exhausted themselves.

188. Not even dishonesty can tarnish the shine of profit. *(Also Rule #181. **Needs verification.**)*

*(Source: video game "Star Trek Online")*

189. Let others keep their reputation. You keep their latinum.

190. Hear all, trust nothing.

192. Never cheat a Klingon… unless you can get away with it.

193. It's never too late to fire the staff. / Trouble comes in threes.

*Disputed between sources novel "Cathedral" and video game "Star Trek Online"*)

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

199. Location, location, location.

200. A Ferengi chooses no side but his own.

202. The justification for profit is profit.

203. New customers are like razor-toothed gree-worms. They can be succulent, but sometimes they bite back.

208. Sometimes the only thing more dangerous than a question is an answer.

211. Employees are the rungs on the ladder of success. Don't hesitate to step on them.

212. A good lie is easier to believe than the truth.

214. Never begin a business negotiation on an empty stomach.

216. Never gamble with a telepath.

217. You can't free a fish from water. / Always know what you're buying.

*(Disputed between sources DS9 episode "Past Tense" and DS9 Reference novel "The Ferengi Rules of Acquisition")*

218. Always know what you're buying. / Sometimes what you get free costs entirely too much.

(*Disputed between sources novel "Legends of the Ferengi" and comic book "DS9: Baby on Board"*)

219. Possession is eleven-tenths of the law!

223. Keeping busy is the key to being successful. (*Exact wording unknown*) / Beware the man who doesn't make time for oo-mox.

*(Disputed: "Beware" is according to source novel "Legends of the Ferengi")*

227. If that's what's written, then that's what's written.

229. Latinum lasts longer than lust.

235. Duck; death is tall.

236. You can't buy fate.

239. Never be afraid to mislabel a product.

240. Time, like latinum, is a highly limited commodity.

242. More is good… All is better.

243. Always leave yourself an out.

248. The definition of insanity is trying the same failed scheme & expecting different results.

255. A wife is a luxury… a smart accountant a necessity.

257. When the messenger comes to appropriate your profits, kill the messenger.

261. A wealthy man can afford anything except a conscience.

263. Never allow doubt to tarnish your lust for latinum.

266. When in doubt, lie.

267. If *you* believe it, *they* believe it.

268. Respect is good, but latinum's better.

(**Quark quote from DS-9, *Season 3, Episode 3***)

272. Always inspect the merchandise before making a deal.

280. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

284. Deep down, everyone's a Ferengi.

285. No good deed ever goes unpunished.

286. Always get somebody else to do the lifting.

288. Never get into anything that you can't get out of.

289. A man is only worth the sum of his possessions.

290. An angry man is an enemy, and a satisfied man is an ally.

291. The less employees know about the cash flow, the smaller the share they can demand.

292. Only a fool passes up a business opportunity.

293. The more time they take deciding, the more money they will spend.

294. A bargain usually isn't.

299. After you've exploited someone, it never hurts to thank them. That way, it's easier to exploit them next time.

305. Always be considerate.

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431. When the shooting starts, let the mercenaries handle it.

## Unofficial Rules

The following were either not given a number, not explicitly stated to be a Rule, or were not part of the generally-accepted Rules by the Ferengi Commerce Authority.

286. When Morn leaves, it's all over. (Said in jest by Quark)

–Exploitation begins at home.

–When the messenger comes to appropriate your profits… kill the messenger.

–Time, like latinum, is a highly limited commodity.

–Always inspect the merchandise before making a deal.

–Money is money, but females are better.

–Why ask, when you can take?

–Good things come in small packages

–A man is only worth the sum of his possessions

–A good lie is easier to believe than the truth.

–If that's what's written, then that's what's written.

–A distracted policeman is an opportunity.

–If they can't be bought, get ready to fight. *(A rule proposed by Grand Nagus Rom)*

–It's not smart to turn down a deal with the Grand Nagus. *(A rule proposed by Grand Nagus Rom)*

## Unwritten Rules

–Always listen to the Grand Nagus.

–When no appropriate rule applies, make one up.