In Star Trek the ultra capitalist species Ferengi make use of a set of mantras that their society (mostly) abides by. These are the ‘Rules of Acquisition’. They are often seen as perfect rules to live by if you want to run a business and make lots of profit. Anecdotally it is said even people learning business in the real world refer to them for advice. But in reading them all as a set, it’s apparent that they can be interpreted in many different ways, not just as instructions for all out market domination.

As a set of texts almost religious in nature, where many draw on familiar English expressions, it makes sense that they would be as open to interpretation as this. I thought it would be fun to see how far their interpretations could be stretched.

Many of the rules deal with the concept of profit, and what you choose this to mean changes the meaning of the rules quite dramatically. If we interpret profitability as the improvement of common wealth, rather than the wealth of the individual, many of the rules still make sense in a communist or socialist mindset. Profit as a stand-in for personal drive and development could allow the rules to act as instructions for how to become a great artist. Beyond this, they can also act as guidance for:

Personal Development

• 18 A Ferengi without profit is no Ferengi at all. – When you find something you hold dear, don’t give up on it, or you’ll lose part of yourself.
• 7 Keep your ears open. – Applies as much to looking out for opportunities for profit as it does opportunities to be creative
• 45 Expand or die. – Very reminiscent of the ‘Publish or perish’ attitude prevalent in some academic circles. Any artist needs to keep trying new things lest their art become stale.
• 208 Sometimes the only thing more dangerous than a question is an answer. – When you’re growing and asking questions, the journey is more important than reaching the end.

Anti-capitalism, anti-fascism, Worker rights

• 10 Greed is eternal – While the original rule likely intended to excuse greed as inevitable, this rule could also be interpreted as a warning to be ever wary of it
• 3 Never spend more for an acquisition than you have to. – This could be seen as a rejection of consumerism. If you don’t strictly need to buy something, then don’t.
• 17 A contract is a contract is a contract… but only between Ferengi. – Always work together for the common good. Unless someone isn’t playing fair, trying to tip the scales in their favour, you don’t need to play fair either.
• 91 Your boss is only worth what he pays you – A boss that controls without giving you anything back isn’t worth contributing your work towards.
• 214 Never begin a business negotiation on an empty stomach. – Don’t forget to put your own needs first before getting sucked into your job

Environmentalism.

• 8 Small print leads to large risk – Don’t externalise damaging costs and don’t ignore warnings, however tempting it might be, because eventually it all builds up and can cause destruction.
• 22 A wise man can hear profit in the wind – Pay attention to nature and the environment around you. It holds value in what it can teach you.
• 102 Nature decays, but latinum lasts forever. – Could be seen as a warning that making money at the expense of the environment around you. Don’t forget that you’re part of nature.