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Rules of Acquisition List

The following are the various Ferengi Rules of Acquisition we have heard over the run of Star Trek. As of 2151 there were 173 rules; by 2370 there were 285 rules (DS9, "Rules of Acquisition"). Gint, the first Grand Nagus and his cronies claimed credit for writing the rules of acquisition (DS9, "Body Parts"). How this squares with more rules being added over time is anybodies guess.

The list is based on the Encyclopedia, and so may omit some mentioned in later DS9 episodes. As usual, any corrections or updates should include the number and text of the rule, the episode it's from, and if possible an idea of where in the episode it is mentioned.

Rule DescriptionDown Episode
125 You can't make a deal if you're dead. The Siege of AR-558
217 You can't free a fish from water. Past Tense, Part 1
236 You can't buy fate. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
139 Wives serve, brothers inherit. Necessary Evil
65 Win or lose, there's always Hupyrian beetle snuff. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
168 Whisper your way to success. Treachery, Faith, and the Great River
266 When in doubt, lie. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
34 War is good for business. Destiny
111 Treat people in your debt like family. Exploit them. Past Tense, Part 1
144 There's nothing wrong with charity... as long as it winds up in your pocket. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
27 There is nothing more dangerous than an honest businessman. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
58 There is no substitute for success. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
106 There is no honour in poverty. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
62 The riskier the road, the greater the profit. Rules of Acquisition
202 The justification for profit is profit. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
82 The flimsier the product, the higher the price. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
48 The bigger the smile, the sharper the knife. Star Trek : Titan, Book 4 - Sword of Damocles
208 Sometimes, the only thing more dangerous than a question is an answer. Ferengi Love Songs
8 Small print leads to large risk. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
103 Sleep can interfere with· (remainder of rule unknown). Rules of Acquisition
40 She can touch your lobes, but never your latinum. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
19 Satisfaction is not guaranteed. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
41 Profit is its own reward. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
35 Peace is good for business. Destiny
9 Opportunity plus instinct equals profit. The Storyteller
141 Only fools pay retail. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
1 Once you have their money, you never give it back. The Nagus
23 Nothing is more important than your health... except for your money. Acquisition
181 Not even dishonesty can tarnish the shine of profit. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
285 No good deed ever goes unpunished. The Collaborator
203 New customers are like razor-toothed Gree worms. They can be succulent, but sometimes they bite back. Little Green Men
3 Never spend more for an acquisition than you have to. The Maquis, Part 2
21 Never place friendship above profit. Rules of Acquisition
31 Never make fun of a Ferengi's mother. The Siege
85 Never let the competition know what you're thinking. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
112 Never have sex with the bosses sister. Playing God
44 Never confuse wisdom with luck. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
192 Never cheat a Klingon... unless you can get away with it. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
214 Never begin a business negotiation on an empty stomach. The Maquis, Part 1
239 Never be afraid to mislabel a product. Body Parts
52 Never ask when you can take. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
6 Never allow family to stand in the way of opportunity. Also stated as 'Never allow family to stand in the way of profit' in ENT "Acquisition" The Nagus
263 Never allow doubt to tarnish your lust for latinum. Bar Association
102 Nature decays, but latinum lasts forever. The Jem'Hadar
242 More is good. All is better. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
189 Let others keep their reputation. You keep their latinum. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
229 Latinum lasts longer than lust. Ferengi Love Songs
74 Knowledge equals profit. Inside Man
177 Know your enemies... but do business with them always. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
60 Keep your lies consistent. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
7 Keep your ears open. In the Hands of the Prophets
194 It's always good business to know about your customers before they walk in your door. Whispers
33 It never hurts to suck up to the boss. Rules of Acquisition
75 Home is where the heart is, but the stars are made of latinum. Civil Defense
190 Hear all, trust nothing. Call to Arms
10 Greed is eternal. Prophet Motive
57 Good customers are as rare as latinum. Treasure them. Armageddon Game
59 Free advice is seldom cheap. Rules of Acquisition
94 Females and finance don't mix. Ferengi Love Songs
104 Faith moves mountains... of inventory. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
? Exploitation begins at home False Profits
45 Expand or die. Acquisition
95 Expand or die. False Profits
121 Everything is for sale, even friendship. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
76 Every once in a while, declare peace. It confuses the hell out of your enemies!. The Homecoming
98 Every man has his price. In the Pale Moonlight
162 Even in the worst of times, someone turns a profit. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
97 Enough... is never enough. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
211 Employees are the rungs on the ladder of success. Don't hesitate to step on them. Bar Association
47 Don't trust a man wearing a better suit than your own. Rivals
109 Dignity and an empty sack is worth a sack. Rivals
284 Deep down, everyone's a Ferengi. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
223 Beware the man who doesn't make time for oo-mox. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
79 Beware of the Vulcan greed for knowledge. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
89 Ask not what your profits can do for you, but what you can do for your profits. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
13 Anything worth doing is worth doing for money. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
218 Always know what you're buying. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
113 Always have sex with the boss. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
22 A wise man can hear profit in the wind. Rules of Acquisition
255 A wife is a luxury... a smart accountant a necessity. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
261 A wealthy man can afford anything except a conscience. Novel : Legends of the Ferengi
? A man is only worth the sum of his possessions. Acquisition
18 A Ferengi without profit is no Ferengi at all. Heart of Stone
16 A deal is a deal. Melora
17 A contract is a contract is a contract, but only between Ferengi. Body Parts

In the episode "Prophet Motive", the Grand Nagus produced a revised set of the Rules of Acquisition whilst under the influence of the Bajoran Prophets. The following are the known rules from this set, all copies of which were destroyed when the Nagus regained his original personality.

Rule Description Episode
1 If they want their money back, give it to them. DS9 : Prophet Motive
10 Greed is dead. DS9 : Prophet Motive
21 Never place profit above friendship. DS9 : Prophet Motive
22 Latinum tarnishes, but family is forever. DS9 : Prophet Motive
23 Money can never replace dignity. DS9 : Prophet Motive
285 A good dead is its own reward. DS9 : Prophet Motive

Additionally, the Voyager episode "False Profits" featured Neelix telling two Ferengi stranded in the Delta Quadrant that rule of acquisition number 299 was "When you exploit someone, it never hurts to thank them". We do not know if this is an accurate quotation; if it is, then we would need to believe that the Ferengi have added extra rules sometime prior to Voyagers accident and that Neelix has read up on these since.

In DS9's "House of Quark", Quark himself suggested an additional rule: Rule 286, "When Morn leaves, it's all over". Quark was bemoaning the state of his business at the time, and it is unlikely that this rule is a real one.


Yellow text = Canon source Green text = Backstage source Cyan text = Novel White text = DITL speculation

Copyright Graham Kennedy Page views : 39,709 Last updated : 1 Jan 1970
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