The following are the various Ferengi Rules of Acquisition we have heard over the run of Star Trek. There are 285 rules (DS9, "Rules of Acquisition"), and they were written by Gint, the first Grand Nagus, and his cronies (DS9, "Body Parts").

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 Description Series Episode
? Exploitation begins at home ? ?
1 Once you have their money, you never give it back. DS9 "The Nagus"
3 Never spend more for an acquisition than you have to. DS9 "The Maquis, Part II"
6 Never allow family to stand in the way of opportunity. DS9 "The Nagus"
7 Keep your ears open. DS9 "In The Hands Of The Prophets"
9 Opportunity plus instinct equals profit. DS9 "The Storyteller"
10 Greed is eternal. DS9 "Prophet Motive"
16 A deal is a deal. DS9 "Melora"
17 A contract is a contract is a contract, but only between Ferengi. DS9 "Body Parts"
18 A Ferengi without profit is no Ferengi at all. DS9 "Heart of Stone"
21 Never place friendship above profit. DS9 "Rules of Acquisition"
22 A wise man can hear profit in the wind. DS9 "Rules of Acquisition"
31 Never make fun of a Ferengi's mother. DS9 "The Siege"
33 It never hurts to suck up to the boss. DS9 "Rules of Acquisition"
34 War is good for business. DS9 "Destiny"
35 Peace is good for business. DS9 "Destiny"
47 Don't trust a man wearing a better suit than your own. DS9 "Rivals"
48 The bigger the smile, the sharper the knife. DS9 "Rules of Acquisition"
57 Good customers are as rare as latinum. Treasure them. DS9 "Armageddon Game"
59 Free advice is seldom cheap. DS9 "Rules of Acquisition"
62 The riskier the road, the greater the profit. DS9 "Rules of Acquisition"
75 Home is where the heart is, but the stars are made of latinum. DS9 "Civil Defence"
76 Every once in a while, declare peace. It confuses the hell out of your enemies!. DS9 "The Homecoming"
94 Females and finance don't mix. DS9 "Ferengi Love Songs"
95 Expand or die. VOY "False Profits"
98 Every man has his price. DS9 "In The Pale Moonlight"
102 Nature decays, but latinum lasts forever. DS9 "The Jem'Hadar"
103 Sleep can interfere with… (remainder of rule unknown). DS9 "Rules of Acquisition"
109 Dignity and an empty sack is worth a sack. DS9 "Rivals"
111 Treat people in your debt like family. Exploit them. DS9 "Past Tense, Part I"
112 Never have sex with the bosses sister. DS9 "Playing God"
139 Wives serve, brothers inherit. DS9 "Necessary Evil"
168 Whisper your way to success. DS9 "Treachery, Faith, And The Great River"
190 Hear all, trust nothing. DS9 "Call To Arms"
194 It's always good business to know about your customers before they walk in your door. DS9 "Whispers"
203 New customers are like razor-toothed Gree worms. They can be succulent, but sometimes they bite back. DS9 "Little Green Men"
208 Sometimes, the only thing more dangerous than a question is an answer. DS9 "Ferengi Love Songs"
211 Employees are the rungs on the ladder of success. Don't hesitate to step on them. DS9 "Bar Association"
214 Never begin a business negotiation on an empty stomach. DS9 "The Maquis, Part I"
217 You can't free a fish from water. DS9 "Past Tense, Part I"
229 Latinum lasts longer than lust. DS9 "Ferengi Love Songs"
239 Never be afraid to mislabel a product. DS9 "Body Parts"
263 Never allow doubt to tarnish your lust for latinum. DS9 "Bar Association"
285 No good deed ever goes unpunished. DS9 "The Collaborator"

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 Series 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.


Last updated : 9th April 2000.
This page is Copyright Graham Kennedy 2000.

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