Having read the 48 laws, researched and pondered its application and consequences for a while, I never actually did manage to solve an issue that's been bugging me.

I once read an article about how primates quickly identify Machiavellan activities and rapidly band together to oust that individual from the group or tear him (or her) down.

I've seen this happen in reality a couple times: certain people, women and men alike who were ignored or removed from the group extremely quickly (say 2-3 days from the formation of the social setting/from the first meeting).

After spending time with them out of curiosity I'd realize they tended to be power hungry or psychotic. They'd put up a front that was rapidly torn down by the group's collective ability to feel them out- if I consulted the group for their reasons it would always be because those people were 'weird' or 'strange' or 'scary'. No one ever used the word Machiavellan. People just sort of KNEW.

Which brings me to my primary question. What separates Machiavellan power play from people like that? In other words, how come Machiavelli and associates profit and fail to suffer the same downfalls where these 'weirdos' I've seen never did? And, ultimately, if one is to be Machiavellan by abiding by the 48 laws, how does one avoid the same downfall that these people suffered?