The rules used by the CIA spies fighting the red menace while in Moscow.
The version related by the Middleman is:
1. Assume nothing. 2. Build in opportunity, but use it sparingly. 3. Never go against your gut, it is your operational antenna. 4. Don't look back, you are never completely alone. 5. Everyone is potentially under oppositive control. 6. There is no limit to a human being's ability to rationalize the truth. 7. Vary your pattern. Stay within your cover. 8. Any operation can be aborted. If it feels wrong, it is wrong. 9. Technology will always let you down. 10. Unknown 11. Always keep your options open.
According to the Middleman, there are 15 Moscow Rules. However, when listing them in "The Ectoplasmic Panhellenic Investigation", he only gets through the first nine before Wendy interrupts him. Wendy later mentions the eleventh, but number ten and numbers twelve through fifteen remain a mystery.
The version on Wikipedia is:
- Assume nothing.
- Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.
- Never go against your gut; it is your operational antenna.
- Don't look back; you are never completely alone.
- Everyone is potentially under opposition control.
- Go with the flow, blend in.
- Vary your pattern and stay within your cover.
- Any operation can be aborted. If it feels wrong, it is wrong.
- Maintain a natural pace.
- Lull them into a sense of complacency.
- Build in opportunity, but use it sparingly.
- Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.
- Don't harass the opposition.
- There is no limit to a human being's ability to rationalize the truth.
- Technology will always let you down.
- Pick the time and place for action.
- Keep your options open.
- Once is an accident. Twice is coincidence. Three times is an enemy action.