To Sun-tzu and the ancient Chinese, doing something extraordinary had little effect without a setup of something ordinary. You had to mix the two – to fix your opponent’s expectations with some banal, ordinary maneuver, a comfortable pattern that they would then expect you to follow. Robert Greene Read Quote
Power works best when it is indirect – never coercing people; instead, getting them to voluntarily align with your interests. Robert Greene Read Quote
The world is full of people with different characters and temperaments. We all have a dark side, a tendency to manipulate, and aggressive desires. The most dangerous types are those who repress their desires or deny the existence of them, often acting them out in the most underhanded ways. Robert Greene Read Quote
A child wants things to be a certain way. When you get to be an adult, you just understand that some people are good, some are not, and you can’t be naive. Robert Greene Read Quote
Be extra careful in the work environment with those who like to maintain their position through charm and being political, rather than getting things done. They are very prone to envying and hating those who work hard and get results. They will slander and sabotage you without any warning. Robert Greene Read Quote
Always remember that your calmness under fire is your best defense in any argument or discussion. Robert Greene Read Quote
An elusive, enigmatic aura will make people want to know more, drawing them into your circle. Create such a power by hinting at something contradictory within you. Robert Greene Read Quote
A hustler has to deal with danger and risk. It’s part of the game. You cannot control it all, nor would you want to. Chaos, unknown factors are not something to be anxious about. Robert Greene Read Quote
Create a ladder of values and priorities in your life, reminding yourself of what really matters to you. Robert Greene Read Quote
Most of us enter adult life with great ambitions for how we will start our own ventures, but the harshness of life wears us down. We settle into some job and slowly give in to the illusion that our bosses care about us and our future, that they spend time thinking of our welfare. Robert Greene Read Quote
