782 Quotes by Robert Greene

Do not take so seriously people’s promises or their ardor in wanting to help you. If they come through, so much the better, but be prepared for the more frequent change of heart. Rely upon yourself to get things done and you will not be disappointed.

The more Coriolanus said, the less powerful he appeared – a person who cannot control his words shows that he cannot control himself, and is unworthy of respect.

Great strategists do not act according to preconceived ideas; they respond to the moment, like children. Their minds are always moving, and they are always excited and curious. They quickly forget the past – the present is much too interesting.

To follow precisely the lead of others or advice from a book is self-defeating.

You cannot spend your life worrying about the petty feelings of others.

So I’d gotten rid of that negativity and I’d show, “Well, here’s something done right. Here’s the mistake, but here’s how to fix the mistake.

Because you think you have options, you never involve yourself deeply enough in one thing to do it thoroughly, and you never quite get what you want. Sometimes you need to run your ships aground, burn them, and leave yourself just one option: succeed or go down. Make the burning of your ships as real as possible – get rid of your safety net. Sometimes you have to become a little desperate to get anywhere.

His moves intrigued her, each of them keeping her waiting for the next one – she even enjoyed her jealousy and confusion, for sometimes any emotion is better than the boredom of security.

When you see several steps ahead, and plan your moves all the way to the end, you will no longer be tempted by emotion or by the desire to improvise. Your clarity will rid you of the anxiety and vagueness that are the primary reasons why so many fail to conclude their actions successfully. You see the ending and you tolerate no deviation.