782 Quotes by Robert Greene

When you have success, be extra wary. When you are angry, take no action. When you are fearful, know you are going to exaggerate the dangers you face. War demands the utmost in realism, seeing things as they are. The more you can limit or compensate for your emotional responses, the closer you will come to this ideal.

Never discriminate as to whom you study and whom you trust. Never trust anyone completely and study everyone, including friends and loved ones.

The only real impediment to this is yourself and your emotions – boredom, panic, frustration, insecurity. You cannot suppress such emotions – they are normal to the process and are experienced by everyone, including Masters. What you can do is have faith in the process.

The vast majority of people conform to whatever is normal for the time.

What draws attention draws power.

Being more careful is not what we need; that is just a screen for our fear of conflict and of making a mistake. What we need is double the resolve – an intensification of confidence. That will serve as a counterbalance.

If you are not in danger,” says Sun-tzu, “do not fight.

Feeling bored and restless, our minds shut off and we become increasingly passive.

Over the centuries, people have placed a wall around such mastery. They have called it genius and have thought of it as inaccessible. They have seen it as the product of privilege, inborn talent, or just the right alignment of the stars. They have made it seem as if it were as elusive as magic. But that wall is imaginary.