Quotessence
Home / Authors / Robert Greene
Robert Greene

Robert Greene Quotes

American author

Filter quotes by topic

AllPeopleIfsThinkingKindWantWayKnowsWorldMindTrying

Famous Robert Greene Quotes

“In a society where the roles everyone plays are obvious, the refusal to conform to any standard will excite interest. Be both masculine and feminine, impudent and charming, subtle and outrageous. Let other people worry about being socially acceptable; those types are a dime a dozen, and you are after a power greater than they can imagine.”

PeoplePlayInterestRolesWorryGreaterImagineTypeStandardsObviousSubtleFeminineDozenAcceptableCharmingConformMasculineRefusalOutrageousDimesMasculine And Feminine
Book:The Art Of Seduction
Create image

“Understand: you are one of a kind. Your character traits are a kind of chemical mix that will never be repeated in history. There are ideas unique to you, a specific rhythm and perspective that are your strengths, not your weaknesses. You must not be afraid of your uniqueness and you must care less and less what people think of you.”

PeopleThinkingKindIdeasCharacterCarePerspectiveUniqueWeaknessRhythmChemicalsTraitsUniquenessThink Of YouOne Of A KindCharacter Trait
Author:Robert Greene
Create image

“Trouble can often be traced to a single strong individual — the stirrer, the arrogant underling, the poisoner of goodwill. If you allow such people room to operate, others will succumb to their influence. Do not wait for the troubles they cause to multiply, do not try to negotiate with them — they are irredeemable. Neutralize their influence by isolating or banishing them. Strike at the source of the trouble and the sheep will scatter.”

PeopleIfsTryingIndividualStrongCausesWaitingRoomsTroubleInfluenceSourceStrikesSheepArrogantGoodwillOften IsStrong IndividualsPoisonersStirrers
Author:Robert Greene
Create image

“Appearing better than others is always dangerous, but most dangerous of all is to appear to have no faults or weaknesses. It is smart to occasionally display defects, and admit to harmless vices, in order to deflect envy and appear more human and approachable. Only gods and the dead can seem perfect with impunity.”

HumansSeemsOrderPerfectDangerousSmartWeaknessFaultsVicesEnvyDisplayDefectsAppearingImpunity
Book:The 48 Laws Of Power
Create image

“Everything is judged by its appearance; what is unseen counts for nothing. Never let yourself get lost in the crowd, then, or buried in oblivion. Stand out. Be conspicuous, at all cost. Make yourself a magnet of attention by appearing larger, more colorful, more mysterious than the bland and timid masses.”

LostAttentionCostMassCrowdsAppearanceMysteriousBuriedJudgedUnseenStanding OutOblivionAppearingColorfulMagnetBland
Book:The 48 Laws Of Power
Create image

“When you are trying to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear, and the less in control. Even if you are saying something banal, it will seem original if you make it vague, open-ended, and sphinxlike. Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less. The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish.”

PeopleIfsTryingSeemsPowerfulCommonOriginalsFoolishImpressVagueIntimidatingSaying Less
Author:Robert Greene
Create image

“Any momentary triumph you think you have gained through argument is really a Pyrrhic victory. The resentment and ill will you stir up is stronger and lasts longer than any momentary change of opinion. It is much more powerful to get others to agree with you through your actions, without saying a word. Demonstrate, do not explicate.”

ThinkingActionLastsPowerfulOpinionVictoryArgumentStrongerAgreeIllTriumphResentmentMomentaryIll Will
Book:The 48 Laws Of Power
Create image

“You can die from someone else's misery — emotional states are as infectious as diseases. You may feel you are helping the drowning man but you are precipitating your own disaster. The unfortunate sometimes draw misfortune on themselves; they will also draw it on you. Associate with the happy and fortunate instead.”

MenFeelsMaySometimesStatesHelpingDiesEmotionalDiseaseDrawsMiseryDisasterFortunateMisfortunesUnfortunateAssociatesDrowning
Book:The 48 Laws Of Power
Create image

“All great leaders since Moses have known that a feared enemy must be crushed completely. (Sometimes they have learned this the hard way.) If one ember is left alight, no matter how dimly it smolders, a fire will eventually break out. More is lost through stopping halfway than through total annihilation: The enemy will recover, and will seek revenge. Crush him, not only in body but in spirit.”

IfsWaySometimesMatterHardBodySpiritLostLeftKnownLeaderEnemyBreakFireRevengeCrushStoppingHalfwayCrushedGreat LeaderMosesBreak OutAnnihilationHard WayEmbers
Author:Robert Greene
Create image

“If you make a show of going against the times, flaunting your unconventional ideas and unorthodox way, people will think that you only want attention and that you look down upon them.They will find away to punish you for making them feel inferior. It is far safer to blend in and nurture the common touch. Share your originality only with tolerant friends and those who are sure to appreciate your uniqueness.”

PeopleIfsThinkingWayWantFeelsLooksIdeasShowsCommonAttentionShareAppreciateOriginalityUniquenessInferiorsNurtureUnconventionalAppreciate YouUnorthodoxFlaunting
Author:Robert Greene
Create image