Quotessence
Home / Topics / Manipulative Quotes

Manipulative Quotes

Browse 120 quotes about Manipulative.

Related topics

PeopleThinkingIfsWayBelieveKnows

Manipulative Quotes

“Let’s not trust those who write in small letters, using cabalistic figures or enigmatic codes, as it frequently comes down to a manipulative strategy, orchestrated by disorientating marketers or cryptic felons, who, for that reason, often deserve to be sued for failing to provide assistance to persons in danger. (“The devil is in the small letters”)”

TrustStrategyMarketersManipulativeEnigmaticDisorientatingCabalisticSmall Letters
Author:Erik Pevernagie
Create image

“Gaslighting causes us to doubt our own memories, perceptions, and judgments. It throws us psychologically off balance. It’s like being in the Twilight Zone. If you feel as though your self-esteem, confidence, and dignity has withered under the flame of gaslighting, you are not alone.”

Self EsteemPerceptionTraumaNarcissistDysfunctional FamilyManipulativeGaslightingPsychological AbuseTwilight Zone
Book:Soul Rescue: How to Break Free From Narcissistic Abuse & Heal Trauma
Create image

“The family bully takes sibling rivalry to a whole new level; sibling abuse. While it’s common for families to have sibling rivalry, what stands out the most with the bully is their intent to hurt others badly, especially the family scapegoat. They can physically harm you. They will mentally torture you. In some cases, they will sexually violate you. They have evil motives to control their family members, manipulate them, and gaslight them.”

TraumaNarcissistic AbuseDysfunctional FamilyManipulativeGaslightingSibling RivalryScapegoatsSibling AbuseFamily Bully
Book:Soul Rescue: How to Break Free From Narcissistic Abuse & Heal Trauma
Create image

“Although social relationships may be crippled by acrimonious minefields, manipulative psychological gambits or mysterious undercurrent power games, a number of social tell-tale flickers might help us in finding a lucid interpretation of hazy circumstances. ("Trompe le pied.")”

CircumstancesPsychologicalMysteriousInterpretationFindCrippledFlickerManipulativeNumberHazySocial RelationshipsGambitLucidMinefieldUndercurrentPower GamesAcrimoniousTell Tale
Author:Erik Pevernagie
Create image

“The only people you have to look out for in life are the people that don't care about anything or anyone. These are the people that end up teaching your children.”

GamesEqualityCrueltyBitterJealousRole ModelsInsecureTeachersHatefulRuthlessCarelessOld TestamentHeartlessImmaturityNot CaringManipulativeVengefulEye For An EyeLack Of EmpathyClose MindedBad InfluenceLost PeopleEvil ActsBad UpbringingBad TeachingBroken IndividualsFalse JusticeGame PlayersLack Of StandardsWell Intended
Author:Shannon L. Alder
Create image

“Of all her siblings, Gabriel was the one to whom Phoebe had always felt closest. In his company, she could make petty or sarcastic remarks, or confess her foolish mistakes, knowing he would never judge her harshly. They knew each other's faults and kept each other's secrets. Many people, if not most, would have been flabbergasted to learn that Gabriel had any faults at all. All they saw was the remarkable male beauty and cool self-control of a man so elegantly mannered that it never would have occurred to anyone to call him a lunkhead. However, Gabriel could sometimes be arrogant and manipulative. Beneath his charming exterior, there was a steely core that made him ideally suited to oversee the array of Challon properties and businesses. Once he decided what was best for someone, he took every opportunity to push and goad until he had his way. Therefore, Phoebe occasionally found it necessary to push back. After all, it was an older sister's responsibility to keep her younger brother from behaving like a domineering ass.”

SiblingsManipulativePhoebe ClareBrother And SisterGabriel St Vincent
Book:Devil's Daughter
Create image

“Would you say that you're a good man, Harry?" He had to think about that. "No," he finally said. "In the fairy tale you mentioned last night, I would probably be the villain. But it's possible the villain would treat you far better than the prince would have." Poppy wondered what was wrong with her, that she should be amused rather than frightened by his confession. "Harry. You're not supposed to court a girl by telling her you're the villain." He gave her an innocent glance that didn't deceive her in the least. "I'm trying to be honest." "Perhaps. But you're also making certain that whatever anyone says about you, you've already admitted it. Now you've made all criticism of you ineffectual." Harry blinked as if she'd surprised him. "You think I'm that manipulative?" She nodded. Harry seemed stunned that she could see through him so easily. Instead of being annoyed, however, he stared at her with stark longing. "Poppy, I have to have you.”

ManipulativePoppy And HarryHarry RutledgePoppy HathawaySee Through
Book:Tempt Me at Twilight
Create image

“Negative people can be like emotional black holes, sucking the joy out of any room they enter. It's like trying to have a picnic in a thunderstorm – not exactly a recipe for fun. So, instead of getting caught up in their storm of negativity, why not bask in the sunshine of positivity elsewhere? Surround yourself with people who radiate good vibes and uplift your spirits. Life's too short to dwell in pessimism when you could be dancing in the sunlight of optimism.”

DramaBoundariesNarcissismToxic PeopleManipulativeNegative EnergyUnhealthy RelationshipsToxic BehaviorEmotional DrainStressful Interactions
Author:Life is Positive
Create image

“I attempted to be clear and straightforward in my approach to Dr Tate, deferring to his medical expertise and stating my desire merely to be helpful. Renee and Joan Frances, in turn, were clear and straightforward about their needs in a way that was new for them. Yet we were seen as manipulative multiple and puppet therapist. Renee had probably never been less manipulative in her life than when she was trying to reason with Dr. Tate.”

Mental IllnessDissociative Identity DisorderPsychiatristManipulativeMental Illness StigmaMental Health BiasMental Health SystemPsychiatric Abuse
Book:The Flock: The Autobiography of a Multiple Personality
Create image

“Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) causes problems in many areas of life, such as relationships, work, school or financial affairs. People with NPD may be generally unhappy and disappointed when they're not given the special favors or admiration, which they believe they deserve. They may find their relationships unfulfilling. Others may not enjoy being around them.”

BullyingToxic RelationshipsNarcissistic AbuseManipulativeGaslightingPsychological AbuseFake IdentityJekyll And Hyde Persona
Book:Soul Rescue: How to Break Free From Narcissistic Abuse & Heal Trauma
Create image

“The malignant narcissist has a split persona. They are like Jekyll and Hyde. One minute, they are sweet as sugar. The next minute, they fly into an uncontrollable seething rage! The narcissist loves playing mind games with you. They are clever to conceal who they are. Wherever there’s a narcissist, you can find a false mask plastered upon their face.”

RageNarcissismEgotisticalManipulativeGaslightingSpitefulMind GamesFalse MaskJekyll And Hyde Persona
Book:Soul Rescue: How to Break Free From Narcissistic Abuse & Heal Trauma
Create image

“As I was growing up, no one in my family got their needs met through respectful negotiation and compromise. The only victories I had ever seen my mom achieve were small, and she had accomplished them through manipulation, which was one of the few techniques she had for surviving her relationship with my father. Later, after his death, manipulation had become a way of life for her. It became innate for me too, even though I wanted her to be more direct, and I hated it when she manipulated me.”

Emotional AbuseManipulativeDysfunctional FamiliesEmotional NeedsUnmet NeedsManipulative People
Book:The Sum of My Parts: A Survivor's Story of Dissociative Identity Disorder
Create image

“The Flock have come a long way in their acceptance of this, and when a professional refused to deal with them in a straightforward manner and, in fact, manipulated and deceived them in return-they rebelled fiercely but self-protectively.”

Mental IllnessManipulationDissociative Identity DisorderPsychiatristManipulativeMental Health BiasManipulative PeoplePsychiatric Abuse
Book:The Flock: The Autobiography of a Multiple Personality
Create image

“It’s perplexing how family members claim their undying love for us. They can say whatever they choose, but their actions and behaviors don’t match their words. There is an imbalance in the relationships with distinct discrepancies, especially in who overpowers the scapegoat.”

BullyingNarcissistic AbuseDysfunctional FamilyManipulativePsychological AbuseTrauma RecoveryControllingSibling AbusePower TripToxic Family
Book:Soul Rescue: How to Break Free From Narcissistic Abuse & Heal Trauma
Create image

“According to an article, Sibling Abuse and Bullying: The Hidden Epidemic on Psychology Today by Darlene Lancer, “Often labeled rivalry and ignored, sibling bullying and abuse cause real trauma. Sibling abuse is the most common, but least reported abuse in the family. Prevalence is higher than spousal or child abuse combined with consequences well into adulthood similar to parent-child abuse. Up to 80% of youth experience some form of sibling maltreatment; yet it’s been called the forgotten abuse.”

TraumaSexual AbuseManipulativePhysical AbusePsychological AbuseTrue Crime StorySibling AbuseToxic SiblingsFamily Mobbing
Book:Toxic Siblings: A Survival Guide to Rise Above Sibling Abuse & Heal Trauma
Create image

“I didn't like what was on TV in terms of sitcoms—it had nothing to do with the color of them—I just didn't like any of them. I saw little kids, let's say 6 or 7 years old, white kids, black kids. And the way they were addressing the father or the mother, the writers had turned things around, so the little children were smarter than the parent or the caregiver. They were just not funny to me. I felt that it was manipulative and the audience was looking at something that had no responsibility to the family.”

WayYearsChildrenLittlesKidsMotherFatherFeltParentBlackTermWhiteResponsibilityAudienceSawsColorTvsSmarterLittle KidSitcomManipulativeCaregivers
Author:Bill Cosby
Create image

“Blanket compassion will shift the distribution decisively towards the manipulative end of the spectrum, and may paradoxically decrease the compassion with which the genuinely despairing are treated: for they are apt to get lost in the great mass of pseudo-distress and manipulation, and often their conduct draws less attention precisely because it is less attention-seeking.”

MayEndsLostAttentionCompassionMassDrawsSeekingTreatedManipulationDistressDistributionSpectrumBlanketDecreasePseudoManipulativeAttention Seeking
Author:Anthony Daniels
Create image

“It is now very clear that techniques of machine-human interfacing, pharmacology of the synthetic variety, all kinds of manipulative techniques, all kinds of data storage, imaging and retrieval techniques - all of this is coalescing toward the potential of a truly demonic or angelic kind of self-imaging of our culture... And the people who are on the demonic side are fully aware of this and hurrying full-tilt forward with their plans to capture everyone as a 100% believing consumer inside some kind of a beige furnished fascism that won't even raise a ripple.”

PeopleBelieveHumansKindSelfCultureSidesClearPlansMachinesRaisesTechniqueAll KindsVarietyDataConsumersCaptureFascismRippleAngelicStorageDemonicHurryingManipulativeSyntheticTiltImagingPharmacology
Author:Terence McKenna
Create image

“The American people need no course in philosophy or political science or church history to know that God should not be made into a celestial party chairman. To most of us, the manipulative invoking of religion to advance a politician or a party is frightening and divisive. The American people will tolerate religious leaders taking positions for or against candidates.”

PeopleKnowsNeedsShouldMadePhilosophyPoliticalCoursesChurchReligiousPartyLeaderAtheismPositionPoliticianCandidatesFrighteningToleratePolitical ScienceChairmanCelestialManipulativeReligious LeadersChurch History
Author:Mario Cuomo
Create image

“Film is the manipulative medium par excellence. When you think back on the history of film and the 20th century, you see the propaganda that's been made. So there are moral demands on the director to treat the spectators as seriously as he or she takes himself and not to see them merely as victims that can be manipulated to whatever ends they have.”

ThinkingMadeEndsFilmMoralCenturyDirectorsDemandTreatsVictimExcellenceMediumsPropaganda20th CenturySpectatorsManipulative
Author:Michael Haneke
Create image

“You're always feeling powerless in life. If you're in an abusive relationship or working for what we call a psychotic boss sometimes the only option is to leave because you're emotions get so entangled with these manipulative people that staying there you're just helpless because they're good at passive aggressive games and you're not, so you have to leave.”

PeopleIfsSometimesFeelingsGamesEmotionStayingBossAggressivePassiveHelplessPowerlessAbusivePsychoticManipulativeAbusive RelationshipPassive Aggressive
Author:Robert Greene
Create image

“Cooking professionally is a dominant act, at all times about control. Eating well, on the other hand, is about submission. It's about giving up all vestiges of control, about entrusting your fate entirely to someone else. It's about turning off the mean, manipulative, calculating, and shrewd person inside you, and slipping heedlessly into a new experience as if it were a warm bath. It's about shutting down the radar and letting good things happen. Let it happen to you.”

IfsGivingWellsMeanPersonsHandsHappensFateLetting GoGiving UpEatingCookingGood ThingsWarmThings HappenAll TimeDominantSubmissionBathsRadarSlippingNew ExperiencesCalculatingManipulativeEating WellShutting DownEntrusting
Book:The Nasty Bits: Collected Cuts, Useable Trim, Scraps and Bones
Create image