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33. “Never Be the Bearer of Bad News. The king kills the messenger who brings bad news: This is a cliche but there is truth to it. You must struggle and if necessary lie and cheat to be sure that the lot of the bearer of bad news falls on a colleague, never on you. Bring only good news and your approach will gladden your master.”
Robert Greene
Message Avoidance, Strategic Communication, Diplomacy, Manipulation, Safety, Influence
34. “If you are trying to mislead your enemies, it is often better to concoct something ambiguous and hard to read, as opposed to an outright deception – that deception can be uncovered and enemies can turn their discovery to their advantage, especially if you think they are still fooled and act under that belief.” Robert Greene Strategic Deception, Ambiguity Strategy, Misdirection, Power Tactics, Manipulation, Strategy
35. “You will not seduce anyone by simply depending on your engaging personality, or by occasionally doing something noble or alluring. Seduction is a process that occurs over time – the longer you take and the slower you go, the deeper you will penetrate into the mind of your victim. It is an art that requires patience, focus, and strategic thinking. You need to always be one step ahead of your victim, throwing dust in their eyes, casting a spell, keeping them off balance.” Robert Greene Strategic Seduction, Psychological Strategy, Patience, Strategic Thinking, Influence, Manipulation
36. “Powerful people never waste time. Outwardly they may play along with the game – pretending that power is shared among many – but inwardly they keep their eyes on the inevitable few in the group who hold the cards. These are the ones they work on. When troubles arise, they look for the underlying cause, the single strong character who started the stirring and whose isolation or banishment will settle the waters again.” Robert Greene Strategic Insight, Power Focus, Political Strategy, Leadership Dynamics, Conflict Resolution, Manipulation
41. “Transforming yourself into a deep listener will not only prove more amusing as you open your mind to their mind, but you will gain the most invaluable lessons about human psychology.” Robert Greene Active Listening, Psychological Insights, Empathy Development, Awareness, Manipulation, Connection
52. “People are never so likely to be wrong as when they are organized. And they never have so little freedom. Perhaps that is why the people at large keep their freedom. People can be manipulated only when they are organized.” Henry Ford Freedom, Organization, Control, Autonomy, Independence, Manipulation
53. “Lead ’em around and around,’’ said Joad. “Sling ’em in the irrigation ditch. Tell ’em they’ll burn in hell if they don’t think like you. What the hell you want to lead ’em someplace for? Jus’ lead ’em.” John Steinbeck Lead Around, Burn Hell, Irrigation Sling, Manipulation, Leadership, Influence
Manipulation Quotes by Famous Authors
33. “Never Be the Bearer of Bad News. The king kills the messenger who brings bad news: This is a cliche but there is truth to it. You must struggle and if necessary lie and cheat to be sure that the lot of the bearer of bad news falls on a colleague, never on you. Bring only good news and your approach will gladden your master.”
Robert Greene Message Avoidance, Strategic Communication, Diplomacy, Manipulation, Safety, Influence
34. “If you are trying to mislead your enemies, it is often better to concoct something ambiguous and hard to read, as opposed to an outright deception – that deception can be uncovered and enemies can turn their discovery to their advantage, especially if you think they are still fooled and act under that belief.”
Robert Greene Strategic Deception, Ambiguity Strategy, Misdirection, Power Tactics, Manipulation, Strategy
35. “You will not seduce anyone by simply depending on your engaging personality, or by occasionally doing something noble or alluring. Seduction is a process that occurs over time – the longer you take and the slower you go, the deeper you will penetrate into the mind of your victim. It is an art that requires patience, focus, and strategic thinking. You need to always be one step ahead of your victim, throwing dust in their eyes, casting a spell, keeping them off balance.”
Robert Greene Strategic Seduction, Psychological Strategy, Patience, Strategic Thinking, Influence, Manipulation
36. “Powerful people never waste time. Outwardly they may play along with the game – pretending that power is shared among many – but inwardly they keep their eyes on the inevitable few in the group who hold the cards. These are the ones they work on. When troubles arise, they look for the underlying cause, the single strong character who started the stirring and whose isolation or banishment will settle the waters again.”
Robert Greene Strategic Insight, Power Focus, Political Strategy, Leadership Dynamics, Conflict Resolution, Manipulation
41. “Transforming yourself into a deep listener will not only prove more amusing as you open your mind to their mind, but you will gain the most invaluable lessons about human psychology.”
Robert Greene Active Listening, Psychological Insights, Empathy Development, Awareness, Manipulation, Connection
52. “People are never so likely to be wrong as when they are organized. And they never have so little freedom. Perhaps that is why the people at large keep their freedom. People can be manipulated only when they are organized.”
Henry Ford Freedom, Organization, Control, Autonomy, Independence, Manipulation
53. “Lead ’em around and around,’’ said Joad. “Sling ’em in the irrigation ditch. Tell ’em they’ll burn in hell if they don’t think like you. What the hell you want to lead ’em someplace for? Jus’ lead ’em.”
John Steinbeck Lead Around, Burn Hell, Irrigation Sling, Manipulation, Leadership, Influence
