Sarah Rees Brennan Quotes

Understand: A person of power instills a kind of fear by deliberately unsettling those around him to keep the initative on his side.

Even a faithful mistress can be bent by constant threats.

You can't do anything if a person says no. In such a case, there's nothing you can do - unlike the popular cliche that pressure is exerted, or that maybe an unwilling source is done away with.

He who cannot agree with his enemies is controlled by them.

If you've got 'em by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow.

It's tough to negotiate from a position of weakness.

The Authority has the power to turn everyone against me, and they have.

Little mouse," a voice said through the keyhole. "Don't you know the more you wriggle, the greater the cat's delight?

She might not know what your routine is, but I do,” I said softly. “So put the lantern down. You’re not burning me yet, and we both know it.” “What’s she saying?” Sarah demanded, hobbling over. His white brows drew together, and I allowed a little smile to play on my lips. “Awfully bossy with you, isn’t she? Then again, it makes sense. She’s got the pants on, and you’re the one in the dress.

You think my first instinct is to protect you. Because you're small, or a girl, or a Stiff. But you're wrong." He leans his face close to mine and wraps his fingers around my chin. His hand smells like metal. When was the last time he held a gun, or a knife? My skin tingles at the point of contact, like he's transmitting electricity through his skin. "My first instinct is to push you until you break, just to see how hard I have to press." he says, his fingers squeezing at the word break. My body tenses at the edge in his voice, so I am coiled as tight as a spring, and I forget to breathe.

Children use all their wiles to get their way with adults. Adults do the same with children.

I will have you removed if you don't stop. I have a little system of my own.

It was a mutual thing. I made a deal with them: I asked them if they did not bring out the place card of Malachi, I would let them have two minutes with each one of my patients.

Fear is a relative thing; its effects are relative to power.

Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts... perhaps the fear of a loss of power.

Fear is something I instill in other people, mostly young girls.

If you were to come to Minnesota, I could have you locked up like that. That's power.

Machiavelli taught me it was better to be feared than loved. Because if you are loved they sense you might be weak. I am a man of the people and help them but it is important to do so through strength.

The world is ruled by violence, or at least the imminent threat of violence. It always has been.

If you think that by threatening me you can get me to do what you want... well, that's where you're right. But - and I am only saying this because I care - there's a lot of decaffeinated brands on the market that are just as tasty as the real thing.

You can't go to a negotiating table pointing a gun, but you've got to keep it over your shoulder.

Sometimes fear is used as a way to control.

Power over others is weakness disguised as strength.

Most negotiators are trying to get their way.

My ideas are always better. We have an understanding in place.