Erich Fromm Quotes

If you want to control someone, all you have to do is to make them feel afraid.

Drill and uniforms impose an architecture on the crowd. An army's beautiful. But that's not all; it panders to lower instincts than the aesthetic. The spectacle of human beings reduced to automatism satisfies the lust for power. Looking at mechanized slaves, one fancies oneself a master.

I like to make them squirm.

You can maintain power over people, as long as you give them something. Rob a man of everything, and that man will no longer be in your power.

...counselling man to treat her as a slave while persuading her that she is a queen.

A little tip for you, Winged Wonder. Don't threaten the woman you want to seduce." See Annabelle take control. He reached out, gently brushed his fingertip along her collarbone. "If it means saving your life, I'll do more than threaten you. I'll follow through. Best you realize that now, rather than cry foul later.

I'm a slave to this leaf in a diary that lists what I must do, what I must say, every half hour.

The drive for control, or the perception thereof, is truly the strongest force in human nature.

Though authority be a stubborn bear, yet he is oft let by the nose with gold.

The man who speaks to you of sacrifice, speaks of slaves and masters. And intends to be the master.

When you chose independence over relationship, you became a danger to one another. Others became objects to be manipulated or managed for your own happiness. Authority as you usually think of it, is merely the excues the strone ones use to make others conform to what they want.

Of course. Opal is toying with our emotions for her own gratification. Nothing more. She wishes to place herself in a position of power, emotionally.

I can frighten or buy ninety-nine out of every one hundred men.

You forget who submits, Eva,” he said gruffly. “I’ve given up control for you. I’ve bent and adjusted for you. I’ll do anything to keep you and make you happy. But I can’t be tamed or topped. Don’t mistake indulgence for weakness.

I'm tempting you with fine gifts until your girlish ideals are quite worn away and you are at my mercy.

Strange though it is,Sarov still cares about you. He told me to leave you alone. But I think, this time, I must disobey the general. You are mine! And I intend to make you suffer..." "Just talking to you makes me suffer," Alex said.

To treat a person like a carpet, it is necessary that one do the walking, and one allow himself to be walked on. --Shin'a'in saying

... motivating people, forcing them to your will, gives you a cynical attitude toward humanity. It degrades everything it touches.

When the switch fell I could feel it upon my flesh; when it welted and ridged it was my blood that ran, and I would think with each blow of the switch: Now you are aware of me! Now I am something in your secret and selfish life, who have marked your blood with my own for ever and ever.

I'm told I'm very charming when people do what I want.

It was very exciting for her, taking his dignity away in the name of love.

Here is the most telling fact: you wish to possess me.
 Here is another fact: I loved you and let you think you could.

Sex, drugs, money, power etc. Just because you get to choose your master doesn't mean you aren't a slave.

I would rather you love me, but if not love, fear will do.

He resisted for a while and there were some legal boundaries, you know, keeping me from being near him or his family, but in the end, love overcame. And I got what I wanted. I always get what I want.