Robert Greene Quotes

There are only two forces that unite men - fear and interest.

People may oppose you, but when they realize you can hurt them, they'll join your side.

The female loves to play man against man. And if she is in a position to do it, there is not one who will resist.

In politics, they play games. In Hollywood, they play games. I think that, overall, everybody is trying to do whatever it takes to get ahead.

Girls are so queer you never know what they mean. They say No when they mean Yes, and drive a man out of his wits for the fun of it.

Hollywood 'friends' are only after one thing. They're looking out for the next big thing, and they don't want to miss out on you just in case.

Nobody speaks the truth when there is something they must have.

Why does a man take it for granted that a girl who flirts with him wants him to kiss her - when, nine times out of ten, she only wants him to want to kiss her?

If you're doing well, you're a target, nobody's interested in you except how you can be of use to them.

As far as I'm concerned, love means fighting, big fat lies, and a couple of slaps across the face.

Where misunderstanding serves others as an advantage, one is helpless to make oneself understood.

It's a political and manipulative industry. Actors vie for the same roles, movies are snatched away. Have I ever been manipulated? Yes. But I haven't manipulated anyone because if you think from the heart, you cannot be calculative. I have spent nights crying.

Flattery and insults raise the same question: What do you want?

The world is ruled only by consideration of advantages.

Power tends to protect itself merely to maintain its own status and control. Principle gives up power for the sake of creating the best public policy.

In conspiracies, men who know what they wanted commonly ended by controlling the men who did not.

There are a lot of jealous people out there who would do anything to get this case into their jurisdiction.

Hell hath no fury like a vested interest masquerading as a moral principle.

It's them that take advantage that get advantage in this world.

Whenever, and from whatever causes, it might happen; and happen it would, that any one of these nations or confederacies should rise on the scale of political importance much above the degree of their neighbors, that moment would those neighbors behold her with envy and fear.

I have never been able to conceive how any rational being could propose happiness to himself from the exercise of power over others.

Deals, flattery, threats and promises are part of the process, certainly; do not flinch from any opportunity to scheme and plot, however sordid and demeaning it may appear.

No man ever ruled other men for their own good.

By exploiting envy and fear, politicians can portray themselves as the saviors and protectors of the public — doing and saying whatever is necessary to gain the support needed to remain in power.

Never argue with a man whose job depends on his not being convinced.