Robert Greene

The future belongs to those who learn more skills and combine them in creative ways.

Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number who are not good.

The problem is that we humans are deep conformists.

Being attacked is a sign that you are important enough to be a target.

Eventually, the time that was not spent on learning skills will catch up with you, and the fall will be painful.

If we limit our circle of action, we can give ourselves the illusion of control. The less we attempt, the less chances of failure.

Too many people believe that everything must be pleasurable.

When you show yourself to the world and display your talents, you naturally stir all kinds of resentment… you cannot spend your life worrying about the petty feelings of others.

The greatest battle of all is with yourself—your weaknesses, your emotions, your lack of resolution in seeing things through to the end. You must declare unceasing war on yourself.

Create a ladder of values and priorities in your life, reminding yourself of what really matters to you.

Any titles, money, or privilege you inherit are actually hindrances. They delude you into believing you are owed respect.

Mastery is not a function of genius or talent. It is a function of time and intense focus applied to a particular field of knowledge.

Be royal in your own fashion: act like a king to be treated like one.

So much of power is not what you do but what you do not do—the rash and foolish actions that you refrain from before they get you into trouble.

Always make those above you feel comfortably superior.

Once you learn patience, your options suddenly expand.

Be a flame of positive emotions and you will never be without a friend.

Keep your friends for friendship, but work with the skilled and competent.

Always remember that your calmness under fire is your best defense in any argument or discussion.

The time that leads to mastery is dependent on the intensity of our focus.