Emotions cloud reason, and if you cannot see the situation clearly, you cannot prepare for and respond to it with any degree of control. - Robert Greene

Without enemies around us, we grow lazy. An enemy at our heels sharpens our wits, keeping us focused and alert. It is sometimes better, then, to use enemies as enemies rather than transforming them into friends or allies.

Admiration is the polar opposite of envy—we are acknowledging people’s achievements, celebrating them, without having to feel insecure.

Learn to play with your image, never taking it too seriously. The key is to infuse your play with the conviction and feeling of a child, making it seem natural. The more absorbed you seem in your own joy-filled world, the more seductive you become.