"Fear creates its own self-fulfilling dynamic- as people give into it, they lose energy and momentum. Their lack of confidence translates into inaction that lowers confidence levels even further, on and on."

"Everything that happens to you is a form of instruction if you pay attention."

"Through continual exposure to people and by attempting to think inside of them we can gain an increasing sense of their perspective, but this requires effort on our part."

"Such is the fate, in some form or other, of all those who unbalance the master’s sense of self, poke holes in his vanity, or make him doubt his pre-eminence."

"The mighty lion toys with the mouse that crosses his path—any other reaction would mar his fearsome reputation."

"If no resistances or obstacles face you, you must create them. No seduction can proceed without them."

"If you lead the sucker down a familiar path, he won't catch on when you lead him into a trap."

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

"When you turn your back on someone, they come running after you."

"You may think that what you’d like to recapture from your youth is your looks, your physical fitness, your simple pleasures, but what you really need is the fluidity of mind you once possessed."

"Hide your intentions not by closing up (with the risk of appearing secretive, and making people suspicious) but by talking endlessly about your desires and goals-just not the real ones."

"The problem is that we humans are deep conformists."

"Events in life mean nothing if you do not reflect on them in a deep way, and ideas from books are pointless if they have no application to life as you live it."

"There is too little mystery in the world; too many people say exactly what they feel or want."

"He who poses as a fool is not a fool."

"Never be distracted by people’s glamorous portraits of themselves and their lives; search and dig for what really imprisons them."

"The human tongue is a beast that few can master."

"Never whine, never complain, never try to justify yourself."

"Person who cannot control his words shows that he cannot control himself, and is unworthy of respect."

"No one is really going to help you or give you direction. In fact, the odds are against you."

"12--Lose Battles, But Win The War: Grand Strategy Grand strategy is the art of looking beyond the present battle and calculating ahead. Focus on your ultimate goal and plot to reach it."

"Despise The Free Lunch"

"Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter"

"...But the human tongue is a beast that few can master. It strains constantly to break out of its cage, and if it is not tamed, it will tun wild and cause you grief."