Robert Greene

Principles are our summary of their public statements.

• Transcend the News Cycle

  Strategy

  A leader must focus on key issues and values that go beyond monthly news cycles to build a lasting majority.

  Supporting quotes

  • “The danger in politics is to passively follow this trend and become a party that is a slave to the laundry list syndrome: taxes, education, energy, defense, national security, this special interest or that one, on and on.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Tighten the Helmet After Winning

  Resilience

  One should act as if they had lost even after a victory to remain vigilant for the next round of challenges.

  Supporting quotes

  • “The danger in politics is to passively follow this trend and become a party that is a slave to the laundry list syndrome: taxes, education, energy, defense, national security, this special interest or that one, on and on.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Avoid the Void of Vision

  Leadership

  Without an overall vision, a competitor will fill the void with their own narrative and push you into a corner.

  Supporting quotes

  • “The danger in politics is to passively follow this trend and become a party that is a slave to the laundry list syndrome: taxes, education, energy, defense, national security, this special interest or that one, on and on.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Avoid honesty as a default

  Strategy

  Brutal honesty is often a mask for insecurity or sadism; instead, use directness only when it serves a specific strategic purpose as a wake-up call.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Is honesty the best policy? - Robert Greene, 2006  (opens in a new tab)

• Recognize the Countercurrent

  Strategy

  One must distinguish between the fading old order and the emerging new tide to avoid investing in dying systems.

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source The Descent Of Power: An Interpretation of the Global Economic Crisis Pt VII - Robert Greene, 2010  (opens in a new tab)

• Use weakness to fuel creativity

  Creativity

  Lacking conventional resources forces a leader to be more inventive, indirect, and fluid than a stronger, more rigid competitor.

  Supporting quotes

  • “The terrorists can think long term, while we can only respond in the short term. This is an asymmetry of power that is rarely discussed-that of time.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Avoid the bunker mentality

  Mindset

  Defensive isolationism is a reaction of exhaustion that lacks the fluidity needed to adapt to future changes.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Western Strategy is Bankrupt - Robert Greene, 2006  (opens in a new tab)

• Separate Facts from Interpretation

  Learning

  One should ignore a writer's political slant or emotional hyperbole and focus strictly on the sober facts they present to form an independent analysis.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source B.S. Barometers - Robert Greene, 2006  (opens in a new tab)

• Distinguish tactics from strategy

  Decisions

  Do not mistake the ability to fix immediate problems for true strategy; strategy requires a vision rooted in reality, not just desires.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Tactical Hell or Strategic Heaven? - Robert Greene, 2006  (opens in a new tab)

• Prioritize competence over morality

  Leadership

  Recognize that incompetence and stupidity often cause more damage than overt evil, as they lead to poorly thought-out campaigns and wasted energy.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Tactical Hell or Strategic Heaven? - Robert Greene, 2006  (opens in a new tab)

• Prioritize reputation and credibility

  Brand

  Long-term success depends on being seen as reliable by associates, so never let short-term greed damage your word.

  Supporting quotes

  • “Suckers and beginners are locked into the single-ball-at-a-time mentality, and get all excited when they knock one in on a clever shot, but leave themselves nowhere to go.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Control the Frame

  Strategy

  Determine the parameters of the discussion first to force opponents to play on your terms and react to your moves.

  Supporting quotes

  • “He appears to be doing something for one set purpose, but it is actually for something else. He conceals his intentions this way.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Look behind the appearance

  Learning

  Always look for the humanity and reality behind a person's public persona to identify their true character and potential dangers.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Random Thoughts and Salvos - Robert Greene, 2006  (opens in a new tab)

• Observe Cultural Nuance

  Learning

  True understanding of a market or people comes from observing their bearing, expressions, and how they navigate daily constraints.

  Supporting quotes

  • “These images and thoughts stayed with me throughout the trip, but they were intensified and adjusted by a series of encounters with people and places”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Recognize the Unpredictability Trap

  Leadership

  Toxic leaders use unpredictability and shifting goalposts to instill fear and maintain control over their subordinates.

  Supporting quotes

  • “Let me spell it out: with the psychotic boss, nothing you do is ever quite right.”

    “They start to occupy much of your mental space, as you go home thinking of what you did wrong, what you can do in the future, how to please, or deflect punishment.”

    “One thing that is particularly maddening about them is that for others they generally present a pleasant façade.”

• Transcend Cultural Conventions

  Creativity

  Growth happens when one steps outside the 'circle' of acceptable social codes and conventional thinking to explore the sublime.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Robert Greene: A Process for Finding & Achieving Your Unique Purpose, 2023  (opens in a new tab)

• Use surprise to lower resistance

  Marketing

  To influence or engage an audience, one must utilize the element of surprise to bypass their natural skepticism and open their minds.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Robert Greene: A Process for Finding & Achieving Your Unique Purpose, 2023  (opens in a new tab)

• Acknowledge the Taboo

  Strategy

  One should not censor the darker or taboo aspects of human nature when analyzing strategy or behavior, as they are essential to understanding the full picture.

  Source Robert Greene: A Process for Finding & Achieving Your Unique Purpose, 2023  (opens in a new tab)

• Prioritize Real Over Virtual

  Life

  To combat alienation, individuals should seek communal and interactive experiences rather than relying on the immediate gratification of technology.

  Source Robert Greene: A Process for Finding & Achieving Your Unique Purpose, 2023  (opens in a new tab)

• Prioritize Macro Action Over Micro

  Strategy

  Instead of obsessing over small, ineffective gestures, focus energy on large-scale movements or significant projects that create real change.

  Source Robert Greene: A Process for Finding & Achieving Your Unique Purpose, 2023  (opens in a new tab)