The moment people feel they know what to expect from you, your spell on them is broken. More: You have ceded them power.
Interpretation
When people think they can predict your behavior, they gain control over you.
This quote highlights the importance of maintaining an element of surprise in our interactions with others. When individuals believe they can easily anticipate how we will respond or behave, they effectively gain a degree of power over us, diminishing our influence and the impact we have on them. To keep our 'spell' or allure intact, we must avoid becoming overly predictable.
In practice
In a leadership seminar discussing strategies for influence.
In a society where the roles everyone plays are obvious, the refusal to conform to any standard will excite interest. Be both masculine and feminine, impudent and charming, subtle and outrageous. Let other people worry about being socially acceptable; those types are a dime a dozen, and you are after a power greater than they can imagine.
When you are trying to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear, and the less in control. Even if you are saying something banal, it will seem original if you make it vague, open-ended, and sphinxlike.
The future belongs to those who learn more skills and combine them in creative ways.
The Nihilistic Troll might pretend to be acting in the service of some cause or leader, but don't be fooled. The cause and their supposedly strong convictions are simply a way to justify and provide cover for their abusive behavior.
Only create associations with positive affinities. Make this a rule of life and you will benefit more than from all the therapy in the world.
Remember that the essence of authority is that people willingly follow your lead.
Self-worth comes from one thing - thinking that you are worthy.
.....joy runs deeper than despair.
I am an old man but in many senses a very young man. And this is what I want you to be, young, young all your life.
There is no avoidance in delay.
Each day look into your conscience and amend your faults; if you fail in this duty you will be untrue to the Knowledge and Reason that are within you. Keep a watchful eye over yourself as if you were your own enemy; for you cannot learn to govern yourself, unless you first learn to govern your own passions and obey the dictates of your conscience.
I think that that's the wisest thing - to prevent illness before we try to cure something.
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