“We do not influence the course of events by persuading people that we are right when we make what they regard as radical proposals. Rather, we exert influence by keeping options available when something has to be done at a time of crisis.”

“When we really want to go for something better, we shall smash the old. Until then, any sort of proposal, or making proposals, is no more than a tiresome game for self-important people.”

“Manipulation is what we do when we feel we cannot meet our needs directly, so instead we try to meet them in round about ways. We try to influence others to do what we want them to do so our needs are met. This is particularly prevalent today when the need that is not met is emotional.”

“We try to do what's right, or rather what other say is right. But sometimes, when that goes against who we are… you have to choose.”

“We are too often influenced by other people's opinions. We worry too much about what others think of us. We feel called to satisfy other people's expectations, when we know that's definitely not the kind of life we want to live.”

“We never know which lives we influence, or when, or why. Not until the future eats the present, anyway. We know when it's too late.”

“When we do something we have never done, we are already on the road to healing. We must break the routines.”

“When we keep choosing between right and wrong. We spend our energy sorting life rather than living it.”

“All our lives are symbols. Everything we do is part of a pattern we have at least some say in. The strong make their own patterns and influence other people's, the weak have their courses mapped out for them. The weak and the unlucky, and the stupid.”

“When the time of judgement comes, we shall not be asked what we have read but what we have done.”