Quotes About Influence

Anything that happens to me as a writer has been precipitated by an action of my own.

Mom's new husband was eleven years older than Mom. He had been Mom's boss at the Buick dealership where she'd worked until they were married, and you could see that he was still Mom's boss—the way he spoke to her, not exactly giving orders, never forgetting to say Please but in a tone of voice that meant there was no negotiating. Of

She realizes: the man's power is to intimidate, to make you ashamed. But your power over him is the power of laughter.

always, you want to impress them: men of authority)

For that was mom's trump card: she was the mother, and so possessed a mysterious and unquestioned authority. Dad was the boss, but Mom was the power.

Momma was terrified of being really poor, dirt-poor, and men would know, always men can sniff out the degree of your desperation Momma believed, and force you to do things you don't want to do or don't exactly want to do at that time or in that place or in that way. When you have your own money, Momma said, you have power. But you can lose it Goddamned fast.

Politics, the negotiating of power. Eros, the negotiating of power.

When you said Please to those who...had no option but to obey, what were you really saying?

What a person is in secret, he becomes -- in politics.

A woman convinced against her will is of the same opinion still.

Mom was stubborn, and eloquent.

It's not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours. I can't tell my children to reach for the sun. All I can do is reach for it, myself.

Satan can control you if you let outward things determine your security.

If you're fighting moodiness and depression you don't want to hang around a bunch of other moody and depressed people.

Go home, and let all your relatives off the potter's wheel. You are not the potter!

Where the mind goes the man follows.

On being in a position of leadership) Even if it's your dog, you've got authority over somebody. Start treating him better.

When we are overly concerned with what people think we will be controlled by the thoughts and opinions of other people.

If you accept what people call you, you will start to believe it. Find your identity in Christ, not in what others say.

We can't control what other people do and how they decide to treat us, but we can control our response to them. Don't let other people's behavior control you. Don't let them steal your joy; remember that your anger won't change them, but prayer can.

I am not going to let negative people control my mood. They have problems and they are not going to give their problems to me.

Common people with uncommon goals who make an uncommon commitment can help an uncommon number of people who can also lead other common people to do uncommon things. Develop your potential to the full. And as you do, lead others in developing theirs. Be all you can be. Then help someone else be all they can be.

Leaders are not born; I believe they are made.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]. Proverbs 18:21