Quotes About Cunning

Like Machiavelli himself, he [Edward Luttwak] enjoys truth not only because it is true but also because it shocks the naive

It was his cunning, this confidence and farsightedness in dealing with his own Clan, that made Crookedstar one of the strongest leaders the Clans have ever seen.

I have an idea," I said. "This better not be a cunning plan," said Leslie. Nightingale looked blank, but at least it got a chuckle from Dr Walid.

only ever stole from those who had money to spare and remained adamant that crime need not involve thuggery: the Pinkertons found it astonishing that "throughout his career he never used a revolver or jeopardized the life of a victim.

Aunts, I have learned, never admit defeat. In the face of overwhelming forces, or incontestable facts, they simply change tack. Had Napoleon been an aunt, he would never have done anything so vulgar as to 'retreat' from Moscow. Rather, he would have framed his return to Paris casually as a question of clothing and etiquette, noting it was unseasonably cold for October and declaring that–like fish and family–armies of invasion go off after three days.

The practice of politics in the East may be defined by one word: dissimulation.

Logic is neither a science nor an art, but a dodge.

Every man of action has a strong dose of egoism, pride, hardness, and cunning. But all those things will be regarded as high qualities if he can make them the means to achieve great ends.

Tell a man that he is putting on a stage performance in order to get what he wants, and he will irritably reject your observation. Why? Because most people go through life as cunning actors with a permanent horror of getting found out.

Politics have no relation to morals.

I don't enjoy hitting people; I enjoy outsmarting them.

Remember, a Trojan is more than a horse.

Amy's basically exploiting the sociopath's most reliable maxim. The bigger the lie, the more they believe it.

People who get caught get caught because they don't have patience; they refuse to plan.

I could feel in my head the cunning of cannabis.

Truly gifted predators—those born to it—just know.

Wisdom is just cleverness, with all the guts kicked out of it.

Envy, like the worm, never runs but to the fairest fruit; like a cunning bloodhound, it singles out the fattest deer in the flock.

You have to watch our for the quiet ones. Take some advice from me. The quiet observant girls are the deadliest.

Daring Charming was facing her down. "It's no use, Cerise Hood," said Daring. "I am a Charming—brave, cunning, athletic—" Cerise faked left and dribbled right around him, driving toward the royals' end of the court.

That's a shitty thing to do. It's almost catlike in its evilness." "See, your problem is you underestimate dogs. There's a reason many of us are let up on the couch, while they keep y'all in a zoo.

In the meane time know this, that the learning of warranties is one of the most curious and cunning learnings of the law, and of great use and consequence.

Time shall unfold what pleated cunning hides: Who cover faults, at last shame them derides.

And you have lost none of your wickedness either.