Skip to content

In our culture we tend to equate thinking and intellectual…

“In our culture we tend to equate thinking and intellectual powers with success and achievement. In many ways, however, it is an emotional quality that separates those who master a field from the many who simply work at a job. Our levels of desire, patience, persistence, and confidence end up…” quote by Robert Greene
Download Open image
““In our culture we tend to equate thinking and intellectual powers with success and achievement. In many ways, however, it is an emotional quality that separates those who master a field from the many who simply work at a job. Our levels of desire, patience, persistence, and confidence end up playing a much larger role in success than sheer reasoning powers. Feeling motivated and energized, we can overcome almost anything. Feeling bored and restless, our minds shut off and we become increasingly passive.””

Robert Greene

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Success depends more on emotional qualities like desire, patience, persistence, and confidence than on pure intellect.

In simple terms: Emotions drive success more than intellect.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate emotional strengths.

Themes

motivation emotional intelligence success resilience

Mood

inspirational reflective

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

  • career advancement
  • entrepreneurship
  • personal development
  • leadership

Key Concepts

psychology human behavior self‑discipline

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you strengthen emotional resilience?
  • What habits sustain motivation?
A Different Perspective

Emotional states can fluctuate, making consistency hard.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Robert Greene

Explore all 511 Robert Greene quotes

More Desire quotes

Browse all 15,155 Desire quotes