--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you're in a subordinate position of…" description: "\"If you're in a subordinate position of some sort and pretty much all of us are at some point in our lives, your general tendency is to try and impress ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e6/robert-greene-498_envy_if-you-re-in-a-subordinate-position-of-s_2611550.png" --- # If you're in a subordinate position of some sort and… ![“If you're in a subordinate position of some sort and pretty much all of us are at some point in our lives, your general tendency is to try and impress the people above you or person above you so well that they will like you, keep you or maybe promote you. In the process of doing that you are not…” quote by Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e6/robert-greene-498_envy_if-you-re-in-a-subordinate-position-of-s_2611550.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e6/robert-greene-498_envy_if-you-re-in-a-subordinate-position-of-s_2611550.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e6/robert-greene-498_envy_if-you-re-in-a-subordinate-position-of-s_2611550.png) > “If you're in a subordinate position of some sort and pretty much all of us are at some point in our lives, your general tendency is to try and impress the people above you or person above you so well that they will like you, keep you or maybe promote you. In the process of doing that you are not aware that that person above has insecurities and if you try so hard they may see that you are after their job or that you are better than they are or they might envy the fact you are younger.” [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. People often seek approval from superiors, unaware that those superiors may feel threatened by ambition, leading to unintended envy or rivalry. **In simple terms:** Trying to impress bosses can backfire if they feel insecure. Key Takeaway Be authentic and focus on mutual respect. Themes power dynamics insecurity ambition relationships Mood cautious strategic Type advice observational When to use this quote - career advancement - team meetings - mentor relationships - performance reviews Key Concepts psychology status competition Questions to Reflect On - How can you demonstrate competence without threatening a superior? - What signals show genuine respect versus self‑promotion? A Different Perspective Superiors may interpret confidence as a challenge, causing tension. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Insecurities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insecurities/) [Insecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insecurity/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Subordinate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subordinate/) ## Related quotes > [All important persons have about them someone in a subordinate position who has their ear. These dependents are very susceptible to slights, and, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/all-important-persons-have-about-them-someone-in-a-subordinate/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [I am an insecure person. I have my own insecurities about lots of things, but I am pretty secure as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huma-qureshi/i-am-an-insecure-person-i-have-my-own-insecurities-about-lots-of/) [Huma Qureshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huma-qureshi/) > [The shorter the hours, the larger the income. Don't get into the habit of putting in long hours or you may be set down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ade/the-shorter-the-hours-the-larger-the-income-don-t-get-into-the-habit/) [George Ade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ade/) > [The most common disguise of Envy is in praise of what is subordinate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-allston/the-most-common-disguise-of-envy-is-in-praise-of-what-is-subordinate/) [Washington Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-allston/) > [I believe that there is no such thing as a subordinate. If the air-conditioning ceases to work in our building, then the repair technician…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/i-believe-that-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-subordinate-if-the-air/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [When we're dealing with historic buildings, we don't replicate, but we try to be subordinate and be deferential to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-clewes/when-we-re-dealing-with-historic-buildings-we-don-t-replicate-but-we/) [Peter Clewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-clewes/) > [The subordinate's job is not to reform or reeducate the boss, not to make him conform to what the business schools or the management…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-subordinate-s-job-is-not-to-reform-or-reeducate-the-boss-not-to/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [The object of the state is always the same: to limit the individual, to tame him, to subordinate him, to subjugate him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/the-object-of-the-state-is-always-the-same-to-limit-the-individual-to/) [Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/) > [ \[Did you\] ever know a sincere emotion to express itself in a subordinate clause? ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/did-you-ever-know-a-sincere-emotion-to-express-itself-in-a/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [Rights are subordinate to responsibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/len-smith/rights-are-subordinate-to-responsibilities/) [Len Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/len-smith/) > [Any group of people that has been subordinate absorbs the idea of our own subordination, and that it is natural, and comes to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/any-group-of-people-that-has-been-subordinate-absorbs-the-idea-of-our/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [If you've experienced having control, you don't want to be moved to a subordinate position, if you have your druthers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-erving/if-you-ve-experienced-having-control-you-don-t-want-to-be-moved-to-a/) [Julius Erving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-erving/) > [No, General. I'm not your subordinate. And what I'm coming dangerously close to is violence. -General Wedge Antilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/no-general-i-m-not-your-subordinate-and-what-i-m-coming-dangerously/) [Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/) > [“One cannot subordinate himself simultaneously to God and to his own idolized self. Thus the Sages say: "Whoever becomes angry, \[even if he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aharon-feldman/one-cannot-subordinate-himself-simultaneously-to-god-and-to-his-own/) [Aharon Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aharon-feldman/) > [The circulatory system of man and the vertebrate animals can be considered as made up of a small number of organs or subordinate systems,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-krogh/the-circulatory-system-of-man-and-the-vertebrate-animals-can-be/) [August Krogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-krogh/) ## More by Robert Greene > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [I'm afraid I'm just too intense to have soft ideas, you know, about what to read when you're trying to pass the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/i-m-afraid-i-m-just-too-intense-to-have-soft-ideas-you-know-about/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [You are facing death and danger and competition, but at any moment, you can decide to have a fearless mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/you-are-facing-death-and-danger-and-competition-but-at-any-moment-you/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [Let me spell it out: with the psychotic boss, nothing you do is ever quite right. They set traps, asking you to do things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/let-me-spell-it-out-with-the-psychotic-boss-nothing-you-do-is-ever/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [Evil or manipulative people don't need a book, they just do it anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/evil-or-manipulative-people-don-t-need-a-book-they-just-do-it-anyway/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [Everybody knows what they were kind of drawn towards or what they're gifted at and it's more of courage and looking at yourself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/everybody-knows-what-they-were-kind-of-drawn-towards-or-what-they-re/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [Remember: your bosses prefer to keep you in dependent positions. It is in their interest that you do not become self-reliant, and so they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/remember-your-bosses-prefer-to-keep-you-in-dependent-positions-it-is/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [I want to be able to write, that's my first love and I don't want to deviate from it even though I probably could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/i-want-to-be-able-to-write-that-s-my-first-love-and-i-don-t-want-to/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [It's sometimes hard to talk about politics and art. Obviously, I have my core beliefs, but I think art is best when it's troublesome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/it-s-sometimes-hard-to-talk-about-politics-and-art-obviously-i-have/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [If you change and adapt your persona, you are seen as inauthentic; if you stay the angry young man, you fade from attention or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/if-you-change-and-adapt-your-persona-you-are-seen-as-inauthentic-if/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [Your energy, your spirit are important considerations. Feeling petty and frustrated can have reverberating consequences for your ability to think strategically and reach your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/your-energy-your-spirit-are-important-considerations-feeling-petty/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [Fear creates its own self-fulfilling dynamic- as people give into it, they lose energy and momentum. Their lack of confidence translates into inaction that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/fear-creates-its-own-self-fulfilling-dynamic-as-people-give-into-it/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [What I like about the internet, what I see there is that its much more democratic. I have much more control, and if what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/what-i-like-about-the-internet-what-i-see-there-is-that-its-much-more/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [“It is hard for us to imagine now, but our earliest human ancestors who ventured out onto the grasslands of East Africa some six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/it-is-hard-for-us-to-imagine-now-but-our-earliest-human-ancestors-who/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [“Let us call this quality the Original Mind. This mind looked at the world more directly—not through words and received ideas. It was flexible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/let-us-call-this-quality-the-original-mind-this-mind-looked-at-the/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) [Explore all 511 Robert Greene quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) ## More Envy quotes > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“He often remembered his dad's admonition that envy was mental theft. If you coveted another man's possessions, Dad said, then you should be willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/he-often-remembered-his-dad-s-admonition-that-envy-was-mental-theft/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“I don't envy "busy." Busy means having a schedule, not living life. What I really covet is leisure and peace of mind. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/i-don-t-envy-busy-busy-means-having-a-schedule-not-living-life-what-i/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [There is no sweeter sound than the crumbling of one's fellow man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/there-is-no-sweeter-sound-than-the-crumbling-of-one-s-fellow-man/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [Thinking, or more precisely identification with thinking, gives rise to and maintains the ego, which, in our Western society in particular, is out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/thinking-or-more-precisely-identification-with-thinking-gives-rise-to/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“Is it not strange that the more someone has, the less he feels he has? Envy can never be sated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-wheeler/is-it-not-strange-that-the-more-someone-has-the-less-he-feels-he-has/) [Jeff Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-wheeler/) > [I avoid envy at all costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-winkleman/i-avoid-envy-at-all-costs/) [Claudia Winkleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-winkleman/) > [Sometimes I envy painters, it is wonderful to remain in front of a bouquet of flowers a whole morning, or even longer. A photographer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edouard-boubat/sometimes-i-envy-painters-it-is-wonderful-to-remain-in-front-of-a/) [Edouard Boubat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edouard-boubat/) > [avarice breeds envy, a worm that is always gnawing, letting the avaricious enjoy neither their own nor anyone else's good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/avarice-breeds-envy-a-worm-that-is-always-gnawing-letting-the/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [“You don’t see someone flying and you begin to bite yourself for not being able to do that. You do what you can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-don-t-see-someone-flying-and-you-begin-to-bite-yourself-for-not/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Knowledge forbidden? Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord Envy them that? Can it be sin to know, Can it be death? And do they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/knowledge-forbidden-suspicious-reasonless-why-should-their-lord-envy/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [“Who would have thought you had so many supporters?" she whispered. "Not mine, my love. Yours. I had not a one till you started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-sinclair/who-would-have-thought-you-had-so-many-supporters-she-whispered-not/) [Michele Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-sinclair/) > [“Treachery is always a hairy caterpillar bred of a small butterfly called envy, no matter how lofty the principles involved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fazil-iskander/treachery-is-always-a-hairy-caterpillar-bred-of-a-small-butterfly/) Fazil Iskander > [Yes, Clay Matthews has a long, golden, Fabio-esque flowing mane that most women would chick-slap someone for. And yes, the shiny, beautiful, dark locks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-foudy/yes-clay-matthews-has-a-long-golden-fabio-esque-flowing-mane-that/) [Julie Foudy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-foudy/) > [“I have known many true connoisseurs, with excellent tastes that range across the humanities and the culinary arts--and they never fail to have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/i-have-known-many-true-connoisseurs-with-excellent-tastes-that-range/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) [Browse all 2,111 Envy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you're in a subordinate position of some sort and pretty much all of us are at some point in our lives, your general tendency is to try and impress the people above you or person above you so well that they will like you, keep you or maybe promote you. 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