Power Games Quotes

“Although social relationships may be crippled by acrimonious minefields, manipulative psychological gambits or mysterious undercurrent power games, a number of social tell-tale flickers might help us in finding a lucid interpretation of hazy circumstances. ("Trompe le pied.")”
― Erik Pevernagie

“I didn’t invent this twisted system that pits us against each other and makes us do crappy things for status—but I do know how to play it.”
― Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, Ace of Spades

“To come up against someone who appeared not to give a damn about exerting petty power almost restored his faith in the public.”
― Val McDermid, Insidious Intent

“He smiles, cocks his head. 'Why would it matter if someone saw you saying hello to me?'

I clench my jaw and breathe hard through my nose. His innocence feels put on, like he’s playing with me by playing dumb.

Still smiling, he leans back in his chair, and him doing that—leaning back, crossing his arms, looking me up and down as though I’m entertaining, just something to look at—makes anger flare up inside me, so sudden and strong I ball my hands into fists to stop from screaming, lunging forward, grabbing the Harvard mug off his desk and hurling it at his face.

I turn on my heel, stomp out of the room and down the hallway. I’m furious the whole way back to Gould, but once I’m in my room, the anger disappears and all that’s left is the dull-ache desire for meaning I’ve had for weeks now. He said he wanted to kiss me. He touched me. Every interaction between us is tinged now with something potentially ruinous, and it isn’t fair for him to pretend otherwise.”
― Kate Elizabeth Russell, My Dark Vanessa