“The reason insinuation works so well is not just that it bypasses people's natural resistance. It is also the language of pleasure.”

The Art of Seduction, Master the Art of Insinuation

As discussed in numerous Daily Robert Greene newsletters, we humans possess a natural, deep-rooted disdain towards the depreciation of our autonomy.

We want, more than almost anything, to be free—or at least to feel as though we are free.

This inclination to prioritise personal liberty is both physical and mental.

We despise the notion of being physically trapped, of losing our physical rights to freedom, of being forced to carry out acts that go against our will, that undermine our most cherished values.

Similarly, we disdain the idea of being told what to think, of having our minds corrupted by some external force, of being coerced into holding certain views or interests.

For the purposes of this passage, we shall focus on the latter—mental freedom.

Taking into account the ideas mentioned above, we can confidently conclude that in the realms of freedom of the mind, we strive to make sure that our thoughts are entirely our own.

Failing this—which is often the case given the complex nature of the human brain—we at least want to feel as though the thoughts we possess are our own.

In light of this universal human desire, as Seducers, as those who seek to master the art of influence and persuasion, this is where the power of suggestion reveals itself.