For your own good is a persuasive argument that will eventually make a man agree to his own destruction.
—Janet Frame (1924–2004) New Zealand Novelist, Short-Story Writer
To convert somebody go and take them by the hand and guide them.
—Thomas Aquinas (1225–74) Italian Catholic Priest, Philosopher, Theologian
The object of oratory alone in not truth, but persuasion.
—Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1st Baron Macaulay (1800–59) English Historian, Essayist, Philanthropist
Leadership is a word and a concept that has been more argued than almost any other I know. I am not one of the desk-pounding types that likes to stick out his jaw and look like he is bossing the show. I would far rather get behind and, recognizing the frailties and the requirements of human nature, would rather try to persuade a man to go along, because once I have persuaded him, he will stick. If I scare him, he will stay just as long as he is scared, and then he is gone.
—Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) American Head of State, Military Leader
The art of pleasing consists in being pleased. To be amiable is to be satisfied with one’s self and others.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
He makes people pleased with him by making them first pleased with themselves.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
If you would convince others, seem open to conviction yourself.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
The truth isn’t the truth until people believe you, and they can’t believe you if they don’t know what your saying, and they can’t know what you’ve saying if they don’t listen to you, and they won’t listen to you if you’re not interesting, and you won’t be interesting until you say things imaginatively, originally, freshly.
—William Bernbach (1911–82) American Advertising Executive
There is a holy, mistaken zeal in politics, as well as in religion. By persuading others, we convince ourselves.
—Junius Unidentified English Writer
Remember that what pulls the strings is the force hidden within; there lies the power to persuade, there the life—there, if one must speak out, the real man.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.
—Sun Tzu (fl. c.544–496 BCE) Chinese General, Military Theorist
If you can’t get people to listen to you any other way, tell them it’s confidential.
—Common Proverb
As there is no worse lie than a truth misunderstood by those who hear it, so reasonable arguments, challenges to magnanimity, and appeals to sympathy or justice, are folly when we are dealing with human crocodiles and boa-constrictors.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
Why harass with eternal purposes a mind to weak to grasp them?
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
He that winna be ruled by the rudder maun be ruled by the rock.
—Scottish Proverb
To make converts is the natural ambition of everyone.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
That which proves too much, proves nothing!
—Common Proverb
The persuasion of a friend is a strong thing.
—Homer (751–651 BCE) Ancient Greek Poet
For every man there exists a bait which he cannot resist swallowing.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
If you once forfeit the confidence of your fellow citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem. It is true that you may fool all of the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all of the time; but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Persuasion is better than force.
—Common Proverb
The real persuaders are our appetites, our fears and above all our vanity. The skillful propagandist stirs and coaches these internal persuaders.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Nothing is so unbelievable that oratory cannot make it acceptable.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
You might as well fall flat on your face as lean over too far backward.
—James Thurber
More flies are caught with honey than with vinegar.
—French Proverb
The tongue can paint what the eye can’t see.
—Chinese Proverb
Who speaks to the instincts speaks to the deepest in mankind, and finds the readiest response.
—Amos Bronson Alcott (1799–1888) American Teacher, Writer, Philosopher
When a heart is on fire, sparks always fly out of the mouth.
—Common Proverb
He who wants to persuade should put his trust not in the right argument, but in the right word. The power of sound has always been greater than the power of sense.
—Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) Polish-born British Novelist
Secrecy has many advantages, for when you tell someone the purpose of any object right away, they often think there is nothing to it.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet