Why harass with eternal purposes a mind to weak to grasp them?
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
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
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
To make converts is the natural ambition of everyone.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
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
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
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
Whenever he met a great man he groveled before him, and my-lorded him as only a free-born Briton can do.
—William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–63) English Novelist
He that winna be ruled by the rudder maun be ruled by the rock.
—Scottish Proverb
That which we do not believe, we cannot adequately say; even though we may repeat the words ever so often.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
For every man there exists a bait which he cannot resist swallowing.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
When once a man is determined to believe, the very absurdity of the doctrine does but confirm him in his faith.
—Junius Unidentified English Writer
People are usually more convinced by reasons they discovered themselves than by those found by others.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
If you would persuade, you must appeal to interest rather than intellect.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
The most important persuasion tool you have in your entire arsenal is integrity.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
To convert somebody go and take them by the hand and guide them.
—Thomas Aquinas (1225–74) Italian Catholic Priest, Philosopher, Theologian
If you would convince others, seem open to conviction yourself.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
When a heart is on fire, sparks always fly out of the mouth.
—Common Proverb
Nothing is so unbelievable that oratory cannot make it acceptable.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Not brute force but only persuasion and faith are the kings of this world.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
The tongue can paint what the eye can’t see.
—Chinese Proverb
The secret is to always let the other man have your way.
—Claiborne Pell (1926–2019) American Politician
If you can’t get people to listen to you any other way, tell them it’s confidential.
—Common Proverb
Those that will not hear must be made to feel.
—German Proverb
The persuasion of a friend is a strong thing.
—Homer (751–651 BCE) Ancient Greek Poet
Would you persuade, speak of Interest, not of Reason.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
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
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
You might as well fall flat on your face as lean over too far backward.
—James Thurber
I don’t know the rules of grammar. If you’re trying to persuade people to do something, or buy something, it seems to me you should use their language.
—David Ogilvy (1911–99) British-American Advertising Executive