To make converts is the natural ambition of everyone.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
To convert somebody go and take them by the hand and guide them.
—Thomas Aquinas (1225–74) Italian Catholic Priest, Philosopher, Theologian
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
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
Those that will not hear must be made to feel.
—German Proverb
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
That which proves too much, proves nothing!
—Common Proverb
Oral delivery aims at persuasion and making the listener believe they are converted. Few persons are capable of being convinced; the majority allow themselves to be persuaded.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
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 makes people pleased with him by making them first pleased with themselves.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
If you can’t get people to listen to you any other way, tell them it’s confidential.
—Common Proverb
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
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
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
The persuasion of a friend is a strong thing.
—Homer (751–651 BCE) Ancient Greek Poet
You might as well fall flat on your face as lean over too far backward.
—James Thurber
Would you persuade, speak of Interest, not of Reason.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
The tongue can paint what the eye can’t see.
—Chinese Proverb
For every man there exists a bait which he cannot resist swallowing.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
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
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
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
Nothing is so unbelievable that oratory cannot make it acceptable.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
He that winna be ruled by the rudder maun be ruled by the rock.
—Scottish Proverb
Persuasion is better than force.
—Common Proverb
Not brute force but only persuasion and faith are the kings of this world.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
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
The most important persuasion tool you have in your entire arsenal is integrity.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
More flies are caught with honey than with vinegar.
—French Proverb