Quotes about Persuasion

Prayer is not so much about convincing God to do what we want God to do as it is about convincing ourselves to do what God wants us to do.

Equations are the devil's sentences.

Our statements will be adequate if made with as much clearness as the matter allows.

We ought to be able to persuade on opposite sides of a question; as also we ought in the case of arguing by syllogism: not that we should practice both, for it is not right to persuade to what is bad; but in order that the bearing of the case may not escape us, and that when another makes an unfair use of these reasonings, we may be able to solve them.

With my natural communication abilities, I could probably gather a crowd even without the Spirit.

A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.

The duty of rhetoric is to deal with such matters as we deliberate upon without arts or systems to guide us, in the hearing of persons who cannot take in at a glance a complicated argument or follow a long chain of reasoning.

How cruel—to forbid people to want what they think is good for them. And yet that's just what you won't let them do when you get angry at their misbehavior. They're drawn toward what they think is good for them. —But it's not good for them. Then show them that. Prove it to them. Instead of losing your temper.

He has something we don't have, he has the word.

The ability to concoct plausible lies is a talent not to be underestimated

The devil is so subtle that he dominates man and persuades him at the same time that he is not being dominated.

Marketing is the act of telling stories about the things we make—stories that sell and stories that spread.