Michelle Paver Quotes

Charm is a way of getting the answer 'Yes' without asking a clear question.

Part of my job is to try and seduce people. It's what I get paid for, and if people get in the way of me doing my job I can be very difficult.

It was difficult to contradict this artist—this seducer.

I'm pretty good at weaseling my way into a job, even if I have no business being there.

Sheer flattery got me into the theater. Flattery always works with me, particularly the flattery of women.

My dad being a salesman taught me you can sell anybody anything if you've got the ability to believe.

I'm not naturally manipulative.

Insight into character comes from listening intently to the spoken word. The physical person, their charisma, charm and dramatic flair is more often used to persuade audiences, as they use these stealth tools of disguise and deception.

Tactics are manipulative.

If you think that by threatening me you can get me to do what you want... well, that's where you're right. But - and I am only saying this because I care - there's a lot of decaffeinated brands on the market that are just as tasty as the real thing.

Logic is neither a science nor an art, but a dodge.

I think anyone who's ever gone through adolescence and wanted something from their parents knows the basic tenets of a con.

I've always been very good at convincing people. For instance, if I arrive in an airport and I'm in economy, I can always convince the guy to put me in first class.

You women could make someone fall in love even with a lie.

Americans are big boys. You can talk them into almost anything. Just sit with them for half an hour over a bottle of whiskey and be a nice guy.

I've been on the other side of the table many times, trying to get people to be sympathetic to projects, and I've been the victim of that kind of intense kindness masking extreme stupidity.

With a soft tongue you can even pull a snake out of its nest.

Diplomacy is the art of saying “Nice Doggie!” till you can find a rock.

Deals, flattery, threats and promises are part of the process, certainly; do not flinch from any opportunity to scheme and plot, however sordid and demeaning it may appear.

The public official must pick his way nicely, must learn to placate though not to yield too much, to have the art of honeyed words but not to seem neutral, and above all to keep constantly audible, visible, likable, even kissable.

I won't budge; I will act like a hedgehog and wait until they come to talk to me. I will yield nothing. We will see if they can manage without me. Lloyd George is a trickster…. I don't like being double-crossed. Lloyd George has deceived me. He made me the finest promises, and now he breaks them.

I'm too blunt and straightforward for politics, but I'm friends with all.

I know how to win people over if things aren't going my way.

I work my angles and things like that.

The 'Rule of Three' is simply getting the other guy to agree to the same thing three times in the same conversation, it's really hard to repeatedly lie or fake conviction.