L. Neil Smith Quotes

You know, you can't make the people do what you want them to do.

If I asked you to do something for me, I don't suppose you'd listen?" When he had my attention, he continued, "I'm going to take you home. Try to forget tonight happened. Try to act normal, especially around Hank. Don't mention my name." By way of an answer, I shot him a black look and swung out of the Tahoe. He followed suit, coming around to my side. "What kind of answer is that?" He asked, but his voice wasn't nearly so gruff.

Influence is a very unpleasant subject and I deal with it in a maybe irresponsible way, which is to really ignore it. It would be a nightmare if we started to really think about it; it would tie our hands, it would tie everyone else's hands.

You can't do anything if a person says no. In such a case, there's nothing you can do - unlike the popular cliche that pressure is exerted, or that maybe an unwilling source is done away with.

The people may be made to follow a path of action, but they may not be made to understand it.

When you make your peace with authority you become authority.

There are .. two choices: obedience to institutional authority or radical dissent from it.

You can't try to keep someone against their will, or it's difficult to get them to listen or have the right mentality.

If you tell me, I will leave you alone," I said. "And if you don't tell me, I am going to grab the nearest ghostwritten James Patterson romance novel and I am going to follow you through this store reading it out loud until you relent. Would you prefer me to read from Daphne's Three Tender Months with Harold or Cindy and John's House of Everlasting Love? I guarantee, your sanity and your indie street cred won't last a chapter. And they are very, very short chapters." Now I could see the fright beneath the defiance.

When one by force subdues men, they do not submit to him in heart. They submit because their strength is not adequate to resist.

And ordering me around is exactly the wrong way to make me do what you want.

It is one thing to persuade, another to command; one thing to press with arguments, another with penalties.

A portion of the multitude must ever be coerced.

All right," he said. "Since you ask so nicely." "I wasn't asking." "I'm aware of that. The sharp point in my back did make it clear.

Relatively few people have the resources needed to resist authority.

They say you better listen to the voice of reason But they don't give you any choice 'cause they think that it's treason. So you had better do as you are told. You better listen to the radio.

The only people who ever called me a rebel were people who wanted me to do what they wanted.

Power never turns power down, ever, unless institutionally demanded.

People don't like to be nagged. When people nag us, we instantly resist, but when the facts force us in that same direction, we instantly adapt.

The most powerful men were those who most effectively used the power of adult competence to enforce childish agreements.

Are you going to come quietly, or do I have to use earplugs?

I think I've always had a certain amount of skepticism of this whole 'shut up and smile' theory. I haven't ever swallowed that pill so easily, although I tried.

It's funny. All you have to do is say something nobody understands and they'll do practically anything you want them to.

You are controlling because I want you to do it, not because of the situation or what needs to be done.

When in doubt, have a man come through the door with a gun in his hand.