Power of Persuasion Quotes

Mighty little force is needed to control a man whose mind has been hoodwinked; contrariwise, no amount of force can control a free man, a man whose mind is free. No, not the rack, not fission bombs, not anything - you can't conquer a free man; the most you can do is kill him.

You cannot make a man by standing a sheep on its hind legs. But by standing a flock of sheep in that position you can make a crowd of men.

The tongue is more to be feared than the sword.

I believe that the will of the people is resolved by a strong leadership. Even in a democratic society, events depend on a strong leadership with a strong power of persuasion, and not on the opinion of the masses.

Are we diminishing the bully pulpit to a pulpit of bull?

You can lead a man to Congress, but you can't make him think.

The oil can is mightier than the sword.

The perswasion of the fortunate swaies the doubtfull.

If you have got the public in the palm of your hand, you can be sure that is where they want to be.

In an easy cause anyone can be eloquent; the slightest strength is enough to break what is already shattered.

The reason why we have so many stars campaigning for politics is that when we senior artistes go to speak to people, they at least listen to some extent.

Does a firm persuasion that a thing is so, make it so?" He replied, "All poets believe it does. And in ages of imagination, this firm persuasion removes mountains; but many are not capable of firm persuasion of anything.

It is doubtful if any power he [Theodore Roosevelt] has over us through his office or through his leadership of a party is so great as this which he exercises directly through his example and character.

The great leader attracts to himself men of kindred character, drawing them towards him as the loadstone draws iron.

People are attracted to confidence and a commitment to ideas, no matter what those ideas are. People can gravitate towards something being said passionately or violently or expressively.

Ladies are always of great use to the party they espouse, and never fail to win over numbers to it. Lovers, according to Sir William Petty's computation, make at least the third part of sensible men of the British nation; and it has been an uncontroverted maxim in all ages, that though a husband is sometimes a stubborn sort of a creature, a lover is always at the devotion of his mistress. By this means, it lies in the power of every fine woman, to secure at least half a dozen able-bodied men to his Majesty's service.

The barbarian chieftain, who defended his country against the Roman invasion, driven to the remotest extremity of Britain, and stimulating his followers to battle, by all that has power of persuasion upon the human heart, concludes his exhortation by an appeal to these irresistible feelings - "Think of your forefathers and of your posterity."

You can lead a man to Congress, but you cannot make him think.

Gandhi held no formal position of authority. Nor was there an organized army standing behind him. What he did have were his core beliefs and the audacity to speak truth to power.

A quotation in a speech, article or book is like a rifle in the hands of an infantryman. It speaks with authority.

You know the public is more easily swayed by persons than by principles.

You can't trample infidels when you're a tortoise. I mean, all you could do is give them a meaningful look.