Quote by Lord Chesterfield

If you can once engage people's pride, love, pity, ambition (or whatever is their prevailing passion) on your side, you need not fear what their reason can do against you.

If you can once engage people's pride, love, pity, ambition

Summary

This quote suggests that if individuals can appeal to the emotions, desires, and motivations of others, such as pride, love, pity, or ambition, they will have an advantage because reason will not be able to counteract the influence of these powerful emotions. By tapping into people's deepest passions, one can gain their support and commitment, making it difficult for rational arguments to sway their behavior or change their opinions. In essence, this quote emphasizes the overriding power of human emotions in influencing thoughts and actions.

Topics

Reason

By Lord Chesterfield

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