Common sense (which, in truth, is very uncommon) is the best sense I know of: abide by it; it will counsel you best.
Lord ChesterfieldRead
If you can once engage people's pride, love, pity, ambition on your side, you need not fear what their reason can do against you.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Engaging emotions can be more powerful than logic in influencing people.
In this quote, Lord Chesterfield emphasizes the importance of connecting with people's emotions—such as pride, love, pity, and ambition—to win their support. When leaders appeal to these aspects of human nature, they can overcome any logical objections that others may have, highlighting that emotional engagement can be a more effective tool than reason alone in leadership and persuasion.
Themes
LeadershipEmotionsPersuasionInfluenceSupport
In practice
Example use cases
During a team meeting to rally support for a new project.
More from Lord Chesterfield
All quotes →Never seem wiser, nor more learned, than the people you are with. Wear your learning, like your watch, in a private pocket: and do not merely pull it out and strike it; merely to show that you have one.
Lord ChesterfieldRead
Merit and knowledge will not gain hearts, though they will secure them when gained.
Lord ChesterfieldRead
Firmness of purpose is one of the best instruments of success.
Lord ChesterfieldRead
Wit is so shining a quality that everybody admires it; most people aim at it, all people fear it, and few love it unless in themselves. A man must have a good share of wit himself to endure a great share of it in another.
Lord ChesterfieldRead
Knowledge may give weight, but accomplishments give luster, and many more people see than weigh.
Lord ChesterfieldRead
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