Les passions sont les seuls orateurs qui persuadent toujours. Elles sont comme un art de la nature dont les regles sont infaillibles; et l'homme le plus simple qui a de la passion persuade mieux que le plus eloquent qui n'en a point.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Passions are the most persuasive force, surpassing eloquence. Even a simple person with passion convinces more than a skilled speaker without it.
- In plain terms
- Emotions convince people better than words alone.
- What can you take from it?
- Authentic feeling beats polished speech in persuasion.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When does emotion override logic?
- Is calmness ever more persuasive?
Another view
Passion can sometimes cloud judgment or appear irrational.
More from Francois de La Rochefoucauld
La passion fait souvent un fou du plus habile homme, et rend souvent les plus sots habiles.
Permalink to quote #4 Il y a dans le coeur humain une generation perpetuelle de passions, en sorte que la ruine de l'une est presque toujours l'etablissement d'une autre.
Permalink to quote #6 L'amour-propre est le plus grand de tous les flatteurs.
Permalink to quote #3
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