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About this quote

What does it mean?
Wall says he isn’t opposed to subtly influencing people, or doing it overtly.
In plain terms
He’s okay with quietly or loudly shaping others' thoughts.
What can you take from it?
Influence can be subtle or direct, and both are acceptable in some contexts.

Where it applies

  • teaching
  • marketing
  • politics

Putting it to work

  • use subtle cues
  • deliver clear messages when needed

Questions to consider

  • Where should the line be drawn between persuasion and manipulation?

Another view

It raises ethical concerns about manipulation.

More from Larry Wall

  1. I was trying not to mention backtracking. Which, of course, means that yours is 'righter' than mine, in a theoretical sense.

    Permalink to quote #147
  2. (To the extent that anyone but a Prolog programmer can understand X totally. (And to the extent that a Prolog programmer can understand 'cut'. :-))

    Permalink to quote #149
  3. 'Course, that doesn't work when 'a' contains parentheses.

    Permalink to quote #146

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