John Cage Quotes

The people only understand what they can feel; the only orators that can affect them are those who move them.

If there's one thing I can't stand, it's somebody doing something because I pushed them in that direction.

Are you trying to manipulate me? It's working.

It is one thing to persuade, another to command …

Once a person insists on how you are to think he immediately begins to insist on how you are to behave.

If you are not free to say no, your yes is meaningless.

When your fear touches someone’s pain, it becomes pity, when your love touches someone’s pain, it become compassion.

Look. I brought you here to give you a choice-" "You didn't bring us here," said Nick. "You're here," said Bod. "I wanted you here. I came here. You followed me. Same thing.

I've always thought there are two ways of getting what you wanted in life.Forcing people to give it to you,or making them want to give it to you.

Children use all their wiles to get their way with adults. Adults do the same with children.

I'm manipulating the audience. I'm making sure people sympathize.

I have with me two gods, Persuasion and Compulsion.

The brain knows the real secret of seduction, more effective than even music and martinis. Just keep whispering, 'Gee, you are really special' to that sack of water and protein that is a body, and you can get it to do practically anything.

Power is a tool, influence is a skill; one is a fist, the other a fingertip.

I don't cry at books or movies. Ever. So imagine my shock and awe when I read 'The Time Traveler's Wife' for the second time, and I knew the ending, and I started to cry.

It's funny. All you have to do is say something nobody understands and they'll do practically anything you want them to.

Tactics are manipulative.

I consider myself a persuasive person. With the ability to persuade comes a certain level of power.

You know, you can't make the people do what you want them to do.

I don't want to force anything on anyone. I'm not trying to bust you over the head and make you buy this record or this song or whatever. I'm presenting it to you so you can take it in. You know, it's like trying to force a kid to eat broccoli. If I present it as trees that make your muscles grow, my son is like, 'I'm down with getting muscles.'

I'm a sensitive guy; I respond to things that make my eyes well up a little bit, or make me root for people. I find the human condition interesting.

I think it was when I realised I could talk anybody into doing just about anything I wanted them to.

I don't believe in strong-arming people.

I'm not used to saying no to this man on any level.

Above all, I try to create an emotion to which others can respond.