--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When have I, when have I ever forced…" description: "\"“When have I, when have I ever forced anyone to do anything, he starts to say: but Richard cuts in, \"No, you don't, I agree, it's just that you are pra..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f6/hilary-mantel-440_persuading_when-have-i-when-have-i-ever-forced-anyo_215199.jpg" --- # When have I, when have I ever forced anyone to do… ![“When have I, when have I ever forced anyone to do anything, he starts to say: but Richard cuts in, "No, you don't, I agree, it's just that you are practiced at persuading, and sometimes it's quite difficult, sir, to distinguish being persuaded by you from being knocked down in the street and…” quote by Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f6/hilary-mantel-440_persuading_when-have-i-when-have-i-ever-forced-anyo_215199.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f6/hilary-mantel-440_persuading_when-have-i-when-have-i-ever-forced-anyo_215199.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f6/hilary-mantel-440_persuading_when-have-i-when-have-i-ever-forced-anyo_215199.jpg) > ““When have I, when have I ever forced anyone to do anything, he starts to say: but Richard cuts in, "No, you don't, I agree, it's just that you are practiced at persuading, and sometimes it's quite difficult, sir, to distinguish being persuaded by you from being knocked down in the street and stamped on." -Richard (?) nee Cromwell to Thomas Cromwell,358”” [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Powerful persuasion can feel like coercion, blurring the line between influence and force. **In simple terms:** Persuasion may seem like force. Key Takeaway Recognize and respect boundaries in influence. Themes power persuasion ethics authority Mood tense reflective Type literary political ethical When to use this quote - political negotiation - leadership - personal relationships - legal advocacy Key Concepts psychology social dynamics coercion Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate genuine influence from manipulation? - What safeguards can protect against unwanted pressure? A Different Perspective Persuasion can be manipulative if intent is hidden. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“it’s just that you are practiced at persuading, and sometimes it’s quite difficult, sir, to distinguish being persuaded by you from being knocked down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/it-s-just-that-you-are-practiced-at-persuading-and-sometimes-it-s/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [One of the frustrations of someone like Thomas Cromwell is that, before they step into the light of history, and become extremely well documented,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/one-of-the-frustrations-of-someone-like-thomas-cromwell-is-that/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“Rumours crop in the short summer nights. Dawn finds them like mushrooms in the damp grass. Members of Thomas Cromwell's household have been seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/rumours-crop-in-the-short-summer-nights-dawn-finds-them-like/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“Thomas Cromwell is now about fifty years old. He has a labourer's body, stocky, useful, running to fat. He has black hair, greying now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/thomas-cromwell-is-now-about-fifty-years-old-he-has-a-labourer-s-body/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“He would rather know what's outside, see the summer in its sad blowing wreckage, than cower behind the blind and wonder what the damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/he-would-rather-know-what-s-outside-see-the-summer-in-its-sad-blowing/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [When I came to write my Thomas Cromwell books, I moved onto the center ground of English history, but I was never there before.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/when-i-came-to-write-my-thomas-cromwell-books-i-moved-onto-the-center/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [It's complementary. It's fairly clear where the boundaries are. When I start telling you the contents of his head, I am making it up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/it-s-complementary-it-s-fairly-clear-where-the-boundaries-are-when-i/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“Thomas More syas that the imperial troops, for their enjoyment, are roasting live babies on spits. Oh, he would! says Thomas Cromwell. Listen, soldiers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/thomas-more-syas-that-the-imperial-troops-for-their-enjoyment-are/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“Right, Thomas Cromwell," she said. "Make a note of this. No strange Dutch drinks. No women. No banned preachers in cellars. I know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/right-thomas-cromwell-she-said-make-a-note-of-this-no-strange-dutch/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [I am Thomas Cromwell in the court of the Tudors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bannon/i-am-thomas-cromwell-in-the-court-of-the-tudors/) [Steve Bannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bannon/) > [I'm not good at standing on platforms and persuading people to my political point of view. Nor would I seek to. My gift is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hare/i-m-not-good-at-standing-on-platforms-and-persuading-people-to-my/) [David Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hare/) > [We have been deceived into believing prayer is all about persuading God to release His power. We no longer need to beg or plead;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wommack/we-have-been-deceived-into-believing-prayer-is-all-about-persuading/) [Andrew Wommack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wommack/) > [Or why it is acceptable to train fast runners and high jumpers but not to breed them. I can think of some answers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/or-why-it-is-acceptable-to-train-fast-runners-and-high-jumpers-but/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [It only takes a day to change someone from an anti-intellectual to an intellectual by persuading him that he might be one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-land/it-only-takes-a-day-to-change-someone-from-an-anti-intellectual-to-an/) [Edwin Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-land/) > [“Is that enough info for you?" His old lady? I thought that was just talk you saw in the movies. Maverick brings his lips…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justine-elvira/is-that-enough-info-for-you-his-old-lady-i-thought-that-was-just-talk/) [Justine Elvira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justine-elvira/) ## More by Hilary Mantel > [People will identify with a persecuted minority without asking themselves what they are identifying with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/people-will-identify-with-a-persecuted-minority-without-asking/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“The hunter is among the most innocent of men; living in the moment makes him feel pure. When he returns in the evening, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/the-hunter-is-among-the-most-innocent-of-men-living-in-the-moment/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“But what would happen … I mean, what would be so awful … if they did meet up?” “Why, it would be like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/but-what-would-happen-i-mean-what-would-be-so-awful-if-they-did-meet/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [When you have committed enough words to paper, you feel you have a spine stiff enough to stand up in the wind. But when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/when-you-have-committed-enough-words-to-paper-you-feel-you-have-a/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [At New Year's he had given Anne a present of silver forks with handles of rock crystal. He hopes she will use them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/at-new-year-s-he-had-given-anne-a-present-of-silver-forks-with/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“The story of my own childhood is a complicated sentence that I am always trying to finish, to finish and put behind me. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/the-story-of-my-own-childhood-is-a-complicated-sentence-that-i-am/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“He wants to say, because Anne is not a carnal being, she is a calculating being, with a cold slick brain at work behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/he-wants-to-say-because-anne-is-not-a-carnal-being-she-is-a/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“Come to that, don't pay out good money for horoscopes. If things are going to go badly for you, is that what you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/come-to-that-don-t-pay-out-good-money-for-horoscopes-if-things-are/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“But my sins are my strength, he thinks; the sins I have done, that others have not even found the opportunity of committing. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/but-my-sins-are-my-strength-he-thinks-the-sins-i-have-done-that/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [Feminism hasn't failed, it's just never been tried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/feminism-hasn-t-failed-it-s-just-never-been-tried/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“Mirabeau: “If you have been told to clear us from this hall, you must ask for orders to use force. We shall leave our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/mirabeau-if-you-have-been-told-to-clear-us-from-this-hall-you-must/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“Cardinal Campeggio has implored Katherine to bow to the king's will, accept that her marriage is invalid and retire to a convent. Certainly, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/cardinal-campeggio-has-implored-katherine-to-bow-to-the-king-s-will/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“Sion calls Anne an eel, he calls her a slippery dipper from the slime, and he remembers what the cardinal had called her: my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/sion-calls-anne-an-eel-he-calls-her-a-slippery-dipper-from-the-slime/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [I spend a great deal of time on research, on finding all the available accounts of a scene or incident, finding out all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/i-spend-a-great-deal-of-time-on-research-on-finding-all-the-available/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“At the front, people die for their mistakes. Why should politicians be more gently treated? They made the war. They deserve a dozen deaths,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/at-the-front-people-die-for-their-mistakes-why-should-politicians-be/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) [Explore all 559 Hilary Mantel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) ## More Persuading quotes > [“Is that enough info for you?" His old lady? I thought that was just talk you saw in the movies. Maverick brings his lips…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justine-elvira/is-that-enough-info-for-you-his-old-lady-i-thought-that-was-just-talk/) [Justine Elvira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justine-elvira/) > [It only takes a day to change someone from an anti-intellectual to an intellectual by persuading him that he might be one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-land/it-only-takes-a-day-to-change-someone-from-an-anti-intellectual-to-an/) [Edwin Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-land/) > [Or why it is acceptable to train fast runners and high jumpers but not to breed them. I can think of some answers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/or-why-it-is-acceptable-to-train-fast-runners-and-high-jumpers-but/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [We have been deceived into believing prayer is all about persuading God to release His power. We no longer need to beg or plead;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wommack/we-have-been-deceived-into-believing-prayer-is-all-about-persuading/) [Andrew Wommack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wommack/) > [I'm not good at standing on platforms and persuading people to my political point of view. Nor would I seek to. My gift is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hare/i-m-not-good-at-standing-on-platforms-and-persuading-people-to-my/) [David Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hare/) > [As a peacemaker the lawyer has superior opportunity of being a good man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/as-a-peacemaker-the-lawyer-has-superior-opportunity-of-being-a-good/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I pay tribute to John Major's achievement in persuading the other 11 Community Heads of Government that they could move ahead to a Social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/i-pay-tribute-to-john-major-s-achievement-in-persuading-the-other-11/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [When you have to prove the value of your ideas by persuading other people to pay for them, it clears out an awful lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-reilly/when-you-have-to-prove-the-value-of-your-ideas-by-persuading-other/) [Tim O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-reilly/) > [A democratic public forms when citizens gather together to deliberate and make public judgments about local and national issues that affect their lives. By…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mattson/a-democratic-public-forms-when-citizens-gather-together-to-deliberate/) [Kevin Mattson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mattson/) > [Today's political leaders demonstrate their low opinion of the public with every social law they pass. They believe that, if given the right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-skousen/today-s-political-leaders-demonstrate-their-low-opinion-of-the-public/) [Mark Skousen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-skousen/) > [“Science shows that passion is contagious, literally. You cannot inspire others unless you are inspired yourself. You stand a much greater chance of persuading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmine-gallo/science-shows-that-passion-is-contagious-literally-you-cannot-inspire/) [Carmine Gallo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmine-gallo/) > [Persuading through Simplifying - Using computing technology to reduce complex behavior to simple tasks increases the benefit/cost ratio of the behavior and influences users…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-fogg/persuading-through-simplifying-using-computing-technology-to-reduce/) [B. J. Fogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-fogg/) > [In real life, however, you don't react to what someone did; you react only to what you think she did, and the gap between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/in-real-life-however-you-don-t-react-to-what-someone-did-you-react/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [I wanted to write about looking at the world, so it's more about helping people, or persuading people, to see what is around us;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berger/i-wanted-to-write-about-looking-at-the-world-so-it-s-more-about/) [John Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berger/) > [I did more than anyone else in persuading the U.S. to get rid of Saddam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-chalabi/i-did-more-than-anyone-else-in-persuading-the-u-s-to-get-rid-of-saddam/) [Ahmed Chalabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-chalabi/) Browse all 120 Persuading quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When have I, when have I ever forced anyone to do anything, he starts to say: but Richard cuts in, \"No, you don't, I agree, it's just that you are practiced at persuading, and sometimes it's quite difficult, sir, to distinguish being persuaded by you from being knocked down in the street and stamped on.\" -Richard (?) nee Cromwell to Thomas Cromwell,358”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hilary Mantel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/when-have-i-when-have-i-ever-forced-anyone-to-do-anything-he-starts/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Persuading" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/when-have-i-when-have-i-ever-forced-anyone-to-do-anything-he-starts/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f6/hilary-mantel-440_persuading_when-have-i-when-have-i-ever-forced-anyo_215199.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f6/hilary-mantel-440_persuading_when-have-i-when-have-i-ever-forced-anyo_215199.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f6/hilary-mantel-440_persuading_when-have-i-when-have-i-ever-forced-anyo_215199.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When have I, when have I ever forced anyone to do anything, he starts to say: but Richard cuts in, \"No, you…” — Hilary Mantel", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Hilary Mantel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When have I, when have I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/when-have-i-when-have-i-ever-forced-anyone-to-do-anything-he-starts/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/when-have-i-when-have-i-ever-forced-anyone-to-do-anything-he-starts/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```