--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before you try to convince anyone else…" description: "\"Before you try to convince anyone else, be sure you are convinced, and if you cannot convince yourself, drop the subject.\" — John Henry Patterson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9df/john-henry-patterson-57753_convince_before-you-try-to-convince-anyone-else-b_1134609.jpg" --- # Before you try to convince anyone else, be sure you are… ![“Before you try to convince anyone else, be sure you are convinced, and if you cannot convince yourself, drop the subject.” quote by John Henry Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9df/john-henry-patterson-57753_convince_before-you-try-to-convince-anyone-else-b_1134609.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9df/john-henry-patterson-57753_convince_before-you-try-to-convince-anyone-else-b_1134609.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9df/john-henry-patterson-57753_convince_before-you-try-to-convince-anyone-else-b_1134609.jpg) > “Before you try to convince anyone else, be sure you are convinced, and if you cannot convince yourself, drop the subject.” [John Henry Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-patterson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Convince yourself first; if you lack personal belief, abandon the argument. **In simple terms:** Believe in your own stance before persuading others. Key Takeaway Ensure personal conviction before debate. Themes self‑belief persuasion integrity Mood thoughtful cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal decisions - public speaking - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts confidence self‑reflection argumentation Questions to Reflect On - Why do you doubt your own view? - How can you test your conviction? A Different Perspective If you cannot convince yourself, you may still lack evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Either they like you or they don't. Never try to convince somebody of your worth. If a person doesn't appreciate you,they don't deserve you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/either-they-like-you-or-they-don-t-never-try-to-convince-somebody-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you fell head first into a pigsty, you'd try to convince everybody you did it on purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/if-you-fell-head-first-into-a-pigsty-you-d-try-to-convince-everybody/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [Go ahead...try to convince me that horses don't have feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/go-ahead-try-to-convince-me-that-horses-don-t-have-feelings/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Before you meet the love of your life, there's usually one guy you date that you try to convince yourself is him. Let me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-mollen/before-you-meet-the-love-of-your-life-there-s-usually-one-guy-you/) [Jenny Mollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-mollen/) > [Consider the possibility that I made a mistake I regret-and that I'll continue to regret that mistake and try to convince you to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-neill/consider-the-possibility-that-i-made-a-mistake-i-regret-and-that-i-ll/) [Chloe Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-neill/) > [The ego will always compel us to try to convince others we are right. But does it matter? Do we want to be right,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-ego-will-always-compel-us-to-try-to-convince-others-we-are-right/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You know, at the end of the day, I can only be me. I could try to convince you that I'm Leonardo DiCaprio; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-jackson/you-know-at-the-end-of-the-day-i-can-only-be-me-i-could-try-to/) [Joshua Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-jackson/) > [One must be convinced to convince, to have enthusiasm to stimulate the others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/one-must-be-convinced-to-convince-to-have-enthusiasm-to-stimulate-the/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [A man must be himself convinced if he is to convince others. The prophet must be his own disciple, or he will make none.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/a-man-must-be-himself-convinced-if-he-is-to-convince-others-the/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [If you're not convinced, how can you convince others?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/if-you-re-not-convinced-how-can-you-convince-others/) [Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/) > [Just keep smiling and pretending you're happy, and then maybe after you've convinced everyone else that you are, you can convince yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-keep-smiling-and-pretending-you-re-happy-and-then-maybe-after/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Those who profess contempt for men, and put them on a level with beasts, yet wish to be admired and believed by men, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/those-who-profess-contempt-for-men-and-put-them-on-a-level-with/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [What convinces is not necessarily true-it is merely convincing: a note for asses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/what-convinces-is-not-necessarily-true-it-is-merely-convincing-a-note/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I've always been very good at convincing people. For instance, if I arrive in an airport and I'm in economy, I can always convince…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-seigner/i-ve-always-been-very-good-at-convincing-people-for-instance-if-i/) [Emmanuelle Seigner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-seigner/) > [I knew I shouldn't like him cause I know it's not working, and everybody tells me that, and I convince myself I don't... and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/i-knew-i-shouldn-t-like-him-cause-i-know-it-s-not-working-and/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) ## More by John Henry Patterson > [Nothing in business is so valuable as time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-patterson/nothing-in-business-is-so-valuable-as-time/) [John Henry Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-patterson/) > [An executive is a person who always decides; sometimes he decides correctly, but he always decides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-patterson/an-executive-is-a-person-who-always-decides-sometimes-he-decides/) [John Henry Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-patterson/) > [To survive, men and business and corporations must serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-patterson/to-survive-men-and-business-and-corporations-must-serve/) [John Henry Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-patterson/) > [It is only those who do not know how to work that do not love it. To those who do, it is better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-patterson/it-is-only-those-who-do-not-know-how-to-work-that-do-not-love-it-to/) [John Henry Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-patterson/) > [If you plan your work, you will not find yourself standing on the corner wondering where to go next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-patterson/if-you-plan-your-work-you-will-not-find-yourself-standing-on-the/) [John Henry Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-patterson/) [Explore all 6 John Henry Patterson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-patterson/) ## More Convince quotes > [“Sometimes we want something to be true so badly that we convince ourselves that it is true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/sometimes-we-want-something-to-be-true-so-badly-that-we-convince/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [The privilege of prayer to me is one of the most cherished possessions, because faith and experience alike convince me that God himself sees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfred-grenfell/the-privilege-of-prayer-to-me-is-one-of-the-most-cherished/) [Wilfred Grenfell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfred-grenfell/) > [Jesus never met a disease he could not cure, a birth defect he could not reverse, a demon he could not exorcise. But he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/jesus-never-met-a-disease-he-could-not-cure-a-birth-defect-he-could/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [The first duty of a wise advocate is to convince his opponents that he understands their arguments, and sympathies with their just feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/the-first-duty-of-a-wise-advocate-is-to-convince-his-opponents-that/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Once you convince people that they're victims, you really own them because you've just told them that whatever problems they have in life, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/once-you-convince-people-that-they-re-victims-you-really-own-them/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The people on the QVC shopping channel convince me that life is worth living. They see the good in everything. People who go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-vegas/the-people-on-the-qvc-shopping-channel-convince-me-that-life-is-worth/) [Johnny Vegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-vegas/) > [“What can I say to convince you the Houses of Parliament dissolve night after night to become the fluid dream of the Thames? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisel-mueller/what-can-i-say-to-convince-you-the-houses-of-parliament-dissolve/) [Lisel Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisel-mueller/) > [Human beings have the incredible capacity for denial. I think they do. And although it's really hard to believe, I have my doubts. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/human-beings-have-the-incredible-capacity-for-denial-i-think-they-do/) [David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/) > [“If you can convince yourself, you can convince the other fellow,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sanders/if-you-can-convince-yourself-you-can-convince-the-other-fellow/) [Tim Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sanders/) > [Don't lie to yourself about what you can't or can achieve. Convince yourself on a realistic level that you can do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-lie-to-yourself-about-what-you-can-t-or-can-achieve-convince/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Don't ever let anyone convince you that your imagination is wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuseppe-bianco/don-t-ever-let-anyone-convince-you-that-your-imagination-is-wrong/) [Giuseppe Bianco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuseppe-bianco/) > [It's hard to convince your agents and managers to do theater, because it's not as financially rewarding and it takes up a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/it-s-hard-to-convince-your-agents-and-managers-to-do-theater-because/) [Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/) > [I guess that is the strange part of the human brain that people have studied for eons - is hatred and self-hatred. You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-noah/i-guess-that-is-the-strange-part-of-the-human-brain-that-people-have/) [Trevor Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-noah/) > [I knew I shouldn't like him cause I know it's not working, and everybody tells me that, and I convince myself I don't... and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/i-knew-i-shouldn-t-like-him-cause-i-know-it-s-not-working-and/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [The statesmen will invent cheap lies, putting the blame upon the nation that is attacked, and every man will be glad of those conscience-soothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-statesmen-will-invent-cheap-lies-putting-the-blame-upon-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) Browse all 1,431 Convince quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Before you try to convince anyone else, be sure you are convinced, and if you cannot convince yourself, drop the subject.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Henry Patterson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-patterson/before-you-try-to-convince-anyone-else-be-sure-you-are-convinced-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Convince" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-patterson/before-you-try-to-convince-anyone-else-be-sure-you-are-convinced-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9df/john-henry-patterson-57753_convince_before-you-try-to-convince-anyone-else-b_1134609.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9df/john-henry-patterson-57753_convince_before-you-try-to-convince-anyone-else-b_1134609.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9df/john-henry-patterson-57753_convince_before-you-try-to-convince-anyone-else-b_1134609.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Before you try to convince anyone else, be sure you are convinced, and if you cannot convince yourself, drop…” — John Henry Patterson", "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": "John Henry Patterson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-patterson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Before you try to convince anyone...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-patterson/before-you-try-to-convince-anyone-else-be-sure-you-are-convinced-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-patterson/before-you-try-to-convince-anyone-else-be-sure-you-are-convinced-and/#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 } } ] } ```