--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Like most pathological personalities…" description: "\"“Like most pathological personalities, *Andrew MacIntosh never cared much whether what he said was true or not - and so he was tremendously persuasive...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/kurt-vonnegut-41_persuasive_like-most-pathological-personalities-and_588128.jpg" --- # Like most pathological personalities, \*Andrew MacIntosh… ![“Like most pathological personalities, *Andrew MacIntosh never cared much whether what he said was true or not - and so he was tremendously persuasive.” quote by Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/kurt-vonnegut-41_persuasive_like-most-pathological-personalities-and_588128.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/kurt-vonnegut-41_persuasive_like-most-pathological-personalities-and_588128.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/kurt-vonnegut-41_persuasive_like-most-pathological-personalities-and_588128.jpg) > ““Like most pathological personalities, \*Andrew MacIntosh never cared much whether what he said was true or not - and so he was tremendously persuasive.”” [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement claims that MacIntosh's truthfulness is irrelevant because his persuasiveness is so strong, reflecting a cynical view of rhetoric. **In simple terms:** MacIntosh is persuasive regardless of truth. Key Takeaway Beware of persuasive arguments that ignore factual accuracy. Themes communication truth persuasion ethics Mood cautious thoughtful Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - debates - media interviews - advertising - leadership discussions Key Concepts rhetoric cognitive bias political discourse Questions to Reflect On - How do we verify claims? - What are the risks of valuing style over substance? A Different Perspective Persuasion without truth can erode trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Andrew Macintosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/andrew-macintosh-1184972/) [Macintosh Cared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/macintosh-cared-4818967/) [Personalities Andrew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personalities-andrew-4818968/) [Persuasive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persuasive/) [Tremendously Persuasive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tremendously-persuasive-4818969/) ## Related quotes > [“More and more people back then, and not just Andrew MacIntosh, had found ensuring the survival of the human race a total bore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/more-and-more-people-back-then-and-not-just-andrew-macintosh-had/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Keep the corners of your mouth turned up. Speak in a low, persuasive tone. Listen; be teachable. Laugh at good stories and learn to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/keep-the-corners-of-your-mouth-turned-up-speak-in-a-low-persuasive/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Edward Conard’s book represents the most cogent and persuasive analysis of the Financial Crisis to date. It is deeper and likely more accurate than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-shleifer/edward-conard-s-book-represents-the-most-cogent-and-persuasive/) [Andrei Shleifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-shleifer/) > [Modern literary theory sees a similarity between walking and writing that I find persuasive: words inscribe a text in the same way that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-nicholson/modern-literary-theory-sees-a-similarity-between-walking-and-writing/) [Geoff Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-nicholson/) > [Knowing things halfway is a greater success than knowing things completely: it takes things to be simpler than they really are andso makes its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/knowing-things-halfway-is-a-greater-success-than-knowing-things/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I am not unconscious of the persuasive power exerted by these considerations to drag men along in the current; but I am not at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-f-wade/i-am-not-unconscious-of-the-persuasive-power-exerted-by-these/) [Benjamin F. Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-f-wade/) > [We like to imagine that in history, truth will prevail through sheer persuasive power. Sadly, this is not the case. Truth needs champions...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/llewellyn-rockwell/we-like-to-imagine-that-in-history-truth-will-prevail-through-sheer/) [Llewellyn Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/llewellyn-rockwell/) > [While the distance between the United States and Iraq is great, Saddam Hussein's ability to use his chemical and biological weapons against us is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianne-feinstein/while-the-distance-between-the-united-states-and-iraq-is-great-saddam/) [Dianne Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianne-feinstein/) > [The strength of a theory is not what it allows, but what it prohibits; if you can invent an equally persuasive explanation for any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/the-strength-of-a-theory-is-not-what-it-allows-but-what-it-prohibits/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [An oyster, that marvel of delicacy, that concentration of sapid excellence, that mouthful bwefore all other mouthfuls, who first had faith to believe it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/an-oyster-that-marvel-of-delicacy-that-concentration-of-sapid/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [American traditions and the American ethic require us to be truthful, but the most important reason is that truth is the best propaganda and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/american-traditions-and-the-american-ethic-require-us-to-be-truthful/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [Also, and this may sound naïve, but since my early days in journalism, I've felt that getting as close as possible to truth, revealing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-fink/also-and-this-may-sound-na-ve-but-since-my-early-days-in-journalism-i/) [Sheri Fink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-fink/) > [You must attach yourself spiritually to what you have placed in your imagination as a future fact, and never allow anyone, anything, any circumstance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-must-attach-yourself-spiritually-to-what-you-have-placed-in-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The most important guideline when it comes to argument is the golden rule. If someone were addressing your point, what tone, what overall approach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/the-most-important-guideline-when-it-comes-to-argument-is-the-golden/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [A genuinely persuasive argument does not merely tell you that you are wrong about everything. It doesn't just beat on you from the outside.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/a-genuinely-persuasive-argument-does-not-merely-tell-you-that-you-are/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) ## More by Kurt Vonnegut > [“You must bloom as a writer and I must bloom as a painter. Everything else about us is uninteresting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-must-bloom-as-a-writer-and-i-must-bloom-as-a-painter-everything/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“People aren't supposed to look back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/people-aren-t-supposed-to-look-back/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Have a good nap, did you?” said the porter. “Yes,” said Billy. “Man,” said the porter, “you sure had a hard-on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/have-a-good-nap-did-you-said-the-porter-yes-said-billy-man-said-the/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I told him that if we doubted that we are demons in Hell, he should read The Mysterious Stranger, which Mark Twain wrote in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-told-him-that-if-we-doubted-that-we-are-demons-in-hell-he-should/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [ “Thomas Jefferson High School \[..\] His high school was named after a slave owner who was also one of the world’s greatest theoreticians on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/thomas-jefferson-high-school-his-high-school-was-named-after-a-slave/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I had a certain amount of skill as a dramatist, and Dr. Goebbels wanted me to use it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-had-a-certain-amount-of-skill-as-a-dramatist-and-dr-goebbels-wanted/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I was some of the mud that got to sit up and look around. Lucky me, lucky mud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-was-some-of-the-mud-that-got-to-sit-up-and-look-around-lucky-me/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“The town was Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.A., Earth, Solar System, Milky Way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-town-was-newport-rhode-island-u-s-a-earth-solar-system-milky-way/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Her face was one of a kind, a surprising variation that made observers think, Yes--that would be another very nice way for people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/her-face-was-one-of-a-kind-a-surprising-variation-that-made-observers/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“You finally fell in love, I see,” said Salo. “Only an Earthling year ago,” said Constant. “It took us that long to realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-finally-fell-in-love-i-see-said-salo-only-an-earthling-year-ago/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Like all Earthlings at the point of death, Mary Young sent faint reminders of herself to those who had known her. She released a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/like-all-earthlings-at-the-point-of-death-mary-young-sent-faint/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“And contrast Mary Kathleen, if you will, with my wife Ruth, the Ophelia of the death camps, who believed that even the most intelligent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/and-contrast-mary-kathleen-if-you-will-with-my-wife-ruth-the-ophelia/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Someday, someday, this crazy world will have to end, And our God will take things back that He to us did lend. And if,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/someday-someday-this-crazy-world-will-have-to-end-and-our-god-will/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“They were going back to the slaughterhouse for souvenirs of the war.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/they-were-going-back-to-the-slaughterhouse-for-souvenirs-of-the-war/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“There are plenty of good reasons for fighting," I said, "but no good reason ever to hate without reservation, to imagine that God Almighty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/there-are-plenty-of-good-reasons-for-fighting-i-said-but-no-good/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) [Explore all 2,089 Kurt Vonnegut quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## More Persuasive quotes > [Keep the corners of your mouth turned up. Speak in a low, persuasive tone. Listen; be teachable. 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Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [An oyster, that marvel of delicacy, that concentration of sapid excellence, that mouthful bwefore all other mouthfuls, who first had faith to believe it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/an-oyster-that-marvel-of-delicacy-that-concentration-of-sapid/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The strength of a theory is not what it allows, but what it prohibits; if you can invent an equally persuasive explanation for any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/the-strength-of-a-theory-is-not-what-it-allows-but-what-it-prohibits/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [While the distance between the United States and Iraq is great, Saddam Hussein's ability to use his chemical and biological weapons against us is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianne-feinstein/while-the-distance-between-the-united-states-and-iraq-is-great-saddam/) [Dianne Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianne-feinstein/) > [We like to imagine that in history, truth will prevail through sheer persuasive power. Sadly, this is not the case. Truth needs champions...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/llewellyn-rockwell/we-like-to-imagine-that-in-history-truth-will-prevail-through-sheer/) [Llewellyn Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/llewellyn-rockwell/) > [I am not unconscious of the persuasive power exerted by these considerations to drag men along in the current; but I am not at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-f-wade/i-am-not-unconscious-of-the-persuasive-power-exerted-by-these/) [Benjamin F. Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-f-wade/) > [Knowing things halfway is a greater success than knowing things completely: it takes things to be simpler than they really are andso makes its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/knowing-things-halfway-is-a-greater-success-than-knowing-things/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Modern literary theory sees a similarity between walking and writing that I find persuasive: words inscribe a text in the same way that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-nicholson/modern-literary-theory-sees-a-similarity-between-walking-and-writing/) [Geoff Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-nicholson/) > [Edward Conard’s book represents the most cogent and persuasive analysis of the Financial Crisis to date. It is deeper and likely more accurate than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-shleifer/edward-conard-s-book-represents-the-most-cogent-and-persuasive/) [Andrei Shleifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-shleifer/) > [A genuinely persuasive argument does not merely tell you that you are wrong about everything. 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