Forget Quote by Lance Morrow
“Never forget the power of silence, that massively disconcerting pause which goes on and on and may last induce an opponent to babble and backtrack nervously.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Art of Debate, 2015
Silence can be a powerful, unsettling pause that forces opponents to stumble and retreat.
In simple terms: Strategic silence can make opponents falter.
Key Takeaway
Use pauses to gain advantage.
Themes
communication
strategy
psychology
Mood
calm
strategic
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- debates
- negotiations
- public speaking
Key Concepts
silence
tension
control
Questions to Reflect On
- When should you stay silent?
- How does silence affect your own thoughts?
A Different Perspective
Overuse of silence may be perceived as weakness.
![“Over the years, he [Everett Dirksen] developed a style of infinitely subtle fustian, whose effect can still be remotely approximated by sipping twelve-year-old bourbon, straight, while reading Dickens aloud, in a sort of sepulchral purr.” quote by Lance Morrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7ba/lance-morrow-17667_bourbon_over-the-years-he-everett-dirksen-develo_614708.jpg)
