Influenced Quote by Michael Wolff
““while he was often most influenced by the last person he spoke to, he did not actually listen to anyone. So it was not so much the force of an individual argument or petition that moved him, but rather more just someone’s presence, the connection of what was going through his mind—and although he was a person of many obsessions, much of what was on his mind had no fixed view—to whomever he was with and their views.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Fire and Fury by Michael Wolff, 2018
He was swayed more by the mere presence and mental state of his interlocutor than by the content of their arguments.
In simple terms: Presence influenced him more than words.
Notice how presence shapes decisions.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- political meetings
- personal negotiations
- team leadership
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you value presence over content?
- How does mental state affect persuasion?
He may still be persuaded by strong arguments if he chooses to listen.