Difficult time Quote by Sara Poole
““Giulia clasped her hands together just below her bosom, blinked moistly, and flung herself at Borgia's feet. 'My lord! My darling! How could I not be overcome with concern for you? Truly, the burdens you carry would crush any other man. How fortunate we are that Our Father in Heaven has endowed our father here on earth with such wisdom and strength to see us through this difficult time.' What amazed me - and still does - is that men actually believe such drivel. Even a man as worldly, as brilliant, and above all as cynical as Borgia will nod complacently and accept it as his due. Nor did Cesare so much as raise an eyebrow. I supposed he heard the same sort of thing often enough himself.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Borgia Chronicles, 2021
The passage sat how people use exaggerated flattery and religious justification to manipulate powerful figures, and how cynics may accept it without protest.
In simple terms: Flattery and faith are used to influence leaders, even when they seem indifferent.
Key Takeaway
Beware of empty praise and recognize genuine intent.
Themes
manipulation
faith
politics
cynicism
Mood
skeptical
reflective
Type
observational
critical
When to use this quote
- court intrigue
- political negotiations
- personal relationships
- leadership challenges
Key Concepts
Rhetoric
Power dynamics
Social influence
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you use flattery to achieve goals?
- How can you discern sincere concern from strategic praise?
A Different Perspective
Such tactics can backfire if the target sees through them, leading to loss of credibility.
![“I can assure the conspiracy theorists who have very effectively savaged [Gerald] Posner in their books that they're going to have a much, much more difficult time with me. As a trial lawyer in front of a jury and an author of true-crime books, credibility has always meant everything to me. My only…” quote by Vincent Bugliosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/314/vincent-bugliosi-8709_book_i-can-assure-the-conspiracy-theorists-wh_47158.jpg)