“ When you wish to obtain some concession from a man’s self-love, you must avoid even the appearance of wishing to wound it. ”
Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo (1845). copy citation
| Author | Alexandre Dumas |
|---|---|
| Source | The Count of Monte Cristo |
| Topic | appearance concession |
| Date | 1845 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1184/1184-h/1184-h.htm |
Context
““Ah, but the friends of today are the enemies of tomorrow; Beauchamp, for instance.”
“So you recommend——”
“I recommend you to be prudent.”
“Then you advise me to go alone to Beauchamp?”
“I do, and I will tell you why. When you wish to obtain some concession from a man’s self-love, you must avoid even the appearance of wishing to wound it.”
“I believe you are right.”
“I am glad of it.”
“Then I will go alone.”
“Go; but you would do better still by not going at all.”
“That is impossible.”
“Do so, then; it will be a wiser plan than the first which you proposed.””
source
