Always Say Less Than Necessary!

You've never thought of the amount of power you radiate when you ‘shut up.’

It is so hard to say less when there is too much to say and especially now that have many ways to say it.

When you are trying to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear, and the less in control. Even if you are saying something banal, it will seem original if you make it vague, open-ended, and sphinxlike ~Robert Greene, 48 Laws of Power

Think of this. Human beings are uniquely created as machines of interpretation and explanation; they have to figure out what you are thinking from their own discernment.

Speaking less will make people reveal more about themselves. The less you speak with short responses and silence, the more they will jump in nervously to fill the silence with all sorts of comments that will reveal more about them. By listening, you allow them to move their lips and teeth; you thereby understand their true intentions.

Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less.

You will realize that by speaking less, you allow people to listen and interpret your every word carefully.

When you carefully control what you are revealing, no one can deliberately pierce your intentions or distort your meaning to fit in their bruised egos. They will leave the meeting with you, go home, and ponder your every word with heaviness.

Simplicy is the ultimate sophistication ~Leonardo da Vinci

As a young artist, Andy Warhol knew the power of saying less. He once told a friend, “I learned that you actually have more power when you shut up”. Throughout his career, Andy had realized that it was extremely difficult to make people bend to your wishes by talking to them. They could instead betray you, subvert your intentions, or turn you down from sheer perversity.

During interviews, Andy would often use vague and meaningless phrases, leaving the interviewer twisting in circles trying to figure out his oracular responses.

We have two ears and only one tongue in order that we may hear more and speak less. ~Socrates

Know this: the longer you keep quiet, the sooner your subordinates begin moving their lips and teeth. Be particularly careful with what comes out of your mouth.