Chapter 51 Cleverly use rhetorical questions to strike back

If you want to persuade people, the best way is to cite examples to ask the question, which is far more convincing than direct refutation. On one occasion, Napoleon said to his secretary: "Did you know, Briand? You too will be immortal." Briand began to wonder what Napoleon meant, and Napoleon explained: "Aren't you my secretary?" After Brion understood, he smiled and said, "Excuse me, who is Alexander's secretary?" Napoleon couldn't answer, and praised: "Good question!" Good question, what's so good about it? According to Napoleon's meaning: the secretary of the immortal is also immortal, this is the major premise.You are my Napoleon's secretary, that's the minor premise.Conclusion: "You too will be immortal."

Briand understood what Napoleon meant. Although he did not hope to rely on celebrities to become famous, he still did not forget to respect the coach as a secretary, so he used the method of asking for advice on the surface but asking in reverse: "Excuse me, who is Alexander's secretary?" The unreliability of the major premise made Napoleon's conclusion self-defeating. A female writer wrote a novel, which caused a sensation after it was published, and became the best-selling book for a while.A critic once proposed to a female writer but was rejected by the other party, so he held a grudge and often belittled her in his comments.There was a gathering in the literary world, and many people congratulated the female writer in person and praised the success of her work.The female writers expressed their gratitude one by one.Suddenly the critic pushed aside the crowd, squeezed to the front, and asked the female writer loudly:

"Your book is indeed very wonderful, but I wonder if you can reveal the secret, who wrote this book for you?" The female writer was still intoxicated by the praise of the crowd, and it was unexpected that he would raise such a question. The moment she was taken aback, there were already discussions among the crowd.The female writer immediately appraised the situation soberly, and realized that it was not good for her to quarrel other than issues. She immediately calmed down, showed a modest smile, and said to the critics: "It is a great honor for you to judge my work so fairly and properly, and I would like to express my sincere thanks to you! But could you tell me who read this book for you?"

The critic's intention to make things difficult is very obvious, and the female writer's polite rhetorical question, although smiling, is also tit for tat and full of power.The subtext is that you never read other people's works seriously, and the comments you make are nothing more than sloppy words.People who don't even read books, what qualifications do they have to comment?The ingenious rhetorical questions put the critics in a mess. The use of rhetorical questions can strengthen the language and express the originally determined meaning more clearly and unquestionably. Therefore, it is easy to focus the attention of the audience, create a strong impression on people, and easily arouse people's imagination. It is more powerful than positive expression.

One powerful rhetorical question is better than ten sentences of persuasion.During the process of persuasion, timely rhetorical questions can help you get rid of the passive situation and take the initiative in persuasion.