The obligation to receive reduces our ability to choose whom we wish to be indebted to and puts that power in the hands of others.
Robert CialdiniRead
Our best evidence of what people truly feel and believe comes less from their words than from their deeds.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Actions often reveal a person's true feelings and beliefs more than their words do.
This quote emphasizes the idea that people often express their true feelings and beliefs through their actions rather than their verbal declarations. It suggests that observing what individuals do provides a clearer understanding of their motivations and beliefs, as actions can be more telling than spoken words, which may sometimes be misleading or insincere.
Themes
ActionsBeliefsDeedsWordsTruthMotivation
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about leadership, this quote can remind the audience that effective leaders demonstrate their values through their behavior.
More from Robert Cialdini
All quotes →By concentrating our attention on the effect rather than the causes, we can avoid the laborious, nearly impossible task of trying to detect and deflect the many psychological influences on liking.
Robert CialdiniRead
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