WHO’S THE AUTHOR
This quote is said to be from the former leader of the Soviet Union Joseph Stalin (1878- 1953) in a conversation with US diplomat, Averell Harriman.
And Stalin was an expert on the subject because, during his reign of terror, between 9 and 20 million people died unnatural deaths.
HOW TO APPLY IT IN YOUR EVERY DAY LIFE
If you want to convince people with numbers, wrap it up in a nice story. Add a compelling picture or a striking statistic and you will have much more impact than if you limit yourself to dry, logical analysis.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
It is not the case that when the number of victims rise, our compassion rises proportionately. On the contrary, when the numbers rise, our sympathy drops incredibly fast. Logical data are not always the most efficient tool to convince people.
NICE TO KNOW...
Harvard Professor of Psychology Jerome Bruner, in his book Actual minds, possible worlds, states that our brain functions in two different ways. The first way of thinking is the logical way, full of thought processes to solve puzzles, test hypotheses and find logical explanations. The second way of thinking is the narrative way, with imagination, good stories and gripping drama. Facts told in stories are said to be recalled up to 22 times more.