Beyond Redemption (Manifest Delusions, #1)

by Michael R. Fletcher

One truism lay underneath every choice and word: change what people think and you change the world.

“All communication is manipulation,” said Konig. “All interaction, social or otherwise, is a means of getting what you want. It’s the basis of society.”

“No, it is you who doesn’t understand. The facts don’t matter and that’s a fact. I wasn’t winning the crowd with logic, I was simply sowing seeds of doubt and bolstering my own confidence. Once I knew his followers doubted, I knew he too would doubt.” Wichtig glanced dismissively at the man still coughing blood into the dust. “His doubt killed him before I did.”

Numerical superiority will win over superior weapons. Thus peasants are only peasants because they allow themselves to be peasants. Perhaps it’s what they want, though that makes little sense to me. They could as easily be the rulers if they decided.”

See, I understand what no one else seems to grasp. Communication is manipulation. Every time we speak we are trying to achieve an effect—a goal. We first learn to talk so we may better manipulate our parents. Sign language. Grunting and pointing. Wearing certain clothes and baubles. Walking or standing a certain way. This is all language and it is all manipulation.

The doing is the easy part. It’s the deciding to do that is difficult. I most regret the decisions never made.