Less is More: The Power of Saying Less
In The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene, the 4th law reads “always say less than necessary”.
The idea behind this law is that the less you say, the more powerful your words come across- and the less likely you are to say something foolish.
Many of us stress about what to say, when really we should put more thought into how much to say. When we pull back the reins on our talking, we allow others to say more. They fill in the gaps left by your silence, allowing you to understand the message, as well as the intent, much better than if you were counting the seconds until you’d get to speak next.
When using someone’s words to help make a decision, knowing both the message and intent is important. This way, you have what you need to make more of a sound choice.
Speaking less also gives your words more weight. When we go into less detail, even leaving statements open-ended, our words come across as more profound. This will lead people to look forward to your messages, not just feel obligated to hear them.
Artist Andy Warhol once said to a friend, “I learned that you actually have more power when you shut up.”