輕履者行遠

In talking with people, don't begin by discussing the things on which you differ. Begin by emphasizing the things on which you agree.

Get the person saying "Yes, yes" at the outset (beginning). Keep your opponent, if possible, from saying "No."

Socrates (蘇格拉底) asked questions with which his opponent would have to agree. He kept on winning one admission (承認) after another until he had an armful (一抱之量) of "yeses". He kept on asking questions until finally, almost without realizing it, his opponents found themselves embracing (欣然接受) a conclusion they would have bitterly (極其) denied a few minutes previously.

The Chinese have a proverb pregnant with (意味深長的) the age-old wisdom of the Orient: "He who treads (行走) softly goes far."

Carnegie, D. (1981). How to Win Friends & Influence People (Revised Ed.) New York, NY: Pocket Books.

古人云︰輕履者行遠。所謂輕履者，是指具有獨特人格魅力，在任何環境中都能輕裝上陣，從容前行的人。鳥兒的翅膀帶上黃金，就飛不起來了，而輕履者正是因為從容淡定、寵辱不驚，所以才能走得長遠。(kknews.cc)