Page 203 - ConvinceThemFlip

10
Get Them Talking
Benjamin Disraeli became a member of the
Parliament of Great Britain at thirty-three, and its
prime minister at sixty-four. Disraeli’s main polit-
ical rival was William Gladstone, a four-time Liberal prime
minister who was renowned for his abilities as a speaker.
One evening, Mr. Gladstone took a young woman out to
dinner; the following evening, the same woman had dinner
with Mr. Disraeli. Asked later what impressions the two
distinguished men had made upon her, she replied, “After
dining with Mr. Gladstone, I thought he was the cleverest
person in England. After dining with Mr. Disraeli, I thought
I was the cleverest person in England.” Two eloquent,
intelligent men—two completely different results. Judging
by what we know of their reputations, Mr. Gladstone may
have spent more time focusing the conversational spot-
light on himself than on his guest, while Mr. Disraeli did
the exact opposite. Perhaps Mr. Gladstone spent more
time talking than his guest, while Mr. Disraeli made sure
the opposite occurred. Mr. Disraeli had connected and