He Who Can Be Killed by Sugar…

He Who Can Be Killed by Sugar…

Why persuasion often beats power in communication

There’s an old Afghan proverb that says:

“He who can be killed by sugar should not be killed by poison.”

And in that one line lies a timeless truth about communication, influence, and leadership:

You don’t always need to use force when a smile will do. You don’t need to be loud when you can be light. And you don’t need to fight to win — you can win them over.

Why Force Is Overrated

In conversations, meetings, and negotiations, many people believe they must:

• Argue to assert

• Confront to convince

• Dominate to decide

But often, the task could’ve been done with a clever comment, a humorous nudge, or simply, a well-placed pause.

You don’t always have to hammer people. Sometimes, humouring them is far more effective.

The Power of Saying It Lightly

Humour, when used wisely, is like sugar. It lowers defences. It invites openness. It creates rapport. And most importantly — it allows you to say difficult things… without the backlash.

• Want to point out someone’s delay? Try: “We should name this project ‘patience testing 101’ — good news is, we’re all learning!”

• Need to push someone to act? Try: “We’re almost at the finish line… just waiting on that one famous file of yours!”

Same message. Different tone. Better reception.

Persuasion Over Pressure

When you communicate with wit, warmth, or even gentle sarcasm, you keep things human.

You show that you’re not just delivering a message — you’re thinking about how it will land.

It’s the difference between:

• Being heard… and being ignored.

• Being remembered… and being resented.

• Getting compliance… and gaining commitment.

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Soften the Delivery, Sharpen the Impact

Humour, empathy, lightness — these aren’t communication accessories.

They are strategies.

And they work not because they avoid truth, but because they wrap truth in a way that can be received.

If you can achieve the objective without aggression, why not? If sugar works, why resort to poison?

Final Thought

You don’t have to shout to be strong. You don’t have to push to be powerful.

You don’t have to offend to be effective.

So next time you have a point to make or a truth to deliver, ask yourself: 

Can this be said sweeter, lighter — and still land just right?

Because if sugar can do the job, why reach for poison?