Chapter 40
When Opportunity Knocks During Crisis
At the levee Prince Andrew stood among the Austrian officers as he had been told to, and the Emperor Francis merely looked fixedly into his face and just nodded to him with his long head. But after it was over, the adjutant he had seen the previous day ceremoniously informed Bolkónski that the Emperor desired to give him an audience. The Emperor Francis received him standing in the middle of the room. Before the conversation began Prince Andrew was struck by the fact that the Emperor seemed confused and blushed as if not knowing what to say. “Tell me, when…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Spot the Setup
Think of a recent situation where someone praised you heavily before asking for something - a favor, money, agreement to something. Write down exactly what they said and how they said it. Then analyze: What did they compliment? How did it make you feel? What did they want? Did you give it to them?
Consider:
- •Notice if the praise was unusually specific or over-the-top compared to normal interactions
- •Pay attention to timing - did the request come immediately after the flattery?
- •Consider whether they praised something you're particularly proud of or insecure about
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone's flattery made you ignore red flags or warning signs from others. What would you do differently now?
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