Diplomatic Immunity
If You Listen Carefully, You Can Hear Their Laughter
Sophia: Friends, I have gathered you to consider the subtle forms of influence, meaning, and assistance in human life. Frederick, you once said, “Diplomacy without arms is like music without instruments.” Yet Marilyn observed, “If you can make a woman laugh, you can make her do anything.” How do these forms of persuasion — through power, charm, or humor — shape human reality?
Frederick: Sophia, strength provides resonance. Diplomacy alone may float without impact, just as music without instruments cannot vibrate. Yet the instruments need not always be steel or force; subtlety, wit, or presence can amplify their effect.
Diplomacy without arms is like music without instruments.
— Frederick the Great (1712-1786)
Monroe: I would add that laughter is an instrument too. It opens hearts, loosens rigidity, and allows influence without coercion. Humor, like diplomacy, works when it resonates with perception and need.
Steiner: And yet, language itself is limited. Language can only deal meaningfully with a special, restricted segment of reality. The rest… is silence. Both humor and diplomacy must contend with the vast unspoken, the invisible currents of thought and feeling. Instruments and laughter illuminate only part of the world.
If you can make a woman laugh, you can make her do anything.
— Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962)
Steinbeck: That is why one must listen beyond the formalities and the gestures. If you’re in trouble, or hurt or need — go to the poor people. They’re the only ones that’ll help. Reality often speaks quietly; the marginalized, the overlooked, hold truths and assistance that the powerful cannot summon.
Sophia: So true influence arises from resonance with reality — whether through arms, laughter, or attentive presence — and from recognizing the limits of language and the wisdom of those whose voices are rarely heard.
Language can only deal meaningfully with a special, restricted segment of reality. The rest, and it is presumably the much larger part, is silence.
— George Steiner (1929-2020)
Frederick: Instruments, whether literal or metaphorical, must be wielded with care, lest their music become mere noise.
Monroe: And laughter, too, is a bridge — it softens hearts, opens minds, and shapes actions subtly yet profoundly.
Steiner: Silence surrounds us more than speech. Wisdom lies in perceiving both, in hearing the laughter that exists beyond words.
If you're in trouble, or hurt or need - go to the poor people. They're the only ones that'll help - the only ones.
— John Steinbeck (1902-1968)
Steinbeck: And in responding with presence, generosity, and understanding, wherever need is greatest.
Sophia: Then, if we listen carefully, we can hear their laughter, sense their need, and discern the instruments of influence that resonate most truly. Life speaks not only through force or words, but through the quiet, human currents of humor, empathy, and care.
They pause, hearing faint laughter on the wind — a reminder that wisdom often resides in the unseen, unspoken, and unexpectedly generous moments of life.
The planksip Writers' Cooperative is proud to sponsor an exciting article rewriting competition where you can win part of over $750,000 in available prize money.
Figures of Speech Collection Personified
Our editorial instructions for your contest submission are simple: incorporate the quotes and imagery from the above article into your submission.
What emerges is entirely up to you!
Winners receive $500 per winning entry multiplied by the article's featured quotes. Our largest prize is $8,000 for rewriting the following article;
Heraclitus
At planksip, we believe in changing the way people engage—at least, that's the Idea (ἰδέα). By becoming a member of our thought-provoking community, you'll have the chance to win incredible prizes and access our extensive network of media outlets, which will amplify your voice as a thought leader. Your membership truly matters!