Why Face Doesn’t Matter When the Stakes Are Life and Death

Let’s say you’re the emperor, and one of your ministers has just infuriated you to the point where you want to have him executed on the spot.
I know he’s wrong—but his offense doesn’t warrant death.
If I told you that straight out, you wouldn’t listen. You’d think I’m not on your side, that I don’t care about how you’re feeling.

So what would I do? I’d tear into him myself—call him an idiot, say he’s read too many old books and can’t speak a proper word in his life. “Can’t talk? Then sew your mouth shut. Nobody’ll think you’re mute if you keep it closed.”
As you hear me rampaging, your anger dissipates, you calm down, and suddenly it occurs to you: maybe he really doesn’t deserve to die.
Then you turn to me, feeling a pang of sympathy, and start scolding me: “Don’t be so harsh on him. He’s actually…"

See?
The trick to cooling you down is to manage your expectations—and let your own sympathy do the rest.

The audience is always there to be managed.