July 6, 2025

If you are seeking the favor of men, be careful never to give a flat refusal to anyone who makes a request of you. Rather you should give evasive answers, for it may happen that someone who asked for something will not need it later. Or else circumstances may arise that make your excuses seem convincing. Furthermore, many men are foolish and easily swayed by words. Even without doing what you could not or would not do, you can often leave a person well satisfied by answering him cleverly, whereas if you have refused him outright, he would dislike you no matter how things turned out subsequently.

Francesco Guicciardini (1483–1540), Italian historian and statesman, Ricordi, C, 36

Has a better rationale for “waffling” ever been penned?

So just to review: • Never refuse a request outright; rather make some excuse, even a lame one • If you are lucky, the circumstances that prompted the request may make it unnecessary, and so forgotten • In fact, your lame excuse may turn out to be completely believable at some future date • Letting someone down nicely is an absolute must. Anything other than that will not be forgotten, even if everything works out well for all in the end.