Psychology

Several international businessmen were on a conference cruise when the ship began to sink. "Go and tell those fellows to put on life jackets and jump overboard," the captain directed his first mate.

 

A few minutes later the first mate returned. "Those guys won't jump," he reported. "Take over," the captain ordered, "and I'll see what I can do."

 

Returning moments later, he announced, "They've gone."

 

"How'd you do it?" asked the first mate.

 

"I used psychology¹. I told the Englishman it was the sporting thing to do, and he jumped. I told the Frenchman it was chic²（时髦）; the German that it was a command; the Italian that it was forbidden."

 

"And how did you get the American to jump?"

 

"No problem," said the captain. "I told him he was insured!"

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