Those who took a little time to listen learned a lot from him. Education as macho trial by fire. Father Diamond was great at thinking up such gimmicks which utilized our teen egos to move us where he wanted us to go. Even misfits and eventual dropouts came away with useful skills. Speaking to a class, business meeting, political convention or a potential suicide were all the same, he said.
People are first and foremost concerned with themselves.
In order to get through to them, you've got to break their preoccupation with whatever's on their minds. To illustrate his point, he told a story of a cop trying to talk a suicidal woman out of jumping off a bridge. Hours of patience did no good. The officer could see she was right on the verge. Okay, lady, there's nothing I can do to stop you.