Force Isn't Power

A pivotal moment occurs just over a minute into the clip above, at the 4:39 mark. Having been rebuffed in his effort to have the two men murdered, the tradesman implores that "they suffer, as she suffers," and then asks, "How much shall I pay you?" Given the necessary subtlety in this context, such a question is a profound insult, and Corleone's response is telling. He pauses, gently places the cat he's been petting on his desk, stands up, and walks away. He stares out the window for a moment, and then replies, "What have I ever done to make you treat me so disrespectfully?" The merchant realizes the gravity of his misstep and adopts a deferential posture, calling Corleone by his title and kissing his ring. Brando's performance (which won an Oscar that he declined to accept) is a sublime demonstration of how to display power without using any force at all. [1]