You can get away with saying much more with humor than you can with a straight face.
If you can't convince 'em, confuse 'em.
He must feel that you choose to be with him, not that you need to be with him.
There's nothing more prized to a man than something he had to wait for, work for, or struggle a little bit to get.
Truly powerful people don't explain why they want respect. They simply don't engage someone who doesn't give it to them.
When you live life with him or without him, that is when he will accept and value you for who you are.