The MEANS utilized make a diference: --- The line can be drawn by the contrast in the MEANS used: While manipulation results from our skillful use of unfair/insidious means to cause our counterpart to react under a less thoughtful process on his part, persuasion uses arguments/pleas, to influence our counterpart to consider a position and make a decision by herself of taking a certain course of action the other part arribes to, after processing our inputs under a more thoughtful consideration (answer based on Merriam-Webster's Dictionary definitions for both terms).

Source author: Eric Suzán Reed esuzan@sre.gob.mx