Diplomacy Quotes | Beyond Motive 2/3

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Diplomacy Quotes

"To the contrary, I think we bent over backwards to press for elections and for democratic reform."

"To the contrary, I think we bent over backwards to press for elections and for democratic reform."

John Negroponte, American Diplomat

Diplomacy, Elections, Press, Reform

4

"Trotsky rises to give me his hand, then sits at his desk, gently allowing his regard to light on my person."

"Trotsky rises to give me his hand, then sits at his desk, gently allowing his regard to light on my person."

Georges Simenon, Belgian Writer

Diplomacy, Light

4

"We have not invaded anyone. We have not conquered anyone. We have not grabbed their land, their culture, their history and tried to enforce our way of life on them."

"We have not invaded anyone. We have not conquered anyone. We have not grabbed their land, their culture, their history and tried to enforce our way of life on them."

Abdul Kalam, Indian Statesman

Diplomacy, History, Life, Culture, Land

4

"(A Foreign Secretary) is forever poised between the cliche and the indiscretion."

"(A Foreign Secretary) is forever poised between the cliche and the indiscretion."

Harold MacMillan, English Politician

Diplomacy, Indiscretion

4

"We have always had great and loyal fans in Oakland."

"We have always had great and loyal fans in Oakland."

Jim Otto, American Athlete

Diplomacy, Fans

4

"Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish - too much handling will spoil it."

"Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish - too much handling will spoil it."

Lao Tzu, Chinese Philosopher

Diplomacy, Cooking, Fish, Nation, Will

4

"The only summit meeting that can succeed is the one that does not take place."

"The only summit meeting that can succeed is the one that does not take place."

Barry Goldwater, American Politician

Diplomacy, Meeting, Succeed

4

"We do not covet anything from any nation except their respect."

"We do not covet anything from any nation except their respect."

Winston Churchill, English Statesman

Diplomacy, Nation, Respect

4

"If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be known, that we are at all times ready for War."

"If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be known, that we are at all times ready for War."

George Washington, American President

Diplomacy, War, Peace, Desire, Insult

4

"I'm a junkie. I like drugs, I like the whole lifestyle, but it just didn't pay off."

"I'm a junkie. I like drugs, I like the whole lifestyle, but it just didn't pay off."

Gus Van Sant, American Director

Diplomacy, Drugs

4

"Japan is dealing us a dead hand. For two years we have watched the Japanese drag their feet and we can't let them continue to slam the door in our faces."

"Japan is dealing us a dead hand. For two years we have watched the Japanese drag their feet and we can't let them continue to slam the door in our faces."

Craig L. Thomas, American Politician

Diplomacy, Faces, Feet, Years

4

"We are asking the nations of Europe between whom rivers of blood have flowed to forget the feuds of a thousand years."

"We are asking the nations of Europe between whom rivers of blood have flowed to forget the feuds of a thousand years."

Winston Churchill, English Statesman

Diplomacy, Blood, Europe, Forget, Nations

4

"Many hard comments have been made on my efforts in India from the side of the Congress party, yet I feel content in the deep conviction that the offer I traveled 22,000 miles to discuss with Indian leaders was a real contribution to a solution of our differences."

"Many hard comments have been made on my efforts in India from the side of the Congress party, yet I feel content in the deep conviction that the offer I traveled 22,000 miles to discuss with Indian leaders was a real contribution to a solution of our differences."

Stafford Cripps, British Politician

Diplomacy, Congress, Content, Conviction, Deep

3

"Diplomacy is not an end in itself if it does not advance U.S. interests."

"Diplomacy is not an end in itself if it does not advance U.S. interests."

John Bolton, American Statesman

3

"American presidents always avoid shaking hands with brutal dictators, except when it's advantageous to do so."

"American presidents always avoid shaking hands with brutal dictators, except when it's advantageous to do so."

Elizabeth A. Sherman, American Educator

Diplomacy, Dictators

3

"In Europe it is particularly important that we build good relations to everyone who holds political responsibility because Europe can only be build together."

"In Europe it is particularly important that we build good relations to everyone who holds political responsibility because Europe can only be build together."

Angela Merkel, German Statesman

Diplomacy, Europe, Responsibility

3

"This is the very devilish thing about foreign affairs: they are foreign and will not always conform to our whim."

"This is the very devilish thing about foreign affairs: they are foreign and will not always conform to our whim."

James Reston, American Journalist

Diplomacy, Whim, Will

3

"If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner."

"If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner."

Nelson Mandela, South African Statesman

Diplomacy, Peace, Work, Enemy, Want

3

"In the world of diplomacy, some things are better left unsaid."

"In the world of diplomacy, some things are better left unsaid."

Lincoln Chafee, American Politician

Diplomacy, World

3

"I think if I had to do it over again, I'd do it the same way. I would just put more resources into getting the public diplomacy part much stronger than we were able to."

"I think if I had to do it over again, I'd do it the same way. I would just put more resources into getting the public diplomacy part much stronger than we were able to."

John Poindexter, American Public Servant

Diplomacy, Public

3

"There can be no greater error than to expect, or calculate, upon real favors from nation to nation. It is an illusion which experience must cure, which a just pride ought to discard."

"There can be no greater error than to expect, or calculate, upon real favors from nation to nation. It is an illusion which experience must cure, which a just pride ought to discard."

George Washington, American President

Diplomacy, Experience, Cure, Error, Favors

3

"Govern a great nation as you would cook a small fish. Do not overdo it."

"Govern a great nation as you would cook a small fish. Do not overdo it."

Lao Tzu, Chinese Philosopher

Diplomacy, Fish, Nation

3

"It destroys one's nerves to be amiable every day to the same human being."

"It destroys one's nerves to be amiable every day to the same human being."

Benjamin Disraeli, British Statesman

Diplomacy, Being, Day, Nerves

3

"It's proper and appropriate to remind the Chinese about what they get out of solid relations with the United States."

"It's proper and appropriate to remind the Chinese about what they get out of solid relations with the United States."

John Breaux, American Politician

Diplomacy, States, United

3

"If you can't answer a man's arguments, all is not lost; you can still call him vile names."

"If you can't answer a man's arguments, all is not lost; you can still call him vile names."

Elbert Hubbard, American Writer

Diplomacy, Arguments, Man, Names

3

"From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent."

"From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent."

Winston Churchill, English Statesman

Diplomacy, Ironcurtain

2

"We've had some fairly intensive discussions leading up to these meetings between NATO and Russia, preparing for them, and it's going to be a very important six months for NATO."

"We've had some fairly intensive discussions leading up to these meetings between NATO and Russia, preparing for them, and it's going to be a very important six months for NATO."

Warren Christopher, American Statesman

Diplomacy, Leading, Meetings, Months, Russia

2

"We think it will be shortly afterwards, but it seems a terrible thing to gamble with such big stakes in diplomacy without having your master card in your hand."

"We think it will be shortly afterwards, but it seems a terrible thing to gamble with such big stakes in diplomacy without having your master card in your hand."

Henry L. Stimson, American Statesman

Diplomacy, Will

2

"They enlarged the domains of commerce by treaties with all nations, upon the great principle of equal justice to all nations, and special favors to none."

"They enlarged the domains of commerce by treaties with all nations, upon the great principle of equal justice to all nations, and special favors to none."

Robert Toombs, American Politician

Diplomacy, Commerce, Favors, Justice, Nations

2

"We are hopeful that the North Koreans can show a little bit more realism, a little bit more flexibility."

"We are hopeful that the North Koreans can show a little bit more realism, a little bit more flexibility."

Mitchell Reiss, American Diplomat

Diplomacy, Flexibility, Realism

2

"It is crystal clear to me that if Arabs put down a draft resolution blaming Israel for the recent earthquake in Iran it would probably have a majority, the U.S. would veto it and Britain and France would abstain."

"It is crystal clear to me that if Arabs put down a draft resolution blaming Israel for the recent earthquake in Iran it would probably have a majority, the U.S. would veto it and Britain and France would abstain."

Amos Oz, Israeli Writer

Diplomacy, Draft, France, Israel, Majority

2

"Where there is an observatory and a telescope, we expect that any eyes will see new worlds at once."

"Where there is an observatory and a telescope, we expect that any eyes will see new worlds at once."

Henry David Thoreau, American Author

Diplomacy, Eyes, Will

2

"Frank and explicit - that is the right line to take when you wish to conceal your own mind and confuse the minds of others."

"Frank and explicit - that is the right line to take when you wish to conceal your own mind and confuse the minds of others."

Benjamin Disraeli, British Statesman

Diplomacy, Mind, Right

2

"One picture is worth 1,000 denials."

"One picture is worth 1,000 denials."

Ronald Reagan, American President

Diplomacy, Worth

2

"Diplomacy is to do and say the nastiest things in the nicest way."

"Diplomacy is to do and say the nastiest things in the nicest way."

Isaac Goldberg, American Critic

2

"You weren't able to talk sense into him?"Well, we kind of tried to kill each other in a duel to the death."I see. You tried the diplomatic approach."

"You weren't able to talk sense into him?"Well, we kind of tried to kill each other in a duel to the death."I see. You tried the diplomatic approach."

Rick Riordan, American Novelist

Diplomacy, Truth, Power, Inspirational, Happiness

2

"So long as governments set the example of killing their enemies, private individuals will occasionally kill theirs."

"So long as governments set the example of killing their enemies, private individuals will occasionally kill theirs."

Elbert Hubbard, American Writer

Diplomacy, Enemies, Example, Killing, Will

2

"Diplomats are useful only in fair weather. As soon as it rains they drown in every drop."

"Diplomats are useful only in fair weather. As soon as it rains they drown in every drop."

Charles de Gaulle, French Leader

Diplomacy, Weather

2

"I think there is a good deal of promise in those discussions as well. I think there is a range of matters that might be discussed between NATO and Russia that can provide a mechanism for talking through these issues, a way to give reassurance on these issues."

"I think there is a good deal of promise in those discussions as well. I think there is a range of matters that might be discussed between NATO and Russia that can provide a mechanism for talking through these issues, a way to give reassurance on these issues."

Warren Christopher, American Statesman

Diplomacy, Promise, Reassurance, Russia, Talking

2

"It is my firm belief that the solution to all problems lies in dialogue. Earlier, it was believed that force indicates power. Now, power must come through the strength of ideas and the effective dialogue."

"It is my firm belief that the solution to all problems lies in dialogue. Earlier, it was believed that force indicates power. Now, power must come through the strength of ideas and the effective dialogue."

Narendra Modi, Indian Leader

Diplomacy, Dialogue, Equality, Justice

2

"Like Prince von Bismarck in diplomacy, I have no secrets."

"Like Prince von Bismarck in diplomacy, I have no secrets."

Albert J. Nock, American Philosopher

Diplomacy, Secrets

1

"No mother would ever willingly sacrifice her sons for territorial gain, for economic advantage, for ideology."

"No mother would ever willingly sacrifice her sons for territorial gain, for economic advantage, for ideology."

Ronald Reagan, American President

Diplomacy, Mother, Sacrifice, Gain, Ideology

1

"The greatest security for Israel is to create new Egypts."

"The greatest security for Israel is to create new Egypts."

Ronald Reagan, American President

Diplomacy, Israel, Security

1

"A distinguished diplomat could hold his tongue in ten languages."

"A distinguished diplomat could hold his tongue in ten languages."

Anonymous, Unknown Unknown

Diplomacy, Tongue, Language, Silence

1

"The rulers of the state are the only persons who ought to have the privilege of lying, either at home or abroad; they may be allowed to lie for the good of the state."

"The rulers of the state are the only persons who ought to have the privilege of lying, either at home or abroad; they may be allowed to lie for the good of the state."

Plato, Greek Philosopher

Diplomacy, Home, Lie, Lying, May

1

"Commerce with all nations, alliance with none, should be our motto."

"Commerce with all nations, alliance with none, should be our motto."

Thomas Jefferson, American President

Diplomacy, Alliance, Commerce, Nations

1

"The format's better because it gives us a much stronger hand to play when going to the North Koreans unified, with our allies and partners in the region, all of us saying the same thing: telling them their current course is unacceptable."

"The format's better because it gives us a much stronger hand to play when going to the North Koreans unified, with our allies and partners in the region, all of us saying the same thing: telling them their current course is unacceptable."

Mitchell Reiss, American Diplomat

Diplomacy, Play, Saying

1

"For too long, Japan has been dragging its feet as it ignores the steps the U.S. has made to ensure a safe beef supply and shows a disregard for our prior trade pacts."

"For too long, Japan has been dragging its feet as it ignores the steps the U.S. has made to ensure a safe beef supply and shows a disregard for our prior trade pacts."

Randy Neugebauer, American Politician

Diplomacy, Feet, Trade

1

"Again, I think we have much greater diplomatic weight by having all of us sit on the same side of the table wanting the same thing, and putting it to the North Koreans."

"Again, I think we have much greater diplomatic weight by having all of us sit on the same side of the table wanting the same thing, and putting it to the North Koreans."

Mitchell Reiss, American Diplomat

Diplomacy, Weight

1

"Too many have dispensed with generosity in order to practice charity."

"Too many have dispensed with generosity in order to practice charity."

Albert Camus, French Philosopher

Diplomacy, Charity, Generosity, Order, Practice

1

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