Quotes About Diplomacy

University politics make me long for the simplicity of the Middle East.

Politics are the divine science, after all.

Here's a thought. You answer what I ask and I keep not killing you." - Antiope Flint - DREAMNASIUM

The art of politics is learning to walk with your back to the wall, your elbows high, and a smile on your face. It's a survival game played under the glare of lights.

Let this be one invariable rule of your conduct--never to show the least symptom of resentment, which you cannot, to a certain degree, gratify; but always to smile, where you cannot strike.

The smile of a politician is strong and friendly, but noncommittal.

Men decided that it was better to pay taxes than to fight among themselves; better to pay tribute to one magnificent robber than to bribe them all.

Never argue. In society nothing must be; give only results. If any person differs from you, bow, and turn the conversation.

With politics, nothing runs right ... but without politics, nothing runs. Diss Ti'wyn

in March 2000, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright offered an apology for the U.S. role in the August events. She offered carefully worded regrets for the fact that the United States had "played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular Prime Minister" in 1953.

Tact: the ability to describe others as they see themselves.

IF you are going to fight, don't let them talk you into negotiating. But, if you are going to negotiate, don't let them talk you into fighting.

I have destroyed my enemies when I make friends with them

you can have no conflict, without being yourselves the aggressors

A drop of honey catches more flies than a gallon of gall.

Before anything else, we have to say that President Jimmy Carter was a stand-up guy who had the misfortune of having a less than qualified interpreter with him. When Carter, on a visit to Poland, made a speech saying he wanted to know their people's "desires for the future," his interpreter wrongly said that President Carter desired Poland sexually.

So eager were its officials that the German government had telegraphed its ambassador in St. Petersburg two declarations of war to be delivered to Russia's foreign minister: one if Russia did not reply to its ultimatum, the other rejecting the Russian reply as unsatisfactory. In his haste and confusion, the ambassador handed over both messages.

In 1916, for example, some 200,000 Britons signed a petition calling for a negotiated peace.

In the old days he would have taken to the block. Now he was taken to New Zealand and given the role of high commissioner. It was the block, but it took longer.

Diplomats tell lies to journalists and then believe what they read.

When a diplomat says 'yes' he means 'maybe.' When a diplomat says 'maybe' he means 'no.' But if a diplomat says 'no' he's no diplomat.

The Palestinians will eventually have a state, but it should not come as a reward for terrorism.

Yet the world, including many in the media, academia, and even diplomacy, seems to accept Palestinian violence as cultural. On the other hand, something different is expected from Israelis. This is cultural relativism bordering on racism. To expect less of Palestinians, regardless of their grievances, is to diminish their humanity.

The most disadvantageous peace is better than the most just war.