Quotes About Diplomacy

Ah … politics, Sergeant. When the top brass hand you a turd, you polish it and say, "my, what a lovely jobbie!" That way they are impressed by your intellect, perception and ability. If you don't, all you've got is a handful of shit.

I don't think it's possible to skip with a frown on your face.... I'd like to see the world's governing and terrorist leaders on a skipping tour through the Middle East and across the subcontinent and China to Korea.

Asking for a ceasefire without reaching a political roadmap first, is not rational and convincing.

To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign that the enemy wishes for a truce.

There has never been a protracted war from which a country has benefited.

Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.

Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.

There is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare.

To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.

Build your opponent a golden bridge to retreat across.

The wise warrior avoids the battle.

To conquer the enemy without resorting to war is the most desirable. The highest form of generalship is to conquer the enemy by strategy.

The best victory is when the opponent surrenders of its own accord before there are any actual hostilities...It is best to win without fighting.

To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

If you can't say anything nice, at least have the decency to be vague.

If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

I believe that soccer can be an example of understanding and peace between countries and between peoples.

American influence in the world is certainly considerable, but the United States does not control, directly or indirectly, the politics and economics of other societies, as empires have always done, save for a few special cases that turn out to be the exceptions that prove the rule.

By focusing once and for all on helping the Palestinians build a free society, I have no doubt that an historic compromise between Israelis and Palestinians can be reached and that peace can prevail.

Liberals would prefer it if the bald eagle on the Great Seal was holding olive branches in both talons, or, better, an olive branch in one, and maybe a soft cushion in the other, to entice our enemies to lie down and snooze.

All economically well-off nations have used what has been dubbed 'cheque-book diplomacy,' and China does so, too. Apart from funding government-to-government lending, China has also been able to create global companies and global brands that have contributed to Chinese soft power.