Quotes About Diplomacy

They agreed to pay 5000 lb of gold, 30,000 of silver, 3000 scarlet sheepskins (the Goths must have been a very well turned out army) and 3000 lb of pepper (they were already, of course, well seasoned).

You help me, I'll help you. That's politics.

For the sake of peace one may lie, but peace itself should never be a lie.

Strike, but hear me.

In my mind the city of Ariel is a thorn in Israel's side and a serious obstacle to peace.

With the help of dedicated Americans from our party, every party, and no party at all, I intend to mount that stairway to preach peace for our nation and world.

We will be safer from terrorist attack only when we have earned the respect of all other nations instead of their fear, respect for our values and not merely our weapons.

We shall listen, not lecture learn, not threaten. We will enhance our safety by earning the respect of others and showing respect for them. In short, our foreign policy will rest on the traditional American values of restraint and empathy, not on military might.

No triumph of peace is quite so great as the supreme triumphs of war.

I took the Isthmus, started the Canal, and then left Congress—not to debate the Canal, but to debate me…. While the debate goes on the Canal does too.

There is a homely adage which runs, "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." If the American nation will speak softly and yet build and keep at a pitch of the highest training a thoroughly efficient navy, the Monroe Doctrine will go far.

Wars are, of course, as a rule to be avoided but they are far better than certain kinds of peace.

Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft!

In foreign affairs we must make up our minds that, whether we wish it or not, we are a great people and must play a great part in the world. It is not open to us to choose whether we will play that great part or not. We have to play it. All we can decide is whether we shall play it well or ill.

Love of peace is common among weak, short-sighted, timid, and lazy persons; and on the other hand courage is found among many men of evil temper and bad character. Neither quality shall by itself avail. Justice among the nations of mankind, and the uplifting of humanity, can be brought about only by those strong and daring men who with wisdom love peace, but who love righteousness more than peace.

No man in public position can, under penalty of forfeiting the right to the respect of those whose regard he most values, fail as the opportunity comes to do all that in him lies for peace.

Do not hit, at all, if it can be avoided, but never hit softly.

I am for such a League [of Nations] provided we don't expect too much from it. . . . I am not willing to play the pan which even Aesop held up to derision when he wrote of how the wolves and the sheep agreed to disarm, and how the sheep as a guarantee of good faith sent away the watchdogs, and were then forthwith eaten by the wolves.

We dread war; but we follow Washington and Lincoln in dreading some things worse than war. Therefore we desire to prepare against war.

speak softly and carry a big stick

Justice among the nations of mankind, and the uplifting of humanity, can be brought about only by those strong and daring men who with wisdom love peace

Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.

Metternich told lies all the time, and never deceived any one; Talleyrand never told a lie and deceived the whole world.

Good breeding differs, if at all, from high breeding only as it gracefully remembers the rights of others, rather than gracefully insists on its own rights.