Diplomacy Quotes

• To say nothing, especially when speaking, is half the art of diplomacy.

  Will Durant

  Art, Communication, Half

  Will Durant, Ariel Durant (1961). “The Story of Civilization: The Age of Reason begins, 1558-1648”

  92 Copy quote

  Show source
• 

  Diplomacy is the art of telling people to go to hell in such a way that they ask for directions.

  Winston Churchill

  Art, People, Way

  670 Copy quote

• Diplomacy and defense are not substitutes for one another. Either alone would fail.

  John F. Kennedy

  Defense, Failing, Substitutes

  Address at the University of Washington's 100th Anniversary Program, www.jfklibrary.org. November 16, 1961.

  9 Copy quote

  Show source

• If you need something from somebody always give that person a way to hand it to you.

  Sue Monk Kidd

  Relationship, Hands, Giving

  Barbara Taylor Bradford, Sue Monk Kidd (2001). “Of love and life: three novels selected and condensed by Reader's Digest”

  27 Copy quote

  Show source

• The principle of give and take is the principle of diplomacy - give one and take ten

  Mark Twain

  Funny, Humor, Giving

  Mark Twain (2014). “Mark Twain on Common Sense: Timeless Advice and Words of Wisdom from America's Most-Revered Humorist”, p.19, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

  22 Copy quote

  Show source

• When we're trying to solve difficult national issues its sometimes necessary to talk to adversaries as well as friends. Historians have a word for this: diplomacy.

  Madeleine Albright

  Issues, Trying, Sometimes

  "Albright Calls for Diplomacy in Iraq" by Brenda C. Maldonado, www.thecrimson.com. April 12, 2007.

  10 Copy quote

  Show source

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

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Leadership, Presidential, Sticks

  Letter to Henry L. Sprague, 26 Jan. 1900

  102 Copy quote

  Show source

• All war represents a failure of diplomacy.

  Tony Benn

  War, Failure, Diplomats

  Tony Benn's Speech in House of Commons, hansard.millbanksystems.com. February 28, 1991.

  10 Copy quote

  Show source

• Diplomacy, n. is the art of letting somebody else have your way.

  David Frost

  Inspirational, Art, Women

  "Personal Quotes/ Biography". www.imdb.com.

  14 Copy quote

  Show source

• Diplomacy, if properly practiced, is not just talking for the sake of talking.

  Condoleezza Rice

  Talking, Sake, Ifs

  Keynote Address at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, delivered 23 January 2008, Davos, Switzerland

  3 Copy quote

  Show source

• A diplomat is a man who always remembers a woman's birthday but never remembers her age.

  Robert Frost

  Funny, Happy Birthday, Growing Up

  134 Copy quote

• Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock.

  Will Rogers

  Funny, Hilarious, Sarcastic

  "Biography/Personal Quotes". www.imdb.com.

  52 Copy quote

  Show source

• In archaeology you uncover the unknown. In diplomacy you cover the known.

  Thomas R. Pickering

  Diplomats, Favourite, Archaeology

  51 Copy quote
• 

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

  Sun Tzu

  Art, Crazy, War

  Sun Tzu (2015). “The Art of War”, CreateSpace

  166 Copy quote

  Show source

• Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment.

  Mario Puzo

  Hate, Hatred, Enemy

  "Fictional character: Michael Corleone". "The Godfather: Part III", www.imdb.com. 1990.

  79 Copy quote

  Show source

• Diplomacy is the art of telling plain truths without giving offense.

  Winston Churchill

  Art, Giving, Offense

  9 Copy quote

• The art of life is to show your hand. There is no diplomacy like candor. You may lose by it now and then, but it will be a loss well gained if you do. Nothing is so boring as having to keep up a deception.

  E. V. Lucas

  Life, Art, Loss

  52 Copy quote

• It is a principle of diplomacy that one must know something of the truth in order to lie convincingly.

  Tom Clancy

  Lying, Order, Principles

  Tom Clancy (1992). “The Hunt for Red October”, p.158, Penguin

  3 Copy quote

  Show source

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

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Strength, Peace, Thorough Knowledge

  Theodore Roosevelt (2015). “Theodore Roosevelt on Bravery: Lessons from the Most Courageous Leader of the Twentieth Century”, p.37, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

  49 Copy quote

  Show source

• These, then, are the qualities of my ideal diplomatist. Truth, accuracy, calm, patience, good temper, modesty and loyalty. They are also the qualities of an ideal diplomacy. But, the reader may object, you have forgotten intelligence, knowledge, discernment, prudence, hospitality, charm, industry, courage and even tact. I have not forgotten them. I have taken them for granted.

  Harold Nicolson

  Loyalty, Taken, Quality

  "Diplomacy". Book by Harold George Nicolson, chapter 3, p. 126, 1939.

  21 Copy quote

  Show source

• A diplomat these days is nothing but a head waiter who's allowed to sit down occasionally.

  Peter Ustinov

  Diplomats, These Days, Waiter

  "Romanoff and Juliet".

  13 Copy quote

  Show source

• There is no diplomacy like candor.

  E. V. Lucas

  Candor

  11 Copy quote

• People have sought to adjust the truth to the hour instead of adjusting the hour to the truth, and in diplomacy they have endeavoured to bring about as much of the reality as they deem wise.

  Alice Bailey

  Wise, Honesty, Reality

  Alice Bailey (1934). “A Treatise on White Magic: Or, The Way of the Disciple”, Lucis Pub

  55 Copy quote

  Show source

• I have no secret methods. I know no diplomacy save that of truth. I have no weapon but non-violence.

  Mahatma Gandhi

  Secret, Weapons, Violence

  Mahatma Gandhi, Dennis Dalton (1996). “Gandhi: Selected Political Writings”, p.43, Hackett Publishing

  5 Copy quote

  Show source

• Diplomacy means all the wicked devices of the Old World, spheres of influence, balances of power, secret treaties, triple alliances, and, during the interim period, appeasement of Fascism.

  Barbara Tuchman

  Mean, Power, Secret

  20 Copy quote