Quotes about Diplomacy

After 9/11, counterterrorism took center stage. In pursuing each of these goals, we'd made autocrats our allies. They were predictable, after all, and committed to keeping a lid on things. They hosted our military bases and cooperated with us on counterterrorism efforts. And, of course, they did lots of business with U.S. companies.

It went without saying that trying to convince an aging, embattled despot to ride off into the sunset, even if it was in his own interests, would be a delicate operation

You must understand the language of your enemy.

We can best help you to prevent war not by repeating your words and following your methods but by finding new words and creating new methods.

But I do not believe that the world would be entirely different if there were more women leaders. Maybe if everybody in leadership was a woman, you might not get into the conflicts in the first place. But if you watch the women who have made it to the top, they haven't exactly been non-aggressive - including me.

I am prepared to talk with anyone. I have no personal grudge toward anybody.

Interest does not tie nations together it sometimes separates them. But sympathy and understanding does unite them.

It is better to remain silent than to speak the truth ill-humoredly, and spoil an excellent dish by covering it with bad sauce.

Free nations are peaceful nations. Free nations don't attack each other. Free nations don't develop weapons of mass destruction.

Compromise is most likely when both parties respect each other no matter how much they disagree. In stressful situations where you need a consensus, respect sometimes means saying nothing and refraining from name-calling even when irritated.

We are not a minor power in the Middle East; we are a significant player.

Alexander operated by the same principle. Let us conduct ourselves so that all men wish to be our friends and all fear to be our enemies.