diplomacy

Diplomacy is so weak and prosaic. Diplomacy must never become an end, itself. Facts are so much more important in science. Yet, I'm beginning to appreciate the value of a soft word and a smile. --Unassimilated pg 294

Kindness solves more problems than diplomacy, wealth, intelligence, clout, force, law, and dominion combined.

Diplomacy is the art of getting what you want without offending anyone too badly.

Be a craftsman in speech that thou mayest be strong, for the strength of one is the tongue, and speech is mightier than all fighting.

I observe and remain silent.

Truth without love is brutality, and love without truth is hypocrisy.

To stomp about the world ignoring cultural differences is arrogant, to be sure, but perhaps there is another kind of arrogance in the presumption that we may ever really build a faultless bridge from one shore to another, or even know where the mist has ceded to landfall.

The school remained open. I thanked Allah that the Americans operated differently. Had the Lebanese lost 241 men in one day, and had we the power and the reach, we would have American males hung from their testicles and set on fire. The frame of mind that dictates our actions quashes our ability to develop the power and reach exhibited by the Americans, I thought.

Remember, there is no peace without peaceful exchange.

As life in general constituted much pain in the form of struggles against poverty, disease, ignorance, and emotional anguish, what more civilized way for people to alleviate the same than by giving themselves to one another as brothers and sisters in deed as well as in word? A society of people hoping to become politically superior needed first to become spiritually valid.

A turbulent history has taught Chinese leaders that not every problem has a solution and that too great an emphasis on total mastery over specific events could upset the harmony of the universe.

Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.

Diplomacy in leadership is winning the war on behalf of both sides

The most fundamental problem is not that we don__ have a system to run but those with knowledge are cynically manipulating the system for petty personal desires.

How can you cry for others_ struggles when you are facilitating mayhem in your own land?

Nothing can be changed in the system when the system itself is revolting against those who opposed violence.

I would rather contend with an honest asshole than a duplicitous diplomat.

The bargaining position of the victor always diminishes with time. Whatever is not exacted during the shock of defeat becomes increasingly difficult to attain later.