Condoleezza Rice Quotes

I love to negotiate things, I do it really well, and all that stuff. But it's possible I won't be able to get along with Putin.

The art of diplomacy is to take an opportunity and turn it into something.

You cannot have a diplomatic offensive without talking.

Diplomacy is much more than just talking to your friends... You've got to talk to people who aren't our friends, and even people you dislike.

The art of diplomacy is to take your humiliations in private.

Diplomacy … means the art of nearly deceiving all your friends, but not quite deceiving all your enemies

You aren't going to be successful as a diplomat if you don't understand the strategic context in which you are actually negotiating. It is not deal making. It's not.

And a diplomatist is one who lets the other fellow think he's getting his way, while all the time he's having his own. It never does any special harm to let people have their way with their mouths.

Diplomacy is not merely talking somebody into something; it's talking to somebody from a position of strength. You put your power on the table to open up the conversation; that's diplomacy.

Diplomacy can be a frustrating thing. I think the strategy can work, so long as the force is robust and the rules of engagement are clear.

A diplomat is a man who thinks twice before he says nothing.

Number one, that it is smart to communicate and negotiate with your enemy instead of just waging war with bombs and weapons of mass destruction.

Condi Rice talks tough but she cannot be tough herself.

History is filled with tragic examples of wars that result from diplomatic impasse. Whether in our local communities or in international relations, the skillful use of our communicative capacities to negotiate and resolve differences is the first evidence of human wisdom.

One of my strengths is my ability to talk and communicate with people.

Improvising political dialogue is not easy.

In foreign policy, there are times when speaking with one voice - and it doesn't have to be mine - allows us to engage better on issues, and enables us to do things more effectively.

You'd make a great Secretary of State because State Department personnel don't answer questions completely either.

My speech has to have some substance to it. I don’t care if we make a peace treaty or declare war or something. Otherwise, they’re going to run us out of town.

What matters is not whether one talks to adversaries but what one says to them, which strategies of engagement are set in place, and how competently they are executed.

Diplomacy, contrary to the current misconception, is not about making nice, exchanging happy talk, and offering concessions. It is the engine that converts raw energy and tangible power into meaningful political results. In other words, diplomacy is all about the intelligent use of power. Diplomacy is not an alternative to coercion and other forms of power; its effectiveness depends on their skillful use.

Diplomacy is a little bit like Jazz. It’s improvisation on a theme.

Diplomacy is important, extremely important, and I don't think these reductions at the State Department are appropriate because many times diplomacy is a lot more effective - and cert cheaper - than military engagement.

The Chinese are really good at diplomacy - and even at making their interlocutors feel very uncomfortable.

Margaret Thatcher and John Major knew that bluff and bravado doesn't work in Brussels.