Yanis Varoufakis Quotes

It's better to get smart than to get mad. I try not to get so insulted that I will not take advantage of an opportunity to persuade people to change their minds.

I did several types of work about several investigations of application of game theory to international relations.

Play off everyone against each other so that you have more avenues of action open to you.

We probably could more successfully resolve the North Korean nuclear threat through game-theoretic reasoning. We could successfully resolve what American leaders seem to perceive as an Iranian nuclear threat through game-theoretic reasoning.

One might argue that proper understanding of any social situation would require game-theoretic analysis.

In principle, every social situation involves strategic interaction among the participants.

I'm a big fan of the Mass Effect games, and that's all about social manipulation and observing people and alliances and relationships.

In a globalized world policies based on zero-sum games do not work.

My philosophy is to make an offer that the other guy can't refuse, because he thinks there's no way he can't win.

Part of diplomacy is to open different definitions of self-interest.

If you look at the developments in the international scene over the past many years, we haven't been able to resolve many problems and many crises, because we have approached them from a zero-sum perspective. My gain has always been defined as somebody else's loss, and through that, we never resolve problems.

You don't have to use aggression to squash somebody. You have to use your brain.

Game theory, however, deals only with the way in which ultrasmart, all knowing people should behave in competitive situations, and has little to say to Mr. X as he confronts the morass of his problem.

To get people to compromise, you have to give them stuff.

I open each class with an explanation of the singular importance of being a "dealmaker." The manifesto of the dealmaker is simple: Reality is negotiable.

I use game theory to help myself understand conflict situations and opportunities.

I will go anywhere, anytime, to meet with anyone to find common ground.

Wise men are able to make a fitting use even of their enmities.

The peak efficiency of knowledge and strategy is to make conflict unnecessary.

Grant graciously what you cannot refuse safely and conciliate those you cannot conquer.

The side that feels the lesser urge for peace will naturally get the better bargain.

I hold to my conviction that, once this path of mutual understanding and consideration has been taken, more will come of it in the end than through ever so extensive pacts inherently lacking in clarity.

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

If you have to compromise, be sure to compromise up.

You have to stick to your guns and still know when to be flexible. That's something I've had to learn-which battles to fight.