Stephen Kinzer Quotes

A dose of humility goes a long way in life and in politics.

Stalin is too coarse, and this fault, though tolerable in dealings among us Communists, becomes unbearable in a General Secretary. Therefore I propose to the comrades to find some way of removing Stalin from his position and appointing somebody else who differs in all respects from Comrade Stalin in one characteristic-namely, someone more tolerant, more loyal, more polite and considerate to his comrades, less capricious, etc.

If the [Ugandan President] Yoweri Museveni of 1986 were to meet the Museveni of today they would fight on sight - they would shoot each other.

Politics and war are remarkably similar situations.

It's so much easier to throw rocks than it is to govern.

When strong, be merciful, if you would have the respect, not the fear of your neighbors.

Negotiations are a euphemism for capitulation if the shadow of power is not cast across the bargaining table.

The wise man... if he would live at peace with others, he will bear and forbear.

No violent extreme endures.

My own view of this, by the way, is, if the war on terrorism is successful over time, in its own way it's going to box Saddam in in a way that's going to make it much more difficult for him to maintain his power, and that he's going to become increasingly isolated. I think that's going to take time.

You can't go to a negotiating table pointing a gun, but you've got to keep it over your shoulder.

If you are the master be sometimes blind, if you are the servant be sometimes deaf.

If a man can beat you, walk him.

When you are President you have to get something done, and that often means compromise.

Even in war moral power is to physical as three parts out of four.

The art of government is the art of negotiating and compromise.

The United States sits down with her enemies because they have some semblance of power.

There’s no reason to respect anyone’s word in that part of the world. The only thing they respect is force and the threat of force.

A ruler must learn to be other than good.

In accommodation with other Powers, differences of opinion must be looked for, even those most agreed on the same general views.

Negotiation is not a solution and will not solve anything. Those who think of negotiation when they are threatened only reveal their weakness and incapability. That is a bad move.

The management of a balance of power is a permanent undertaking, not an exertion that has a foreseeable end.

Rulers should always remind themselves that they are men like the least of their subjects.

We are hugely and sometimes willfully ignorant about the arts of politics and governing, especially about the utter necessity of compromise.

Give the other person the ability to save face…. Don’t rub his nose in things.