Douglas Feith Quotes

We always have hoped that American diplomacy deploys itself in dialogue and persuasion rather than by ultimatums. That is the path we want in international relations.

Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock.

Negotiations are the most essential tool of statecraft.

Diplomacy is the art of saying “Nice Doggie!” till you can find a rock.

There is nothing fast or easy about diplomacy. I have no illusions about that.

In an ideological age, diplomacy may seem weak and prosaic. But sometimes it is all we have.

I'm simply saying that there are advantages in sending a skilled diplomat who can always say, 'I'll get back to you on that, Mr. Minister'.

Nobody's ever said that pins are a tool of diplomacy.

By the way, if you do your job on behalf of your country, you have meetings where you put your position forward strongly, and the other side does the same thing. And I've had plenty of meetings in my career that really were heated, people yelling at each other.

Someone needs to talk sense to the president. But these people are not world travelers. This president, much as I like him, had all the opportunities in the world.

Modern diplomats approach every problem with an open mouth.

Every diplomatic breakthrough is preceded by a crisis, but not every crisis leads to a breakthrough.

You can’t outsource diplomacy. You can’t do it unless you do it.

There is no area where experience matters more than in war and diplomacy.

When diplomats meet, they are, of necessity, ambiguous, in order to get an agreement.

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

American diplomacy is easy on the brain but hard on the feet.

There was no authority with which diplomacy could deal.

No two men ever devised plans of action to accomplish a particular object without finding that there were differences in their plans. That is peculiarly the case in international affairs.

In a chaotic world, U.S. diplomats will probably have even less contact with the people they need to reach.

I believe in much more diplomacy, not less.

I believe in diplomacy; I don't believe in talking to... that talking to Iran somehow constitutes a concession or a favour.

Our adversaries must see diplomacy as their best option because war with the United States will force them to bear enormous costs.

I know the pros and cons of not being diplomatic.

A really good diplomat does not go in for victories, even when he wins them.