Ann Landers Quotes

I've often said the most difficult things I have to say to people through humour. I can very quickly put someone in their place with it. But we all walk away unscathed because there's been some funnies around it, and I'll usually make sure that it comes back at me.

I did not deal well with the politicians. I tend to tell people that when they are full of crap, that they are full of crap.

Tact is the ability to make a person see lightning without letting him feel the bolt.

Use soft words in hard arguments.

You need diplomacy and not slogans. This is the place for wisdom, the place for seeking windows that will take you to the objective.

Don't Criticize, Condemn, Or Complain.

It's so important for people in political groups to learn the difference between productive criticism and not. When it's about something you can change, it's productive. But if it's just like "You are an evil person", you can't change that. There's no way around that.

The rule in carving holds good as to criticism; never cut with a knife what you can cut with a spoon.

I just don't believe that you have to come in and insult people when you want to change things.

One thing I hate is people screaming at me. If you want me to do something, talk to me.

I was taught by my parents that people who are loud don't have anything to say. I've found if you're suggesting quite big changes, a quiet style may be reassuring.

You have to speak your mind, but without being cruel.

I'd rather lose an argument than get into a long discussion in order to win it.

Harsh counsels have no effect; they are like hammers, which are always repulsed by the anvil.

It is an excellent rule to be observed in all disputes, that men should give soft words and hard arguments; that they should not so much strive to vex as to convince each other.

Praise in public; rebuke in private.

Soft words and hard arguments.

Lower your voice and strengthen your argument.

I praise loudly; I blame softly.

Diplomacy: the art of jumping into troubled waters without making a splash.

The whole world knows, that, when a wrong stings a man, making him fierce and loud, his direct expressions have often small value; but that his parenthetical expressions often have great value. This is one of the simplest principles in homely every-day-criticism, serving truth-seekers, wherever wordy war rages, whether among statesmen or hackmen.

Personally criticizing a member of my staff hardly seemed like the way to negotiate a deal.

The problem with some truth-tellers is that they don't do it in a way that makes people want to listen.

There's a way to speak your mind. You don't just go off and say whatever you feel is right. You have to say what you feel is right and say it if it's something that works for the team.

In my experience, yelling at people that they are wrong and disgusting rarely wins the argument, nor changes point of view.