Jean Racine Quotes

Wisdom is better than weapons of war.

The rest is a mere matter of detail, to be settled with judgment, discretion, and caution.

Part of the happiness of life consists not in fighting battles, but in avoiding them. A masterly retreat is in itself a victory.

The great Chinese classics have always said that it's better not to fight; that the clever man achieves his ends without violence; that a battle delayed is better than a battle fought.

I labored hard to avoid trouble and bloodshed.

Don't leave hold of your common sense. Think about what you're doing and how the technology can enhance it. Don't think about technology first.

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.

Listen, my friends, I am a friend of the white people and have been so for a long time. I do not want to see blood spilt about this agency. I am going north to my own country. If you are going to send your soldiers after me, I wish you would let us get a little distance away. Then if you want to fight, I will fight you, and we can make the ground bloody at that place.

Let your accusations be few in number, even if they be just.

Sometimes in international politics, the better part of wisdom is to defer dangers rather than try to eliminate them altogether instantly.

Judgment is not upon all occasions required, but discretion always is.

Saying you don't want to enter every potential war in the Middle East doesn't make you an isolationist; it makes you wise.

I don't consider myself dovish and I certainly don't consider myself hawkish. Maybe I would describe myself as owlishthat is wise enough to understand that you want to do everything possible to avoid war.

Always remember, however sure you are that you could easily win, that there would not be a war if the other man did not think he also had a chance.

If not in the interests of the state, do not act. If you cannot succeed, do not use troops. If you are not in danger, do not fight.

It behooves a prudent person to make trial of everything before arms.

Beware Of entrance to a quarrel; but being in, Bear't that the opposed may beware of thee. Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice; Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment. Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not express'd in fancy; rich, not gaudy; For the apparel oft proclaims the man.

Praise not the day until evening has come, a woman until she is burnt, a sword until it is tried, a maiden until she is married, ice until it has been crossed, beer until it has been drunk.

The inhabitants will always see both sides of an argument so long as it can result in a fight.

I do not wish disaster to British arms.

Weapons are instruments of fear; they are not a wise man's tools. He uses them only when he has no choice.

Fair peace is becoming to men; fierce anger belongs to beasts.

When I asked you if you wanted to, I was not testing your courage. I was testing your wisdom.

A lord must learn that sometimes words can accomplish what swords cannot.

Ultimately, only diplomacy can bring about a durable solution to the challenge posed by Iran's nuclear program. As President and Commander in Chief, I will do what is necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. However, I have a profound responsibility to try to resolve our differences peacefully, rather than rush towards conflict.