Barry McGuigan Quotes

I can do the PR thing until the cows come home. That's my nature. I never want to upset anybody.

I feel like I've always been a great mediator.

I've grown up a little bit. I understand the importance of the negotiation. It is a collective act.

Don't beg, don't threaten and don't assume you're always right.

I see myself as a bridge-builder who can understand both sides.

I like to keep everyone happy. I feel like it's my responsibility to do that.

I don't like upsetting people.

You've got to be able to know someone really well to be able to have a row and then also walk away from it and not have it matter, especially in this business. That doesn't mean to say we have many rows but I think the nearest thing to a row would be just flatly disagreeing with something .

I'm polite. I guess that's the dichotomy within me. I don't like to piss people off just for the sake of pissing them off. I pick my battles.

There should be an honest attempt at the reconciliation of differences before resorting to combat.

But I think that sensitivity is also a good counsellor when it comes to enforcing one's interests.

You have to give everybody another recourse as some means other than violence, no matter how distasteful it may be to have to deal with them and what they represent.

A prime minister has to keep a certain balance when dealing with sensitive issues.

It's a difficult question of relations between people.

I'm a mediator by training and inclination.

I try to avoid conflict. I don't want people to be unhappy.

Sharon is capable of making peace.

You have to pick your battles on set.

I have always believed in dialogue and in nonviolence, and if you look at my background you will see that it has always been my policy to talk to everyone.

There never was a time when, in my opinion, some way could not be found to prevent the drawing of the sword.

The strong should always permit the weak and aggrieved to talk, to bluster, and scold without taking offence; and if we had so acted, and exercised proper skill in the management of our affairs, Mexico and ourselves would, by this time, have quietly and peaceably settled all difficulties and been good friends.

Some people, you have to grit your teeth in order to stay in the same room as them, but you get on and ask the questions you assume most of the people watching want to ask.

When you have a conflict, that means that there are truths that have to be addressed on each side of the conflict. And when you have a conflict, then it's an educational process to try to resolve the conflict. And to resolve that, you have to get people on both sides of the conflict involved so that they can dialogue.

I do believe that in order to be a successful negotiator that as a diplomat, you have to be able to put yourself into the other person's shoes. Unless you can understand what is motivating them, you are never going to be able to figure out how to solve a particular problem.

I don't fight with people - like, I can barely fight with my husband because I'll just start crying instead.