Lin Yutang Quotes

Unless you’re prepared to use force, it’s very difficult to deal with a person who understands only force.

There are only two means by which men can deal with one another: guns or logic. Force or persuasion. Those who know that they cannot win by means of logic, have always resorted to guns.

To attempt to superimpose its views through the exercise of force, is seldom the part of intelligence; it is frequently the part of ignorance.

Force should never be the first answer, but sometimes it is the only answer.

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.

Jane! will you hear reason?' (he stooped and approached his lips to my ear) 'because, if you won't, I'll try violence.

Violence is my last option.

To jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war.

The idea of reasoning with terrorists without force or with appeasement is naive, and I think it's dangerous.

I'll talk. You'll listen.

Better talk than fight, if nothing of sovereign value is anyway lost. Dialogue has achieved more than confrontation in many parts of the world.

The whole concept of negotiating is intimidating to many people.

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

Negotiate with those who wish to talk - and take action against those who create mischief.

Between two groups of people who want to make inconsistent kinds of worlds, I see no remedy but force.

Our position is that we can sit down and talk to try to solve our problems through dialogue.

Arabs respect only the language of force.

Jaw jaw is better than war war.

Peaceably if we can, forcibly if we must.

Diplomacy without arms is music without instruments.

There's always a way to talk.

The fact that talk may be boring or turgid or uninspiring should not cause us to forget the fact that it is preferable to war.

What matters is not whether one talks to adversaries but what one says to them, which strategies of engagement are set in place, and how competently they are executed.

Talk brings opponents together.

The world does not grow better by force or by the policeman's club.