Robert Beckel Quotes

Opposition brings concord. Out of discord comes the fairest harmony.

Ultimately, peace depends on compromise.

You need people that are willing to talk to the other side, or you're never going to get anything done. You need to be willing to expand your ground. There's always usually a place on issues where you can find common ground.

Victor and vanquished never unite in substantial agreement.

It is highly probable that in most cases, war could be avoided or ended. For discussions allow passion to subside, and to persuade alienated neighbors, or at least one of them, to listen to the voice of a conciliator is a step in the direction of peace.

Good wishes alone will not ensure peace.

If you aren't please tell me how you are going to not have a war.

We all agree on the necessity of compromise. We just can't agree on when it's necessary to compromise.

Let us move from the era of confrontation to the era of negotiation.

In dancing with the enemy one follows his steps even if counting under one's breath.

We had many more points of agreement than we had points of difference, but we did differ, and the bigger we got, the more insistent we got that each one of us should have his way.

It pays to know the enemy - not least because at some time you may have the opportunity to turn him into a friend.

I hate the fact that people think 'compromise' is a dirty word.

It is always disarming to treat with the enemy, so to speak.

Peace comes through dealing with people. Peace doesn't come at the end of a bayonet or the end of a gun.

Costa Rica believes in building bridges, in looking for solutions to problems, and not clinging to positions.

There comes a point, in any kind of, whether it's in your family discussions or business or whatever, where you finally have to get over the making of the points and now let's see if we can find common ground.

War may be made by one party, but it requires two to make peace.

Jaw jaw is better than war war.

Conciliation is the enemy.

Stop the fighting and find the middle ground.

There can be no reconciliation where there is no open warfare. There must be a battle, a brave boisterous battle, with pennants waving and cannon roaring, before there can be peaceful treaties and enthusiastic shaking of hands.

He who cannot agree with his enemies is controlled by them.

There is an appealing moral clarity in dividing the world into friend and foe. But in reality, progress in international affairs so often demands working with those with whom we do not see eye to eye.

If we can’t agree on the facts, how can we agree on the solutions?