Mary McDonnell Quotes

The best move you can make in negotiation is to think of an incentive the other person hasn't even thought of - and then meet it.

The art of politics is knowing what to do next.

The best way to make a good deal is to have the ability to walk away from it.

You help me, I'll help you. That's politics.

The politician says: "I will give you what you want." The statesman says: "What you think you want is this. What it is possible for you to get is that. What you really want, therefore, is the following.

Effective Presidents are those who can achieve a balance between purpose and prudence.

Power shifts your thinking from what is right and wrong to what is necessary

That’s the trick in any negotiation. Getting to yes means getting the other party satisfied that its interest are being met sufficiently…. You both got to get something out of it that your prepared to fight for at home.

My philosophy is to make an offer that the other guy can't refuse, because he thinks there's no way he can't win.

Dealing with political things, it's not for me. It makes me crazy. I want to buy, you want to sell. Please make it simple.

One good thing about being in business is you learn to compromise. And so you learn to strike a deal that maybe isn't what you were looking for but is better than what you've got.

Politics and war are remarkably similar situations.

Politics is the art of realizing what there is to realize.

The important thing is that we recognize our President's leadership, that he is not saying: I am going to walk away from this. He is saying: I am going to do the right thing.

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

Negotiation means getting the best of your opponent.

If you want me to be a cry baby, I cannot: I am the leader of a country. If you want to give me something and then withdraw it, fine; I must respect your decision.

Great leadership can be a difficult thing to pin down and understand. You know a great leader when you're working for one, but even they can have a hard time articulating what it is that makes their leadership so effective.

Great CEOs are not just born with shiny hair and a tie.

You do the policy, I'll do the politics.

The president of the United States actually has to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time.

More often there's a compromise between ethics and expediency.

Your personality as the prime minister feeds through to what you emphasise, and what you don't, how you'll handle a situation - whether you've got the combination of intelligence or instincts to adapt and to make good decisions.

I worked with a group of people who argued day and night - professors, officials, the Minister of Finance - but there were decisions that I had to make.

I don't expect to win every battle but I think Fred Pierce has enough respect for me that I can go fight my battles and win my share.