Ralph Begleiter Quotes

American-French relations, their pitch and volume, have always been influenced by the media.

If you operate any kind of major diplomacy, you must run some risk.

The term “public diplomacy” is often a euphemism for propaganda.

Public diplomacy, practiced in harmony with traditional diplomacy, will enable us to advance our interest, to protect our security, and to continue to provide the moral basis for our leadership in the world.

Public Diplomacy – the open exchange of ideas and information – is an inherent characteristic of democratic societies. Its global mission is central to … foreign policy. And it remains indispensable to … national interests, ideals and leadership role in the world.

Negotiations are the most essential tool of statecraft.

The United States need not worry about hearts and minds in foreign lands.

Ambassadors are the eyes and ears of states.

In a chaotic world, U.S. diplomats will probably have even less contact with the people they need to reach.

I believe in much more diplomacy, not less.

What we (U.S.) have done, is undertaken diplomacy through public assertions that tend to alienate everyone.

I would have said, before the World Trade Center events, that he would try to get a normal relationship with China - making clear to China what the limits are of what America can accept, but also showing understanding for some of Chinese necessities. I thought he was moving towards the position that I have more or less advocated.

It is hard to cement any relations with any country based on promises that may not be deliverable.

Our alliances and our credibility are crucial elements of our working capital in advancing America's interests in the world, and they have been eroded over the last four years.

As has been pointed out with Libya, the debate over Libya, sometimes we allow diplomatic relations with imperfect regimes because progress can best be made through engagement instead of isolation.

I'm simply saying that there are advantages in sending a skilled diplomat who can always say, 'I'll get back to you on that, Mr. Minister'.

We always have hoped that American diplomacy deploys itself in dialogue and persuasion rather than by ultimatums. That is the path we want in international relations.

Additionally, borrowing a page from U.S. foreign policy, I decided to send a message to a government that was becoming increasingly hostile.

The most successful cultural diplomacy strategy integrates people-to-people or arts/culture/media-to-people interactions into the basic business of diplomacy. The programs in Afghanistan, Egypt, and Iran all contribute to core goals of U.S. policy in those countries.

The United States' administrations... must recognize that Iran is a big power. Having said that, we consider ourselves to be a human force and a cultural power and hence a friend of other nations. We have never sought to dominate others or to violate the rights of any other country.

Players have a great deal of flexibility when conducting diplomatic relations with their allies.

One of my goals upon becoming Secretary of State was to take diplomacy out of capitals, out of government offices, into the media, into the streets of countries.

The first thing a diplomat has to do is understand the domestic politics of foreign states.

You can’t outsource diplomacy. You can’t do it unless you do it.

There is one condition for us to have healthy relations with the United States. It's called respect.