Alain de Botton Quotes

I try not to deal with people's hostility, though I must if they have something I need from them, as the professors did at Columbia or my landlord did.

When you start to work with someone, there's a negotiation that takes place involving what's going to happen when you have a difference of opinion. Most attempts at collaboration never survive the negotiation. Merely being agreeable is not enough.

I believe that it's important to not just shy away from confrontation.

Remember, it takes two to make an argument. The one who is wrong is the one who will be doing most of the talking.

I don't have problems with people, because if I do, I address it.

Nowadays, if you are afraid of confrontation, you are not going to do very well.

Never go to bed mad. Stay up and fight.

Never go to bed angry, stay up and fight.

Whenever you're in conflict with someone, there is one factor that can make the difference between damaging your relationship and deepening it. That factor is attitude.

It's kinda cool seeing people having real fights with people they really know.

I can fight, but that's the only thing I can do. When it comes to anything other than fighting or talking, I'm not very good.

One should not maintain a dispute.

I've never thought it was a good idea to act back-to-back.

Naturally, Brie and I bicker, like, every 10 minutes about everything in life.

Normally when you meet a person you don't like, you might have words with them, but then you walk away. When you're filming a show, you can't walk away.

When you have a lot of communication, it picks up the aggressiveness with everybody on the court.

If two guys want to go see each other, let them be in the middle, let them throw some punches, then break it up.

I would never say don't have an argument.

As we ride the elevator Gale finally says “You're still angry.” “And you're still not sorry,” I reply. "I will stand by what I said. Do you want me to lie about it?” he asks. “No, I want you to rethink it and come up with the right opinion,” I tell him.

There is a point beyond which conciliation looks like capitulation. I do not believe I passed that point, but others have thought otherwise.

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 .

oh my god, she said are you going to be reasonable about this?

I've spent my life navigating through sensitive issues. Not wanting to upset people.

When neighbours interact with each other, it is only natural that sometimes they will run into problems of some kind or another. As long as they respect each other, properly manage differences, and pursue mutual benefits, there will be harmonious sound instead of jarring noises.

I don't think that there is a person that I've met - I'm sure there are - that I've had any conflict with.