Noah Feldman Quotes

Successful diplomacy is an alignment of objectives and means.

Nobody's ever said that pins are a tool of diplomacy.

When diplomats meet, they are, of necessity, ambiguous, in order to get an agreement.

I know the pros and cons of not being diplomatic.

You learn, just as you learn good manners, how to approach things with a certain amount of diplomacy.

In the world of diplomacy, some things are better left unsaid.

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.

I believe in diplomacy; I don't believe in talking to... that talking to Iran somehow constitutes a concession or a favour.

The language of any joint statement between two countries is mulled over many times before it becomes final.

Diplomacy is the lowest form of politeness because it misquotes the greatest number of people. A nation, like an individual, if it has anything to say, should simply say it.

It's a necessary quality of a diplomat or a politician that he will compromise. Uncompromising politicians or diplomats get you into the most terrible trouble.

Negotiating in the classic diplomatic sense assumes parties more anxious to agree than to disagree.

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'.

Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock.

A constructive approach to diplomacy doesn't mean relinquishing one's rights. It means engaging with one's counterparts, on the basis of equal footing and mutual respect, to address shared concerns and achieve shared objectives.

Diplomacy is more than saying or doing the right things at the right time, it is avoiding saying or doing the wrong things at any time.

Modern diplomats approach every problem with an open mouth.

I don't think that anybody should be ruling in or ruling out anything while we are conducting diplomacy.

Diplomacy is the art of saying “Nice Doggie!” till you can find a rock.

The art of diplomacy is to take your humiliations in private.

Diplomats are only useful in fair weather. As soon as it rains they drown in every drop.

It is doubtful if anyone could recount a single instance in which a rupture of diplomatic relations has ever brought any benefit to the government that initiated the break.

The history of diplomacy is the history of relations among rival powers which did not enjoy political intimacy and did not respond to appeals to common purposes. Nevertheless, ... to think that rival and unfriendly powers cannot be brought to a settlement is to forget what diplomacy is about.

Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate.

I am an undiplomatic diplomat.