Matteo Salvini Quotes

Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.

The art of politics is learning to walk with your back to the wall, your elbows high, and a smile on your face.

The public official must pick his way nicely, must learn to placate though not to yield too much, to have the art of honeyed words but not to seem neutral, and above all to keep constantly audible, visible, likable, even kissable.

I have no delusions about my likability in every scenario. I know that in order to get things done the way you want them, oftentimes your position will be unpopular.

In politics, you must learn to say 'no' without offending people. That is an art that one must master: to satisfy a person even when you have to say 'no' to him.

People can be sensitive, so if I need to, I'll suck it up and be more flowery. I'll do what it takes to get the outcome I want. As I like to say, sometimes you have to crouch to conquer.

It's so much easier to throw rocks than it is to govern.

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

When it comes to knowing what to say, to charm, I always had it.

It is happy for you that you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy. May I ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the moment, or are they the result of previous study?

Diplomacy is to do and say the nastiest things in the nicest way.

People who are in politics to be right all the time would be better off taking up fly-fishing. It's less dangerous. Politics that is not applied in the real world and doesn't address the real challenges and paradoxes and agonies is a hobby.

As my Sicilian grandfather used to say, you get more flies with honey than with vinegar, right?

Power is getting things done without having to demonstrate that you can bulldoze it through. I'm most effective when I've studied an issue, when I can make a credible argument, and then bring people along.

That which neither weapon nor flame could accomplish will be achieved by a sweet speaking tongue in council.

Sometimes you need conflict in order to come up with a solution. Through weakness, oftentimes, you can't make the right sort of settlement, so I'm aggressive, but I also get things done, and in the end, everybody likes me.

A soft refusal is not always taken, but a rude one is immediately believed.

A clever, imaginative, humorous request can open closed doors and closed minds.

President Obama thinks he can use emotion to bring pressure on Congress. But that's not how adults with power respond to things.

I talk a big game because I carry a big stick.

Obama seems like he tries to talk everyone into what he believes - and that's part of why we elected him, because he's a calm, reasonable guy - but behind that, there has to be some fight. You have to be able to take a few punches and throw a few punches.

Thaw with her gentle persuasion is more powerful than Thor with his hammer. The one melts, the other breaks into pieces.

I've been dealing with politicians all my life. All my life. And I've always gotten them to do what I need them to do.

You can't go to a negotiating table pointing a gun, but you've got to keep it over your shoulder.

I have a talent for dealing with difficult men.