John Knox Quotes

Diplomacy is the art of letting somebody else have your way.

In peace, as there is more time to spare, the leaders are expected to persuade the rank and file, instead of commanding them.

Engagement is not appeasement. Engagement is not surrender.

There are two types of people: those who try to win and those who try to win arguments. They are never the same.

Fight as hard as you can, and then understand there's going to have to be some amount of reasonable compromise.

Harsh counsels have no effect; they are like hammers, which are always repulsed by the anvil.

The capability of negotiating... is something that means you not only have to understand fully what you believe and what your national interests are but in order to be a really good negotiator, you have to try to figure out what the other person on the other side of the table has in mind.

One thing I've learned - and I've said this to Republicans and Democrats - is, bees cannot sting and make honey at the same time. They have to make a choice. Either they are going to be a stinger or a honey-maker, and I contend that honey is a symbol of legislation and, the nuclear language used by members is the stinger, and you can't do both.

You don’t have to be confrontational of aggressive to get to where you want to be or get people to do what you want to do.

Negotiation is not a solution and will not solve anything. Those who think of negotiation when they are threatened only reveal their weakness and incapability. That is a bad move.

It's not compatible to expect multilateralism to work and, at the same time, to expect to walk out with everything you wanted. This is a recipe for failure. If we prize the system, we have to come knowing that we will need to make compromises. Sometimes painful compromises.

I hope everybody will go back to the negotiating table. I've always said this is the only way forward.

I would love nothing more than compromise. But I would say to you that compromise that's not a solution is a waste of time.

Confrontation is something that I accept as part of the project though not its purpose.

There is a thin line between peace of the brave and peace of the hostage... between compromise - even calculated risk - and irresponsibility and capitulation.

We extend our hand towards peace. Our people are committed to peace. We know that peace entails painful compromise for both sides.

I like to think of sales as the ability to gracefully persuade, not manipulate, a person or persons into a win-win situation.

Every nation sincerely desires peace; and all nations pursue courses which if persisted in, must make peace impossible.

It is highly probable that in most cases, war could be avoided or ended. For discussions allow passion to subside, and to persuade alienated neighbors, or at least one of them, to listen to the voice of a conciliator is a step in the direction of peace.

Good wishes alone will not ensure peace.

Let us move from the era of confrontation to the era of negotiation.

A war can perhaps be won single-handedly. But peace - lasting peace - cannot be secured without the support of all.

In dancing with the enemy one follows his steps even if counting under one's breath.

I just don't believe that you have to come in and insult people when you want to change things.

We're all negotiators.