Diplomacy Sayings and Quotes

Below you will find our collection of inspirational, wise, and humorous old diplomacy quotes, diplomacy sayings, and diplomacy proverbs, collected over the years from a variety of sources.

It is a principle of diplomacy that one must know something of the truth in order to lie convincingly. Tom Clancy
Diplomacy in general does not resolve conflicts. Wars end not due to peace processes, but due to one side giving up. Daniel Pipes
Sincere diplomacy is no more possible than dry water or wooden iron. Josef Stalin
Diplomacy is fundamentally working with people, bringing people together to deal with difficult issues. John Roos
Diplomacy is a game of chess in which the nations are checkmated. Karl Kraus
Diplomacy is listening to what the other guy needs. Preserving your own position, but listening to the other guy. You have to develop relationships with other people so when the tough times come, you can work together. Colin Powell
Diplomacy is a disguised war, in which states seek to gain by barter and intrigue, by the cleverness of arts, the objectives which they would have to gain more clumsily by means of war. Randolph Bourne
The art of diplomacy is to take an opportunity and turn it into something. Brent Scowcroft
Quiet diplomacy is far more effective than public posturing. Atal Bihari Vajpayee
DIPLOMACY, n. Lying in state, or the patriotic art of lying for one's country. Ambrose Bierce
The best diplomacy starts with getting to know each other. George W. Bush
Diplomacy is like jazz: endless variations on a theme. Richard Holbrooke
Diplomacy is not merely talking somebody into something; it's talking to somebody from a position of strength. You put your power on the table to open up the conversation; that's diplomacy. Daniel Fried
In the world of diplomacy, some things are better left unsaid. Lincoln Chafee
Diplomacy, if properly practiced, is not just talking for the sake of talking. Condoleezza Rice
Diplomacy is to do and say the nastiest things in the nicest way. Isaac Goldberg
Diplomacy without arms is like music without instruments. Frederick The Great
In diplomacy, like in great many other things, the rules of engagement survive only until one remarkable person decides to break them. Ilona Andrews
You can do a lot with diplomacy, but with diplomacy backed up by force you can get a lot more done. Kofi Atta Annan
Diplomacy means the art of nearly deceiving all your friends, but not quite deceiving all your enemies. Kofi Abrefa Busia
Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else have your way. Daniele Varè
Diplomacy is the velvet glove that cloaks the fist of power. Robin Hobb
All diplomacy is a continuation of war by other means. Zhou Enlai
Diplomacy: the art of restraining power. Henry Kissinger
Diplomacy is thinking twice before saying nothing. Anonymous
Successful diplomacy is an alignment of objectives and means. Dennis Ross
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. Bo Bennett
Diplomacy is much more than just talking to your friends. You've got to talk to people who aren't our friends, and even people you dislike. Richard Armitage
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. E. B. White
Part of diplomacy is to open different definitions of self-interest. Hillary Clinton
To say nothing, especially when speaking, is half the art of diplomacy. Will Durant
The principle of give and take is the principle of diplomacy give one and take ten. Mark Twain
A real diplomat is one who can cut his neighbor's throat without having his neighbor notice it. Trygve Lie
A diplomat is a fellow that lets you do all the talking while gets what he wants. Kin Hubbard
In order to be a diplomat, one must speak a number of languages, including doubletalk. Carey Williams
Frank and explicit is the right line to take when you wish to conceal your own mind and confuse the minds of others. Disraeli
Diplomacy: the patriotic art of lying for one's country. Bierce
A diplomatic language has a hundred ways of saying nothing but no way of saying something. Will Rogers
Diplomacy is the art of diving into trouble without making a splash. Evan Esar
A good diplomat is one who can always make himself misunderstood. Evan Esar
Diplomacy is the art of handling a porcupine without disturbing the quills. Evan Esar
A diplomat is one who can put his foot down without stepping on someone else's toes. Evan Esar
A diplomat is a man who uses his head without anyone suspecting it. Evan Esar
All war represents a failure of diplomacy. Tony Benn
Euphemisms are unpleasant truths wearing diplomatic cologne. Quentin Crisp
Diplomacy is the better part of valor. Wolfgang Mieder
Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else have your way. Wolfgang Mieder
Quiet diplomacy is far more effective than public posturing. Claude Arpi
Diplomacy in the classic sense, the adjustment of differences through negotiation. Henry Kissinger
Humor, humility, and, of course, honesty, all are qualities that work in public and cultural diplomacy. Cynthia P. Schneider