FAO Quotables

"But being right, even morally right, isn't everything. It is also important to be competent, to be consistent, and to be knowledgeable. It's important for your soldiers and diplomats to speak the language of the people you want to influence. It's important to understand the ethnic and tribal divisions of the place you hope to assist."
-Anne Applebaum

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Diplomat's Daily Quotable- U

Useful: "There are few ironclad rules of diplomacy but to one there is no exception.  When an official reports that talks were useful, it can be safely be concluded that nothing was accomplished." 
-John Kenneth Galbraith, 1969

Wait, you are supposed to accomplish stuff in 'talks' and meetings?  I thought they were just to get you out of the office!

No comments:

Post a Comment