QuoteProject
Given a fair wind, we will negotiate our way into the Common Market, head held high, not crawling in. Negotiations? Yes. Unconditional acceptance of whatever terms are offered us? No.
Harold Wilson
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote emphasizes the importance of negotiating with integrity rather than accepting unfavorable terms submissively.

Harold Wilson's quote reflects a strong stance on the importance of dignity and negotiation in political dealings. He expresses a commitment to engaging in discussions and negotiations with confidence, rather than passively accepting whatever terms may be imposed by others. This highlights a broader philosophy of seeking fair and favorable outcomes while maintaining one's self-respect and agency.

Themes

NegotiationDignityPoliticsSelf-RespectIntegrity

In practice

Example use cases

During a political debate, I could reference this quote to underscore the importance of maintaining strong principles while negotiating.

More from Harold Wilson

The Labour Party is a moral crusade or it is nothing.
Harold WilsonRead
He who rejects change is the architect of decay.
Harold WilsonRead

Similar quotes

We vainly fancy ourselves above the ugly informing and paranoia of the right-wing McCarthy era, but in the 21st century, the Left has fashioned a mirror image.
Lionel ShriverRead
Marijuana legalization's income may help fund education, prevention and treatment programs for harder drugs. What's clear is that the four-decade-old U.S.-backed war on drugs is not working, and that it's producing tens of thousands of dead across the hemisphere, without significant gains in reducing consumption. Experimenting with new weapons to weaken the cartels may be better than doing nothing.
Andres OppenheimerRead
People in debt become hopeless and hopeless people don't vote. They always say that that everyone should vote but I think that if the poor in Britain or the United States turned out and voted for people that represented their interests there would be a real democratic revolution.
Tony BennRead
The political machine triumphs because it is a united minority acting against a divided majority.
Will DurantRead
Power must never be trusted without a check.
John AdamsRead
Abstention means you stayed at home or went to the beach. By casting a blank vote, you're saying that you understand your responsibility, you have a political conscience and you came to vote, but you don't agree with any of the existing parties and this is the only way you have of saying so.
Jose SaramagoRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.