One of the little-celebrated powers of Presidents (and other high government officials) is to listen to their critics with just enough sympathy to ensure their silence.
John Kenneth GalbraithRead
There are few ironclad rules of diplomacy but to one there is no exception. When an official reports that talks were useful, it can safely be concluded that nothing was accomplished.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Diplomatic talks often yield minimal results, despite official reports suggesting otherwise.
This quote by John Kenneth Galbraith highlights a common skepticism in the realm of diplomacy. It suggests that even when officials claim discussions have been productive, it is typically an indication that no significant progress has been made. This reflects the often superficial nature of diplomatic engagements where appearances may be prioritized over substantive outcomes.
Themes
DiplomacyPoliticsCommunicationNegotiationResults
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about international relations, one might say, 'As Galbraith wisely noted, when officials declare talks as useful, we often find that little has actually changed.'
More from John Kenneth Galbraith
All quotes →If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.
John Kenneth GalbraithRead
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.
John Kenneth GalbraithRead
All successful revolutions are the kicking in of a rotten door.
John Kenneth GalbraithRead
Money differs from an automobile or mistress in being equally important to those who have it and those who do not.
John Kenneth GalbraithRead
People of privilege will always risk their complete destruction rather than surrender any material part of their advantage.
John Kenneth GalbraithRead
Similar quotes
I happen to think that American politics is one of the noblest arts of mankind; and I cannot do anything else but write about it.
Theodore WhiteRead
The Republican nominee-to-be, of course, is also a young man. But his approach is as old as McKinley. His party is the party of the past. His speeches are generalities from Poor Richard's Almanac. Their platform, made up of left-over Democratic planks, has the courage of our old convictions. Their pledge is a pledge to the status quo-and today there can be no status quo.
John F. KennedyRead
Democracy is not something that happens, you know, just at election time, and it's not something that happens just with one event. It's an ongoing building process. But it also ought to be a part of our culture, a part of our lives.
Jim HightowerRead
There's a lot of fuss on the Left about election irregularities, like, you know, the voting machines were tampered with, they didn't count the votes right, and so on. That's all accurate and of some importance, but of far more importance is the fact that elections just don't take place, not in any meaningful sense of the term 'election.'
Noam ChomskyRead
I will splinter the CIA into a thousand pieces and scatter it into the winds.
John F. KennedyRead
My friends and I have been coddled long enough by a billionaire-friendly Congress.
Warren BuffettRead