A Quote by Oliver Herford

Diplomacy: lying in state.

Oliver Herford

Quote Topics

Diplomacy Lying State

Quote Author

Oliver Herford
American - Author
1863 - 1935

Frankly, most governments are used to lying to each other - to a degree that most people would find shocking. Part of diplomacy is the art of strategic lying.

Jonathan Turley

Diplomacy is important, extremely important, and I don't think these reductions at the State Department are appropriate because many times diplomacy is a lot more effective - and cert cheaper - than military engagement.

Mitch McConnell

diplomacy, n.: The patriotic art of lying for one's country.

Ambrose Bierce

Let me be clear: I'm a believer in a robust military, which is essential for backing up diplomacy. But the implication is that we need a balanced tool chest of diplomatic and military tools alike. Instead, we have a billionaire military and a pauper diplomacy. The U.S. military now has more people in its marching bands than the State Department has in its foreign service - and that's preposterous.

Nicholas D. Kristof

Diplomacy is living in state.

Oliver Herford

It would be some time before I fully realized that the United States sees little need for diplomacy; power is enough. Only the weak rely on diplomacy. The Roman Empire had no need for diplomacy. Nor does the United States.

Boutros Boutros-Ghali

The rulers of the state are the only persons who ought to have the privilege of lying, either at home or abroad; they may be allowed to lie for the good of the state.

Plato

The most offensive is not their lying - one can always forgive lying - lying is a delightful thing, for it leads to truth - what is offensive is that they lie and worship their own lying.

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Diplomacy was what I wanted to do. From really quite an early age and I think I had a false impression that diplomacy equals travel.

John Gimlette

This campaign of non-cooperation has no reference to diplomacy, secret or open. The only diplomacy it admits of is the statement and pursuance of truth at any cost.

Mahatma Gandhi

Mr. Tillerson's obsession with downsizing our diplomacy has colored his time at the State Department.

Antony Blinken

My fear of coming out wasn't about rejection. I was scared people would say: 'Why were you lying to me? If you've been lying about that what else are you lying about?' Lying is my biggest regret.

Gareth Thomas

A man who is eating or lying with his wife or preparing to go to sleep in humility, thankfulness and temperance, is, by Christian standards, in an infinitely higher state than one who is listening to Bach or reading Plato in a state of pride.