The stronger one’s real position, the less one needs to rub in the other side’s discomfiture. It is rarely wise to inflame a setback with an insult. An important aspect of the art of diplomacy consists of doing what is necessary without producing extraneous motives for retaliation, leaving open the option of later cooperation on other issues.

Henry Kissinger (1923-2024) German-American diplomat
Years of Upheaval, ch. 21 (1982)

 
Added on 18-Sep-09 | Last updated 18-Sep-09
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