Liddell Hart, B. H. -- Deterrent or Defense (1960)

Dave — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 16:45:06 +0000

Keep strong, if possible. In any case, keep cool. Have unlimited patience. Never corner an opponent, and always assist him to save face. Put yourself in his shoes — so as to see things through his eyes. Avoid self-righteousness like the devil — nothing is so self-blinding.

B. H. Liddell Hart (1895-1970) English soldier, military historian (Basil Henry Liddell Hart)
Deterrent or Defense (1960)

Advice to statesmen.

Johnson, Lyndon -- Quoted in Philip Geyelin, Lyndon B. Johnson and the World, ch. 6 (1966)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

While you’re saving your face, you’re losing your ass.

Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973) American politician, educator, US President (1963-69)
Quoted in Philip Geyelin, Lyndon B. Johnson and the World, ch. 6 (1966)
(Source)

Geyelin said the phrase came up during "an august gathering of his most distinguished advisers when the question arose whether to honor an apparent US commitment to a proposition which Congress seemed unlikely to accept. Face-saving, the President observed, was not his major purpose in life," followed by the quote.

WIST Quotations

Liddell Hart, B. H. -- Deterrent or Defense (1960)

Johnson, Lyndon -- Quoted in Philip Geyelin, Lyndon B. Johnson and the World, ch. 6 (1966)