Diplomacy

While one party in a dispute is prepared to go to extremes—and it is firmly believed that under no circumstances will the other party even take the necessary action to defend its right and to discharge its duties—there is no possibility of any effective parley between them.

1914, 28 April.

We must not allow our insular pride to blind us to the fact that some of these foreigners are quite intelligent, that they have an extraordinary knack on occasion of rising fully up to the level of British comprehension.

1933,  14 March.

Referring to disarmament talks occurring at Geneva.

It is always an error in diplomacy to press a matter when it is quite clear that no further progress is to be made. It is also a great error if you ever give the impression abroad that you are using language which is more concerned with your domestic politics than with the actual fortunes and merits of the various great countries upon the Continent to whom you offer advice.

1934,  14 March.

It is hard enough to understand the politics of one’s own country; it is almost impossible to understand those of foreign countries.

1944, 22 February.

It is even harder to understand the politics of other countries than those of your own.

1944, 11 October. British Embassy, Moscow.

(WW2 VI, 200.)

Same expression as above, in different words. Stalin, dining with WSC, had assured

Churchill that the Conservatives would win the next British election.

I have, therefore, not hesitated to travel from court to court like a wandering minstrel, always with the same songs to sing—or the same set of songs.

1944, 27 October. (Dawn, 220.)

WSC s love of music hall songs suggests that his "wandering minstrel” was from George M. Cohan’s musical comedy The Merry Malones (1927).

While we feel acutely our position, we must not lose the faculty of understanding that of other people.

1945, 13 December.

Patience and perseverance must never be grudged when the peace of the world is at stake.

1954, 25 February.