Diplomacy Defined
According to Alfred Denning (1899-1999), a British soldier, mathematician, lawyer and judge.
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When a diplomat says yes, he means perhaps.
When he says perhaps he means no.
When he says no, he is not a diplomat.
When a lady says no, she means perhaps.
When she says perhaps, she means yes.
But when she says yes, she is not a lady.
--From his Speech to the Magistrates Association
October 14, 1982
(Another great Lord Denning quote: "The House of Commons starts its proceedings with a prayer. The chaplain looks at the assembled members with their varied intelligence and then prays for the country." --In the Daily Telegraph, October 12, 1989)
Posted December 28, 2009 8:00 AM
Category: Language -- Prev: Bubba Goes to France |