Tony P. Hall Quotes

If you're willing to tell somebody that you love them, are you also willing to say you're sorry? You need to, even when you think you're in the right.

I know a few expressions. I know what Hilary Clinton basically says in Russian when you translate her into Russian over and over and over is, 'izvinite pozhaluista.' That's, 'excuse me please, excuse me please.' Let's reset things. That's not the way you deal with folks. You show strength if you made a mistake.

When strong, be merciful, if you would have the respect, not the fear of your neighbors.

Peace comes when you talk to the guy you most hate. And that's where the courage of a leader comes, because when you sit down with your enemy, you as a leader must already have very considerable confidence from your own constituency.

I suppose I might insist on making issues of things. But that is not my nature, and I always bear in ming that my mission is to leave behind me the kind of impression that will make it easier for those who follow.

I spent a lot of time with President Mandela supporting his efforts in the peace process in Burundi. The thing that impressed me the most was his humility.

The wise man... if he would live at peace with others, he will bear and forbear.

I don't like anybody to be angry with me. I'd rather have friends.

Even between the best of friends, mistakes and misunderstandings can happen.

I personally apologize to any person who felt anything less than respected and valued by myself.

I have always believed that life is too short for rows and disagreements. Even if I think I'm right, I would prefer to apologize and remain friends rather than win and be an enemy.

I think that Benjamin Franklin felt very strongly in foreign policy in this world, that you needed to at least show some humility, especially when you were strong.

What's really cool about our family is that we don't hold grudges, and I think that is what's been the key to the success. We get into our little disagreements, and whether we're right or wrong, we'll go and apologize. That's just the way we are.

Surely, God on high has not refused to give us enough wisdom to find ways to bring us an improvement in relations between the two great nations on earth.

If you have an argument with someone and you sulk, sometimes you don't want to speak to them. But it is important to keep your friends close to you and do the right things.

It is a good rule in life never to apologize. The right sort of people do not want apologies, and the wrong sort take a mean advantage of them.

I'm sorry, if you were right, I'd agree with you.

If you want to have good relations with the Iranian people in the future, you should acknowledge the right and the might of the Iranian people, and you should bow and surrender to the might of the Iranian people. If you do not accept this, the Iranian people will force you to bow and surrender.

Lord Salisbury and myself have brought you back peace – but a peace I hope with honour.

Enduring peace will come about, not by countries continuing to threaten another, but only through an honest effort to create mutual trust.

The only safe way to destroy an enemy is to make him your friend.

Give the other person the ability to save face…. Don’t rub his nose in things.

A statesman gains little by the arbitrary exercise of ironclad authority upon all occasions that offer, for this wounds the just pride of his subordinates, and thus tends to undermine his strength. A little concession, now and then, where it can do no harm is the wiser policy

History teaches us that enmity between nations—as between individuals—do not last forever.

I regret and grieve over the late troubles. It was a grave mistake, and China will hereafter be a friend of foreigners. No such affair will happen again. China will protect the foreigner, and we hope to be friends in the future.