Townsend Harris Quotes

Even allies don’t share every single interest that you have. That’s a law of nature in the international system. They will tell you most of what you need to know but there may be some things that they don’t tell you that you need to know in order to formulate your policy as wisely as you can.

The world of high-stakes international diplomacy can be rough and tumble, but it's more often than not a procession of suits and summits, protocol sessions and photo ops.

The United States has got to adopt a policy of befriending and creating allies around the world.

I believe a relationship with a country is simply bound to the interests of two countries and not by personal issues.

Of course the United States and Russia have different interests. Nevertheless, both are strategic partners.

Clearly, the Chinese know that we want a good relationship with them.

The best way to influence our enemies is to stand steadfastly by our friends.

No state, without the Consent of the United States in Congress assembled, shall send any embassy to, or receive any embassy from, or enter into any conference, agreement, alliance or treaty with any King prince or state;

The reason for having diplomatic relations is not to confer a compliment, but to secure a convenience.

You should never make alliances with a decadent nation like France and a semi-barbarous nation like Russia

One of the great power’s intents in granting trade concessions and inducements or taking a hard line toward another state is to enable a favorable foreign policy coalition abroad or disable an unfavorable coalition.

As our relationship with China grows and matures, tensions will naturally emerge.

How have relations with Iran and Belarus benefited Venezuela? We are interested in countries that have democracies, that respect human rights, that we have an affinity with. What affinity do we have with Iran?

Japan and China are isolated and without intercourse with other countries; hence the President directed me to attend to or watch the state of affairs in China also.

Our relations with the other powers of Europe have experienced no essential change since the last session.

If you want to treat China as an enemy, you have a much better chance of making them an enemy than if you treat them as a potential friend.

Obama's foreign policy is strangely self-centered, focused on himself and the United States rather than on the conduct and needs of the nations the United States allies with, engages with, or must confront.

I have spent time discussing the American political system and current events in Taiwan with the junior diplomats, and they have repeatedly expressed their country's desire to avoid confrontation with China.

When the ambassadors of other foreign countries come to Japan to make treaties, they can be told that such and such a treaty has been made with the ambassador of the United States, and they will rest satisfied with this.

From 8,000 miles away... I would not judge a fellow soldier from a friendly nation and how they are employing their resources.

Turkey has worked alongside its allies from the beginning.

So far as it depends on the course of this government, our relations of good will and friendship will be sedulously cultivated with all nations.

Turkey can be a bridge to regimes and actions the United States can't reach. Turkey can talk to people the United States can't talk to.

Of all the important relationships that Australia has with other countries, none has been more greatly transformed over the last 10 years than our relationship with China.

I think that the president of Iran has the authority wherever which - where - wherever the national interests of the country are involved and, when it is necessary and expedient and required to speak and talk with others in order to promote the rights of its nation, that the president can take that initiative.