Donna Edwards Quotes

You can change my mind, but you gotta work harder at it.

I've been dealing with politicians all my life. All my life. And I've always gotten them to do what I need them to do.

I want to prove that you can get things done without having everyone dislike you – ie acting like a politician.

In peace, as there is more time to spare, the leaders are expected to persuade the rank and file, instead of commanding them.

I sit here all day trying to persuade people to do the things they ought to have the sense to do without my persuading them. That's all the powers of the President amount to.

As president, I was more successful; I had more opportunity than as prime minister. Why? I didn't have the power to give orders, to command, but I had the opportunity to call people to volunteer. In my period of presidency, I never heard the word 'no.'

I'm a leader, not a dictator. I want to persuade people rather than threaten or control them.

Sometimes you need conflict in order to come up with a solution. Through weakness, oftentimes, you can't make the right sort of settlement, so I'm aggressive, but I also get things done, and in the end, everybody likes me.

Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.

So much of life is a negotiation - so even if you're not in business, you have opportunities to practice all around you.

President Obama thinks he can use emotion to bring pressure on Congress. But that's not how adults with power respond to things.

The only way to conduct an effective collaboration is to debate the things upon which you disagree. If one doesn't manage to bring the other around to his point of view, then whichever collaborator feels the most passionate about the thing being debated ought to get his way.

The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.

Thaw with her gentle persuasion is more powerful than Thor with his hammer. The one melts, the other breaks into pieces.

Persuasion is often more effectual than force.

Now I see that going out into the testing ground of men it is the tongue and not the deed that wins the day.

I think it was when I realised I could talk anybody into doing just about anything I wanted them to.

Most negotiators are trying to get their way.

If you are explaining, you are losing.

You don’t have to be confrontational of aggressive to get to where you want to be or get people to do what you want to do.

I don't twist arms. I shake hands.

As to such of them as you cannot prevail with to concur you are to endeavor at least to soften them in their opposition or to get them to be absent.

The art of politics is learning to walk with your back to the wall, your elbows high, and a smile on your face.

The secret to legislative success in Virginia is courtesy, patience, and persistence; you usually get what you want. You won’t get it if you scream about it, and you won’t get it if you’re not willing to wait a long time.

Part of your job as President is not only to make the tough calls, but to get people to agree with you.