Huainanzi Quotes

Courage: Conspicuous courage by statesmen in war can lay a basis for transforming military defeat into political victory. Courier, diplomatic: The diplomatically privileged escort of diplomatic pouches ("bags") between embassies and foreign ministries, whose passage may not be impeded by foreign states. Courtesy: "Courtesy means controlled elegance embodying feelings." — Huainanzi, as translated by Thomas Cleary [礼者，体情制文者也。——《淮南子·齐俗训》]

Surprise: "It is a diplomat's first duty not to be taken by surprise. Politics are dominated by constant change. All things flow. Do not let your imagination run wild. Do not make an elephant out of every gnat. But look upon almost everything as possbile and little as certain. Above all, do not let yourself be hurried. The deep secret of our life lies somewhere between excessive haste and lost opportunities." — Heinrich von Bülow Survival: "Having extensive territory and a large population is not enough to constitue strength. Having strong armor and sharp wepaons is not enough to win victory. Having high walls and deep moats is not enough to comprise security. Having strict orders and penalties is not enough to be authoritative. Those who carry out policies conducive to survival will survive even if small; those who carry out policies conducive to destruction will perish even if large. A small country that actually practices culture and virtue reigns; a large country that is militaristic perishes. An army that remains whole goes to battle only after it has already won; an army doomed to defeat is one that fights first and then seeks to win. When virtues are equal, the many prevail over the few. When powers are comparable, the intelligent prevail over the foolish." — Huainanzi, as translated by Thomas Cleary [地广人众，不足以为强；坚甲利兵，不足以为胜；高城深池，不足以为固；严令繁刑，不足以为威。为存政者，虽小必存；为亡政者，虽大必亡。……故千乘之国，行文德者王；万乘之国，好用兵者亡。故全兵先胜而后战，败兵先战而后求胜。德均则众者胜寡，力敌则智者胜愚……——《淮南子·兵略训》] Suspicion: Ignorance is the mother of suspicion. Sympathy, empathy: "Sympathy for the other ... [side's] position ... [weakens] a negotiator's ability to speak for his own side, but empathy means that he knows how his position looks from the other fellow's shoes, as well as how it feels to be in them." — I. William Zartman and Maureen R. Berman, 1982