“The first ladies ought to be ambassadors as well.”
2010s, 2014, U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit Spousal Program (August 2014)
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George W. Bush 675
43rd President of the United States 1946Related quotes
"Instructions given by Niccolo Machiavelli to Rafael Girolami, Ambassador to the Emperor," The History of Florence and of the Affairs of Italy: From the Earliest Times to the Death of Lorenzo the Magnificent; Together with The Prince, and Various Historical Tracts, H.G. Bohn, Editor, p.505–06 (1854).
Context: Now, in order to execute a political commission well, it is necessary to know the character of the prince and those who sway his counsels;... but it is above all things necessary to make himself esteemed, which he will do if he so regulates his actions and conversation that he shall be thought a man of honour, liberal, and sincere. The latter point is highly essential, though too much neglected, as I have seen more than one so lose themselves in the opinion of princes by their duplicity, that they have been unable to conduct a negotiation of the most trifling importance. It is undoubtedly necessary for the ambassador occasionally to mask his game; but it should be done so as not to awaken suspicion and he ought also to be prepared with an answer in case of discovery.
2016, Presidential transition of Donald Trump (November 2016)
“First of all, ladies and gentlemen, you must forget that you are singers.”
Instructions to the singers in his opera Pelléas et Mélisande, as quoted in 100 Great Operas and Their Stories (1989) by Henry William Simon, p. 371
“Your memory is your first and best weapon, ladies. Learn to use it.”
Source: Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy
“Ambassadors are the eye and ear of states.”
Gli ambasciadori sono l'occhio e l'orecchio degli stati.
Storia d' Italia (1537-1540)
“Ambassadors are the eyes and ears of States.”
Gli Ambasciadori sono gli occhi e gli orecchi de gli stati.
CCLXXVI.
Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 305.
Concetti Politici (1578)
“We talk often about choice. Well, ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to choose.”
2012 Democratic National Convention
Source: The Importance of Being Earnest
Philippines' Rodrigo Duterte insults US envoy with homophobic slur https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/10/philippines-leader-calls-us-ambassador-gay-son-of-a-whore-prompting-summons, The Guardian (10 August 2016)