“Diplomacy is the velvet glove that cloaks the fist of power.”

—  Robin Hobb

Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Diplomacy is the velvet glove that cloaks the fist of power." by Robin Hobb?
Robin Hobb photo
Robin Hobb 76
American fiction writer (pseudonym) 1952

Related quotes

Alan Keyes photo

“The heart of government, coated with whatever velvet gloves you want to put on it, is a mailed fist of force and coercion.”

Alan Keyes (1950) American politician

Renew America rally in Orem, Utah, March 8, 2000. http://renewamerica.us/archives/speeches/00_03_08utah.htm.
2000

Alain de Botton photo

“Responsible for wrapping the iron fist of authority in its velvet glove is Jane Axtell, head of the accountancy firm’s Human Resources department.”

Alain de Botton (1969) Swiss writer

Source: The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work (2009), p. 244.

Pietro Badoglio photo

“I slowly strangle my enemies with a velvet glove.”

Pietro Badoglio (1871–1956) Italian general during both World Wars and a Prime Minister of Italy

Io i miei nemici li strangolo lentamente col guanto di velluto.
Quoted in "Italienisch-ostafrika(1936-1941)"‎ - Page 18 - by Stefan Plenk - 2008

Boutros Boutros-Ghali photo

“There is more power in the open hand than in the clenched fist.”

Herbert N. Casson (1869–1951) Canadian journalist and writer

Herbert N. Casson cited in: The International Chemical Worker Vol. 13-15 (1953). p. 192
1950s and later

Margaret Thatcher photo

“Socialists cry "Power to the people", and raise the clenched fist as they say it. We all know what they really mean—power over people, power to the State.”

Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) British stateswoman and politician

Speech to Conservative Central Council (15 March 1986) http://www.margaretthatcher.org/speeches/displaydocument.asp?docid=106348
Second term as Prime Minister
Context: Popular capitalism, which is the economic expression of liberty, is proving a much more attractive means for diffusing power in our society. Socialists cry "Power to the people", and raise the clenched fist as they say it. We all know what they really mean— power over people, power to the State. To us Conservatives, popular capitalism means what it says: power through ownership to the man and woman in the street, given confidently with an open hand.

Donald Rumsfeld photo

“I shouldn't get into … this is diplomacy, and I don't do diplomacy.”

Donald Rumsfeld (1932) U.S. Secretary of Defense

http://www.guardian.co.uk/quiz/questions/0,,1943315,00.html
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0304/30/se.01.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/bh/rumsfeld.shtml
2000s

Neil Strauss photo

“Love is a velvet prison.”

Neil Strauss (1973) American writer

Rules of the Game: The Style Diaries (2007)

Jesse Owens photo

“The black fist is a meaningless symbol. When you open it, you have nothing but fingers — weak, empty fingers. The only time the black fist has significance is when there's money inside. There's where the power lies.”

Jesse Owens (1913–1980) American track and field athlete

Said to Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who had given the black power salute while receiving their Olympic medals
Jesse Owens, Champion Athlete (1990)

Vladimir Nabokov photo

“The lost glove is happy.”

Source: Pale Fire

Related topics