“We hold each other’s lives in our open hands, not in clenched fists.”
Lloyd Alexander The Chronicles of Prydain
Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book II: The Black Cauldron (1965), Chapter 2
Herbert N. Casson cited in: The International Chemical Worker Vol. 13-15 (1953). p. 192
1950s and later
“We hold each other’s lives in our open hands, not in clenched fists.”
Lloyd Alexander The Chronicles of Prydain
Source: The Chronicles of Prydain (1964–1968), Book II: The Black Cauldron (1965), Chapter 2
“You can't shake hands with a clenched fist.”
Indíra Gándhí (1917–1984) Indian politician and Prime Minister
Attributed
Variant: You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.
“You can't shake hands with a clenched fist.”
George V of the United Kingdom (1865–1936) King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India
Attributed
Alex Haley (1921–1992) African American biographer, screenwriter, and novelist
Source: Roots : The Saga of an American Family (1976), Ch. 51.
Indíra Gándhí (1917–1984) Indian politician and Prime Minister
Press conference, New Delhi (October 19, 1971), quoted in "Indian and Pakistani Armies Confront Each Other Along Borders" by Sydney H. Schanberg, The New York Times (October 20, 1971), page 6C.
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 <br class="br">Second term as Prime Minister <br class="br">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&mdash; 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.
“Tightly clenched fist don’t catch blessings.”
Marcus Orelias (1993) American actor, rapper, songwriter, author and entrepreneur
“Tiny," Sanya rumbled to Michael, clenching a demonstrative fist. "But.”
Jim Butcher book Small Favor
Source: Small Favor