2014, Sixth State of the Union Address (January 2014)
“If vital interests under duress can be preserved by peaceful means, negotiations will find that out. If our adversary will accept nothing-less than a concession of our rights, negotiations will find that out. And if negotiations are to take place, this nation cannot abdicate to its adversaries the task of choosing the forum and the framework and the time.”
1961, Address at the University of Washington
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John F. Kennedy 469
35th president of the United States of America 1917–1963Related quotes
1961, Address at the University of Washington
Context: No one should be under the illusion that negotiations for the sake of negotiations always advance the cause of peace. If for lack of preparation they break up in bitterness, the prospects of peace have been endangered. If they are made a forum for propaganda or a cover for aggression, the processes of peace have been abused. But it is a test of our national maturity to accept the fact that negotiations are not a contest spelling victory or defeat. They may succeed — they may fail. They are likely to be successful only if both sides reach an agreement which both regard as preferable to the status quo — an agreement in which each side can consider its own situation to be improved. And this is most difficult to obtain. But, while we shall negotiate freely, we shall not negotiate freedom. Our answer to the classic question of Patrick Henry is still no-life is not so dear, and peace is not so precious, "as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery." And that is our answer even though, for the first time since the ancient battles between Greek city-states, war entails the threat of total annihilation, of everything we know, of society itself. For to save mankind's future freedom, we must face up to any risk that is necessary. We will always seek peace — but we will never surrender.
CityPAC Questionnaire, 2000 Congressional Primary http://www.democrats.org/page/speakout/unfit
2000-03
“Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.”
Source: The House Of Commons At Work (1993), Chapter 1, The System of Government, p. 6
As quoted in "Preparing to Meet Trump, Mexican Leader Seeks Common Ground" http://archive.is/PYJeS#selection-2131.1-2131.206 (23 January 2017), by Azam Ahmed, The New York Times
The Divine Commodity: Discovering A Faith Beyond Consumer Christianity (2009, Zondervan)
Speech on the Line of the Perdido, Senate (25 December 1810).
On 26 February 2017, as quoted by Austil Mathebula in ANC ‘totally’ rejects Malema’s 6% offer for land expropriation https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/1442435/anc-totally-rejects-malemas-6-offer-for-land-expropriation/, The Citizen (28 February 2017)
Brexit: Theresa May to give MPs update on Tuesday https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47192233 BBC News (11 February 2019)
2010s, On Brexit