--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Both sides go the bargaining table…" description: "\"Both sides go the bargaining table holding cards quite close to the chest and bluffing like crazy, .\" — Andrew Zimbalist" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/andrew-zimbalist-53331_bargaining_both-sides-go-the-bargaining-table-holdi_2530152.jpg" --- # Both sides go the bargaining table holding cards quite… ![“Both sides go the bargaining table holding cards quite close to the chest and bluffing like crazy, .” quote by Andrew Zimbalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/andrew-zimbalist-53331_bargaining_both-sides-go-the-bargaining-table-holdi_2530152.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/andrew-zimbalist-53331_bargaining_both-sides-go-the-bargaining-table-holdi_2530152.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/andrew-zimbalist-53331_bargaining_both-sides-go-the-bargaining-table-holdi_2530152.jpg) > “Both sides go the bargaining table holding cards quite close to the chest and bluffing like crazy, .” [Andrew Zimbalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-zimbalist/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Negotiators often conceal their true positions and use aggressive tactics, making deals harder to reach. **In simple terms:** People hide their intentions and bluff in negotiations. Key Takeaway Be transparent and seek mutual benefit. Themes negotiation trust strategy Mood cautious strategic Type advice analytical When to use this quote - business deals - political talks - contract discussions Key Concepts game theory information asymmetry psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you encourage openness in a deal? - What signals reveal genuine intent? A Different Perspective Bluffing can backfire if trust erodes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bluffing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bluffing/) [Both sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/both-sides/) [Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation/) ## Related quotes > [“What is the most beautiful place you’ve ever seen?” Dragging his gaze from the beauty of the gardens, Ian looked down at the beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/what-is-the-most-beautiful-place-you-ve-ever-seen-dragging-his-gaze/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [This is a global economy. If you're not at the bargaining table, if you don't get an agreement, someone else does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-quigley/this-is-a-global-economy-if-you-re-not-at-the-bargaining-table-if-you/) [Mike Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-quigley/) > [That which is gained at the bargaining table can be lost at the ballot box](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-reuther/that-which-is-gained-at-the-bargaining-table-can-be-lost-at-the/) [Walter Reuther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-reuther/) > [There's a direct relationship between the ballot box and the bread box, and what the union fights for and wins at the bargaining table…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-reuther/there-s-a-direct-relationship-between-the-ballot-box-and-the-bread/) [Walter Reuther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-reuther/) > [The challenge in multi-lateral negotiations is not to lose sight of one's over-arching goal in the midst of the cacophony of opinions at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-pritzker/the-challenge-in-multi-lateral-negotiations-is-not-to-lose-sight-of/) [J. B. Pritzker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-pritzker/) > [“You might as well face it. You're not going to be able to fight for the crown. You'll just have to grit your teeth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-kay-penman/you-might-as-well-face-it-you-re-not-going-to-be-able-to-fight-for/) [Sharon Kay Penman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-kay-penman/) > [The market's been soft, .. and I think that's mostly a result of the new provisions in the collective bargaining agreement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-zimbalist/the-market-s-been-soft-and-i-think-that-s-mostly-a-result-of-the-new/) [Andrew Zimbalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-zimbalist/) > [I don't like uncertainty. I don't play poker. I don't like bluffing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-don-t-like-uncertainty-i-don-t-play-poker-i-don-t-like-bluffing/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [“You think I should use magick like mine to open a tomb?" Mari asked in a scoffing tone. Mistress of bluffing, working it here.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/you-think-i-should-use-magick-like-mine-to-open-a-tomb-mari-asked-in/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [I'm a short, fairly plain person who's bluffing his case and getting away with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-blunt/i-m-a-short-fairly-plain-person-who-s-bluffing-his-case-and-getting/) [James Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-blunt/) > [“Rule 1 for Mortals: Love the Lord your God (with every bit of you). Rule 2 for Mortals: Love your neighbor as yourself. Tip…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/rule-1-for-mortals-love-the-lord-your-god-with-every-bit-of-you-rule/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) > [The Americans are good about making fancy cars and refrigerators, but that doesn't mean they are any good at making aircraft. They are bluffing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-goring/the-americans-are-good-about-making-fancy-cars-and-refrigerators-but/) [Hermann Goring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-goring/) > [I'm not a good poker player, but I've got one bluffing technique - as long as you're quick with the blinds, you're fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-guillory/i-m-not-a-good-poker-player-but-i-ve-got-one-bluffing-technique-as/) [Sienna Guillory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-guillory/) > [Although I have to say, it's become a lot harder for me since I won the world series because everyone wants to beat me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-moneymaker/although-i-have-to-say-it-s-become-a-lot-harder-for-me-since-i-won/) [Chris Moneymaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-moneymaker/) > [Negotiating deals among members of Congress is an exercise in wearing masks, scaring up votes, and, oftentimes, bluffing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/negotiating-deals-among-members-of-congress-is-an-exercise-in-wearing/) [Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/) ## More by Andrew Zimbalist > [I don't think baseball can abandon the Miami market. If MLB does let that market go vacant, I think it'll be one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-zimbalist/i-don-t-think-baseball-can-abandon-the-miami-market-if-mlb-does-let/) [Andrew Zimbalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-zimbalist/) > [People tend to take sides in these discussions. They feel obligated to say baseball is in catastrophic circumstance or no problem at all. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-zimbalist/people-tend-to-take-sides-in-these-discussions-they-feel-obligated-to/) [Andrew Zimbalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-zimbalist/) > [The market's been soft, .. and I think that's mostly a result of the new provisions in the collective bargaining agreement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-zimbalist/the-market-s-been-soft-and-i-think-that-s-mostly-a-result-of-the-new/) [Andrew Zimbalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-zimbalist/) > [Baseball does have some slack here. When they were losing $20 million a year in Montreal, there was some pressure to get rid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-zimbalist/baseball-does-have-some-slack-here-when-they-were-losing-20-million-a/) [Andrew Zimbalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-zimbalist/) > [Until the L.A. market is settled, I don't think there's any other market out there that stands a chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-zimbalist/until-the-l-a-market-is-settled-i-don-t-think-there-s-any-other/) [Andrew Zimbalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-zimbalist/) [Explore all 6 Andrew Zimbalist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-zimbalist/) ## More Bargaining quotes > [It is not a process of bargaining or give-and-take. The peace process is not about giving concessions. We will not allow any step which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/recep-tayyip-erdogan/it-is-not-a-process-of-bargaining-or-give-and-take-the-peace-process/) [Recep Tayyip Erdogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/recep-tayyip-erdogan/) > [When by habit a man cometh to have a bargaining soul, its wings are cut, so that it can never soar. It bindeth reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-george-savile-8th-baronet/when-by-habit-a-man-cometh-to-have-a-bargaining-soul-its-wings-are/) [Sir George Savile, 8th Baronet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-george-savile-8th-baronet/) > [Many people do not realize that where unions have bargaining rights employers cannot raise wages or improve benefit plans any more than they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/many-people-do-not-realize-that-where-unions-have-bargaining-rights/) [Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/) > [I think it is disgraceful. I think it is completely disgusting that you've got a candidate for prime minster who seems to think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/i-think-it-is-disgraceful-i-think-it-is-completely-disgusting-that/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [If you have free universal health care and free education supported by public school taxes, then you have more bargaining power with your bosses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lind/if-you-have-free-universal-health-care-and-free-education-supported/) [Michael Lind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lind/) > [As developing countries became bigger traders, it was clear that the old way of doing business wouldn't fly. To get them back to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-altman/as-developing-countries-became-bigger-traders-it-was-clear-that-the/) [Daniel Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-altman/) > [As governor I would have made sure that I bargained fairly but firmly, been able to get the changes that were needed to balance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-burke/as-governor-i-would-have-made-sure-that-i-bargained-fairly-but-firmly/) [Mary Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-burke/) > [“Employment bargains your life and time for a piece of currency”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/employment-bargains-your-life-and-time-for-a-piece-of-currency/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [We need a system where all of our teams have the opportunity to compete and to make a few dollars. That's not a bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stern/we-need-a-system-where-all-of-our-teams-have-the-opportunity-to/) [David Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stern/) > [If you do not get what you want, it is a sure sign that you did not seriously want it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/if-you-do-not-get-what-you-want-it-is-a-sure-sign-that-you-did-not/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [Unions are for 'collective bargaining,' not individual bargaining. It follows that most of the achievements of a union, even if they were more impressive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mancur-olson/unions-are-for-collective-bargaining-not-individual-bargaining-it/) [Mancur Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mancur-olson/) > [Bargaining makes you come up with the best ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-parker/bargaining-makes-you-come-up-with-the-best-ideas/) [Trey Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-parker/) > [That which man dreams of and to Which he aspires, unless fulfilled in his own lifetime, can produce no actual satisfaction to him. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie/that-which-man-dreams-of-and-to-which-he-aspires-unless-fulfilled-in/) [Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/) > [ We didn't see \[the NBA lockout\] as a victory at all. It was far from what we set it out to accomplish in bargaining,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-silver/we-didn-t-see-the-nba-lockout-as-a-victory-at-all-it-was-far-from/) Adam Silver > [A man of faith does not bargain or stipulate with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/a-man-of-faith-does-not-bargain-or-stipulate-with-god/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) Browse all 154 Bargaining quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Both sides go the bargaining table holding cards quite close to the chest and bluffing like crazy, .", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Andrew Zimbalist" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-zimbalist/both-sides-go-the-bargaining-table-holding-cards-quite-close-to-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bargaining" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-zimbalist/both-sides-go-the-bargaining-table-holding-cards-quite-close-to-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/andrew-zimbalist-53331_bargaining_both-sides-go-the-bargaining-table-holdi_2530152.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/andrew-zimbalist-53331_bargaining_both-sides-go-the-bargaining-table-holdi_2530152.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/andrew-zimbalist-53331_bargaining_both-sides-go-the-bargaining-table-holdi_2530152.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Both sides go the bargaining table holding cards quite close to the chest and bluffing like crazy, .” — Andrew Zimbalist", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Andrew Zimbalist", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-zimbalist/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Both sides go the bargaining table...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-zimbalist/both-sides-go-the-bargaining-table-holding-cards-quite-close-to-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-zimbalist/both-sides-go-the-bargaining-table-holding-cards-quite-close-to-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```