--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In Syria, for some time, they have been…" description: "\"In Syria, for some time, they have been trading hostages for a number of things: for weapons, for money, for political influence, and for favors.\" — Ch..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/christopher-voss-13010_favors_in-syria-for-some-time-they-have-been-tr_1671033.jpg" --- # In Syria, for some time, they have been trading hostages… ![“In Syria, for some time, they have been trading hostages for a number of things: for weapons, for money, for political influence, and for favors.” quote by Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/christopher-voss-13010_favors_in-syria-for-some-time-they-have-been-tr_1671033.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/christopher-voss-13010_favors_in-syria-for-some-time-they-have-been-tr_1671033.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/christopher-voss-13010_favors_in-syria-for-some-time-they-have-been-tr_1671033.jpg) > “In Syria, for some time, they have been trading hostages for a number of things: for weapons, for money, for political influence, and for favors.” [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hostage exchanges involve trading tangible assets for strategic gains, reflecting power dynamics in conflict. **In simple terms:** Negotiations trade assets for leverage. Key Takeaway Understand the value of each bargaining chip. Themes conflict power negotiation Mood tense analytical Type ethical strategic When to use this quote - diplomacy - military operations - peace talks - crisis management Key Concepts strategic exchange political leverage humanitarian concerns Questions to Reflect On - What are the moral limits of trading hostages? - How can negotiations prioritize human dignity? A Different Perspective Ethical dilemmas arise when human lives become bargaining tools. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Favors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/favors/) [Hostages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hostages/) [Hostages Number](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hostages-number-859728/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Syria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/syria/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Trading Hostages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trading-hostages-859726/) [Weapons Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons-money-859730/) ## Related quotes > [It's not fair for the U.S. to spend, on arms and weapons, so much money and then not spend on health care the money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/it-s-not-fair-for-the-u-s-to-spend-on-arms-and-weapons-so-much-money/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [“You’re the man who used to rescue hostages for a living. You are not allowed to not get out of this one. So stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/you-re-the-man-who-used-to-rescue-hostages-for-a-living-you-are-not/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [I would have promised those terrorists a trip to Disneyland if it would have gotten the hostages released. I thank God they were satisfied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/i-would-have-promised-those-terrorists-a-trip-to-disneyland-if-it/) [Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/) > [No commandment surpasses the one concerning the liberation of hostages, for they are among the starving, the thirsting, the stripped, always in danger of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/no-commandment-surpasses-the-one-concerning-the-liberation-of/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [“The goal with hostages is to gradually lower expectations; in nonhostage crises, it's to lower emotions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-cullen/the-goal-with-hostages-is-to-gradually-lower-expectations-in/) [Dave Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-cullen/) > [President Carter famously said the hostages were the first thing he thought about in the morning and the last thing he thought about at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/president-carter-famously-said-the-hostages-were-the-first-thing-he/) [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) > ['Betrayed' starts off with Shane Gallagher rescuing Elena Reyes and a group of hostages from a madman with a gun. And as the story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-glick/betrayed-starts-off-with-shane-gallagher-rescuing-elena-reyes-and-a/) [Ruth Glick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-glick/) > [“now ringing the superintendent at the field command post, and praying that she was in time. \* \* \* Heart beating like a jack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/now-ringing-the-superintendent-at-the-field-command-post-and-praying/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [At the beginning, because the lives of the hostages were at stake, then during this silent period we have taken several measures like not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-fujimori/at-the-beginning-because-the-lives-of-the-hostages-were-at-stake-then/) [Alberto Fujimori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-fujimori/) > [I have a wife, I have sons; all these hostages have I given to fortune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-l-lucas/i-have-a-wife-i-have-sons-all-these-hostages-have-i-given-to-fortune/) [F. L. Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-l-lucas/) > [We should never remain hostages of our past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmerson-mnangagwa/we-should-never-remain-hostages-of-our-past/) [Emmerson Mnangagwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmerson-mnangagwa/) > [I have a wife, I have sons: all of them hostages given to fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucan/i-have-a-wife-i-have-sons-all-of-them-hostages-given-to-fate/) [Lucan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucan/) > [I stand on the side of the United States government in making sure we do everything we can to get our hostages home and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-shapiro/i-stand-on-the-side-of-the-united-states-government-in-making-sure-we/) [Josh Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-shapiro/) > [“Ten years ago I saw a documentary on the siege of that Moscow theater. After just forty-eight hours of the terrorists confining the hostages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-semple/ten-years-ago-i-saw-a-documentary-on-the-siege-of-that-moscow-theater/) [Maria Semple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-semple/) > [When death gives us a long lease of life, it takes as hostages all those whom we have loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-curchod/when-death-gives-us-a-long-lease-of-life-it-takes-as-hostages-all/) [Suzanne Curchod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-curchod/) ## More by Christopher Voss > ['Fair' is, like, this incredibly overused term in negotiations: 'I just want what's fair.' 'What's the fair market price?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/fair-is-like-this-incredibly-overused-term-in-negotiations-i-just/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [Negotiation is often described as the art of letting the other side have your way. You have to give the other side a chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/negotiation-is-often-described-as-the-art-of-letting-the-other-side/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [When you expect to get into a negotiation, you expect to be faced by a guy that's going to attack you, a guy or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/when-you-expect-to-get-into-a-negotiation-you-expect-to-be-faced-by-a/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [If your first objective in the negotiation, instead of making your argument, is to hear the other side out, that's the only way you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/if-your-first-objective-in-the-negotiation-instead-of-making-your/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [What I really think of myself as is a person who's great at negotiation coaching and consulting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/what-i-really-think-of-myself-as-is-a-person-who-s-great-at/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [Successful negotiation is not about getting to 'yes'; it's about mastering 'no' and understanding what the path to an agreement is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/successful-negotiation-is-not-about-getting-to-yes-it-s-about/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [There's great power in deference. You ask somebody 'what' or 'how' questions. People love to be asked how to do something. They feel powerful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/there-s-great-power-in-deference-you-ask-somebody-what-or-how/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [You're supposed to have a passionate purpose as a CEO.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/you-re-supposed-to-have-a-passionate-purpose-as-a-ceo/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [Emotions aren't the obstacles to a successful negotiation; they are the means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/emotions-aren-t-the-obstacles-to-a-successful-negotiation-they-are/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [Every job that you take, the term that you should always include is, 'How can I be involved in the strategic projects that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/every-job-that-you-take-the-term-that-you-should-always-include-is/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [What drives you? What's your motivation? That's not emotion. That's passion. It's a different word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/what-drives-you-what-s-your-motivation-that-s-not-emotion-that-s/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [People typically only believe they're in a negotiation when dollars are involved. And maybe sometimes they're smart enough to see if there's a commodity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/people-typically-only-believe-they-re-in-a-negotiation-when-dollars/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [There are a lot of negotiators that really will give in on a deal because being understood is more important than getting what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/there-are-a-lot-of-negotiators-that-really-will-give-in-on-a-deal/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [The first and best way to say 'no' to anyone is, 'How am I supposed to do that?' Now the other side actually has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/the-first-and-best-way-to-say-no-to-anyone-is-how-am-i-supposed-to-do/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) > [There are three kinds of yeses. There's commitment, confirmation, and counterfeit. People are most used to giving the counterfeit yes because they've been trapped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/there-are-three-kinds-of-yeses-there-s-commitment-confirmation-and/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) [Explore all 52 Christopher Voss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) ## More Favors quotes > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. 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Of the remainder, at least one-half have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/about-one-half-of-the-members-of-congress-are-seekers-for-office-at/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [A favor is half granted, when graciously refused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/a-favor-is-half-granted-when-graciously-refused/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [We are thankful for good-will rather than for services, for the motive than the quantum of favor received.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/we-are-thankful-for-good-will-rather-than-for-services-for-the-motive/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. 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