Business Quote by Donald E. Westlake
““understood that in the business environment it was considered a gesture of civilization to offer the guest something to drink without booze in it, and probably a hostile act to refuse it, so he said, “Seltzer, yeah, sounds good.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Ax, 1997, Mystery Thriller
Offering a non-alcoholic drink was a polite gesture, while refusing could be seen as hostile; the guest accepts the compromise.
In simple terms: Polite offering vs. hostile refusal in hospitality.
Key Takeaway
Accept courteous gestures to avoid conflict.
Themes
hospitality
social etiquette
communication
compromise
culture
Mood
polite
pragmatic
Type
social
cultural
When to use this quote
- business meetings
- dinner parties
- cross‑cultural negotiations
- customer service interactions
Key Concepts
gesture of civility
social norms
conflict avoidance
Questions to Reflect On
- When is a polite offer insufficient?
- How do cultural expectations affect hospitality?
A Different Perspective
Some may view any drink offer as insincere.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)
