--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As they say, one thing led to another…" description: "\"As they say, one thing led to another, and, ultimately, the British and Irish governments asked me to serve as chairman of the peace negotiations, whic..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b1/george-j-mitchell-21313_british_as-they-say-one-thing-led-to-another-and_2170065.png" --- # As they say, one thing led to another, and, ultimately… ![“As they say, one thing led to another, and, ultimately, the British and Irish governments asked me to serve as chairman of the peace negotiations, which ironically began six years ago this week.” quote by George J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b1/george-j-mitchell-21313_british_as-they-say-one-thing-led-to-another-and_2170065.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b1/george-j-mitchell-21313_british_as-they-say-one-thing-led-to-another-and_2170065.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b1/george-j-mitchell-21313_british_as-they-say-one-thing-led-to-another-and_2170065.png) > “As they say, one thing led to another, and, ultimately, the British and Irish governments asked me to serve as chairman of the peace negotiations, which ironically began six years ago this week.” [George J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-j-mitchell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leadership often emerges from unexpected opportunities, leading to significant diplomatic roles. **In simple terms:** Unexpected chances can lead to big responsibilities. Key Takeaway Embrace unexpected opportunities. Themes leadership diplomacy opportunity Mood reflective determined Type historical political When to use this quote - government appointments - conflict resolution - career pivots Key Concepts political negotiation public service Questions to Reflect On - How can you prepare for sudden leadership roles? - What responsibilities arise from unexpected opportunities? A Different Perspective Success may depend on timing and willingness to serve. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [Chairman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chairman/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Governments Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governments-asked-4642388/) [Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation/) [Negotiations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiations/) [Negotiations Ironically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiations-ironically-4642387/) [One thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-thing/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Peace Negotiations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace-negotiations-979598/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Six](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/six/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) ## Related quotes > [The only alternative to war is peace and the only road to peace is negotiations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/golda-meir/the-only-alternative-to-war-is-peace-and-the-only-road-to-peace-is/) [Golda Meir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/golda-meir/) > [Only 1 in 13 participants in peace negotiations since 1992 has been a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/only-1-in-13-participants-in-peace-negotiations-since-1992-has-been-a/) [Zainab Salbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/) > [As prime minister, I changed Israel's position on peace negotiations. I made it clear that we are ready to go along with Resolution 242…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yitzhak-rabin/as-prime-minister-i-changed-israel-s-position-on-peace-negotiations-i/) [Yitzhak Rabin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yitzhak-rabin/) > [It's important in our talks with Abbas to hear how women are represented in peace negotiations, how Palestine views the position of women and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-wallstrom/it-s-important-in-our-talks-with-abbas-to-hear-how-women-are/) [Margot Wallstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-wallstrom/) > [You know, I think, I think the Palestinians are trying to get away without negotiating. They're trying to get a state to continue the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-netanyahu/you-know-i-think-i-think-the-palestinians-are-trying-to-get-away/) [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-netanyahu/) > [ Peace is far more preferable to war. \[...\] I believe that peace is the only path to true security. \[...\] And there is no… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/peace-is-far-more-preferable-to-war-i-believe-that-peace-is-the-only/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“Civilization is the general agreement to refrain from resorting to violence if negotiations fail.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-molyneux/civilization-is-the-general-agreement-to-refrain-from-resorting-to/) [Stefan Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-molyneux/) > [“But up until that time I want you just to follow my lead and don’t worry. There are negotiations going on that will solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/but-up-until-that-time-i-want-you-just-to-follow-my-lead-and-don-t/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [We don't point a pistol at our own forehead. That is not the way to conduct negotiations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-netanyahu/we-don-t-point-a-pistol-at-our-own-forehead-that-is-not-the-way-to/) [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-netanyahu/) > [I believe that sitting naked across from your adversary in a steam room makes negotiations more productive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shapiro/i-believe-that-sitting-naked-across-from-your-adversary-in-a-steam/) [David Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shapiro/) > [The first principle of contract negotiations is don't remind them of what you did in the past - tell them what you're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-musial/the-first-principle-of-contract-negotiations-is-don-t-remind-them-of/) [Stan Musial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-musial/) > [“International peace negotiations need more value creation than value claiming. The more we create value for peace and development, the easier it is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/international-peace-negotiations-need-more-value-creation-than-value/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [During negotiations nothing is gained by attacking people's comfort zones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-sugar/during-negotiations-nothing-is-gained-by-attacking-people-s-comfort/) [Alan Sugar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-sugar/) > [I see negotiations as an honest attempt to reach a deal that's great for everyone at the table. But sometimes, for whatever reason, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-o-leary/i-see-negotiations-as-an-honest-attempt-to-reach-a-deal-that-s-great/) [Kevin O'Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-o-leary/) > [“But in my experience, there is one way to signal your commitment to process that all negotiations provide: Always keep your word, even when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-malhotra/but-in-my-experience-there-is-one-way-to-signal-your-commitment-to/) [Deepak Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-malhotra/) ## More by George J. Mitchell > [My mother was an immigrant from Lebanon to the United States. She came when she was 18 years old in 1920.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-j-mitchell/my-mother-was-an-immigrant-from-lebanon-to-the-united-states-she-came/) [George J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-j-mitchell/) > [So I developed very early a massive inferiority complex, and I've told the story often about how that inspired me later in life to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-j-mitchell/so-i-developed-very-early-a-massive-inferiority-complex-and-i-ve-told/) [George J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-j-mitchell/) > [I didn't want to make it a lifetime thing. I don't believe in statutory term limits, but people can limit themselves if they want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-j-mitchell/i-didn-t-want-to-make-it-a-lifetime-thing-i-don-t-believe-in/) [George J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-j-mitchell/) > [I was born and raised in a small town in Maine, Waterville. I enjoyed living there - still do - and my goal in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-j-mitchell/i-was-born-and-raised-in-a-small-town-in-maine-waterville-i-enjoyed/) [George J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-j-mitchell/) > [Our firm view is that the president has no legal authority, none whatsoever, to commit American troops to war in the Persian Gulf or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-j-mitchell/our-firm-view-is-that-the-president-has-no-legal-authority-none/) [George J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-j-mitchell/) > [I really owe everything to my parents and their devotion and drive to see to it that their children had the education which led…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-j-mitchell/i-really-owe-everything-to-my-parents-and-their-devotion-and-drive-to/) [George J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-j-mitchell/) > [When I went to college, my goal was to be a college history teacher. I majored in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-j-mitchell/when-i-went-to-college-my-goal-was-to-be-a-college-history-teacher-i/) [George J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-j-mitchell/) > [I enjoyed practicing law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-j-mitchell/i-enjoyed-practicing-law/) [George J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-j-mitchell/) > [From my parents, I learned a very strong work ethic, and all of my brothers and sisters all worked from the earliest days of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-j-mitchell/from-my-parents-i-learned-a-very-strong-work-ethic-and-all-of-my/) [George J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-j-mitchell/) > [I spent two years in the Army. And my older brother, who was also a great positive influence on me, encouraged me to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-j-mitchell/i-spent-two-years-in-the-army-and-my-older-brother-who-was-also-a/) [George J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-j-mitchell/) > [You know, the pessimism which exists now in the Middle East existed in Northern Ireland, but we stayed at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-j-mitchell/you-know-the-pessimism-which-exists-now-in-the-middle-east-existed-in/) [George J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-j-mitchell/) > [I had been involved in U.S. intelligence in Berlin, Germany, while in the military and had worked with a contact with the Central Intelligence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-j-mitchell/i-had-been-involved-in-u-s-intelligence-in-berlin-germany-while-in/) [George J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-j-mitchell/) > [I'm glad I made the decision, although the practice of law - and particularly serving as a federal judge - was a part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-j-mitchell/i-m-glad-i-made-the-decision-although-the-practice-of-law-and/) [George J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-j-mitchell/) > [My father was the orphaned son of immigrants to the United States from Ireland. My father never knew his parents. His mother died -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-j-mitchell/my-father-was-the-orphaned-son-of-immigrants-to-the-united-states/) [George J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-j-mitchell/) > [I got a job with a law firm in Portland after a couple of years with Senator Muskie. But by then, my interest in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-j-mitchell/i-got-a-job-with-a-law-firm-in-portland-after-a-couple-of-years-with/) [George J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-j-mitchell/) [Explore all 29 George J. Mitchell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-j-mitchell/) ## More British quotes > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I shot for French and British Vogue. The British Vogue one featured clothes by Chloe and was shot at Highgate and the John Soane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/i-shot-for-french-and-british-vogue-the-british-vogue-one-featured/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [ No wonder that Churchill described this effort \[the British codebreakers working at Bletchley Park\] as "Britian"s secret weapon," a weapon far more effective than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hilton/no-wonder-that-churchill-described-this-effort-the-british/) [Peter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hilton/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [I always wanted to make a 'James Bond' film, and they only seemed to hire British directors, and I'd made 'Swingers' - they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/i-always-wanted-to-make-a-james-bond-film-and-they-only-seemed-to/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/) [Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/) > [All the cliches of glamorous sophistication have little appeal to me. Do I want to live the British version of 'Dynasty?' No thanks!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/all-the-cliches-of-glamorous-sophistication-have-little-appeal-to-me/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) > [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/) [Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/) > [Although I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/although-i-don-t-have-anything-against-people-from-other-countries/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/it-could-be-my-british-need-for-discipline-that-makes-me-admire-the/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [While we like to think queueing is unique to British culture, the truth is that we are mere amateurs. 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