--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Bargaining is a repulsive habit…" description: "\"Bargaining is a repulsive habit; compromise is one of the highest human virtues - the difference between the two being that the first is practised on t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eef/george-mikes-4493_bargaining_bargaining-is-a-repulsive-habit-compromi_1168888.png" --- # Bargaining is a repulsive habit; compromise is one of the… ![“Bargaining is a repulsive habit; compromise is one of the highest human virtues - the difference between the two being that the first is practised on the Continent, the latter in Great Britain.” quote by George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eef/george-mikes-4493_bargaining_bargaining-is-a-repulsive-habit-compromi_1168888.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eef/george-mikes-4493_bargaining_bargaining-is-a-repulsive-habit-compromi_1168888.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eef/george-mikes-4493_bargaining_bargaining-is-a-repulsive-habit-compromi_1168888.png) > “Bargaining is a repulsive habit; compromise is one of the highest human virtues - the difference between the two being that the first is practised on the Continent, the latter in Great Britain.” [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Bargaining is seen as distasteful, while compromise is praised, reflecting cultural differences in negotiation style **In simple terms:** Compromise is virtuous, bargaining is disliked Key Takeaway Value compromise over aggressive bargaining Themes culture negotiation ethics Mood analytical critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - business deals - diplomatic talks - personal relationships - legal settlements Key Concepts cultural norms conflict resolution social etiquette Questions to Reflect On - When is firm bargaining more appropriate? - How can cultures learn from each other's negotiation styles? A Different Perspective Compromise can lead to suboptimal outcomes if overused ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bargaining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bargaining/) [Bargaining Repulsive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bargaining-repulsive-3379211/) [Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain/) [Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise/) [Compromise Highest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise-highest-3379212/) [Continents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continents/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Great britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-britain/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habit Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit-compromise-2529036/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Highest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highest/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Humorous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humorous/) [Latter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latter/) [Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation/) [Repulsive Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repulsive-habit-1494969/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [People who start a sentence with personally (and they're always women) ought to be thrown to the lions. It's a repulsive habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/people-who-start-a-sentence-with-personally-and-they-re-always-women/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [People who start a sentence with personally ought to be thrown to the lions. It's a repulsive habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/people-who-start-a-sentence-with-personally-ought-to-be-thrown-to-the/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [The best things to learn in life is the habit of COMPROMISE. Because its better to bend a little, than to break a loving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-best-things-to-learn-in-life-is-the-habit-of-compromise-because/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Habit is a compromise effected between an individual and his environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/habit-is-a-compromise-effected-between-an-individual-and-his/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [Habit is a compromise effected between the individual and his environment, or between the individual and his own organic eccentricities, the guarantee of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/habit-is-a-compromise-effected-between-the-individual-and-his/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [The best thing to learn in life is the habit of compromise. It is better to bend a little, than to break a loving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-best-thing-to-learn-in-life-is-the-habit-of-compromise-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The best thing to learn in life is the habit of COMPROMISE. Because it is always better to bend a little than to break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-best-thing-to-learn-in-life-is-the-habit-of-compromise-because-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When people say England, they sometimes mean Great Britain, sometimes the United Kingdom, sometimes the British Isles, - but never England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/when-people-say-england-they-sometimes-mean-great-britain-sometimes/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by George Mikes > [THE British are brave people. They can face anything, except reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/the-british-are-brave-people-they-can-face-anything-except-reality/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) > [The British suffer from a most unfortunate superiority complex - unjustified even under Victoria and most certainly hopelessly out-of-date today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/the-british-suffer-from-a-most-unfortunate-superiority-complex/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) > [Remember that those five hundred words an average Englishman uses are far from being the whole vocabulary of the language. You may learn another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/remember-that-those-five-hundred-words-an-average-englishman-uses-are/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) > [English humor resembles the Loch Ness Monster in that both are famous but there is a strong suspicion that neither exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/english-humor-resembles-the-loch-ness-monster-in-that-both-are-famous/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) > [“Before you are admitted to British citizenship you are not even considered a natural human being. I looked up the word natural (na’tural) in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/before-you-are-admitted-to-british-citizenship-you-are-not-even/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) > [“In the last century, when a wicked and unworthy subject annoyed the Sultan of Turkey or the Czar of Russia, he had his head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/in-the-last-century-when-a-wicked-and-unworthy-subject-annoyed-the/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) > [“While all this goes on, the English remain staunch believers in equality. Equality is a notion the English have given to humanity. Equality means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/while-all-this-goes-on-the-english-remain-staunch-believers-in/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) > [I asked many friends if Australian anti-intellectualism was still a living force and they all told me it was. If you are above average…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/i-asked-many-friends-if-australian-anti-intellectualism-was-still-a/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) > [Once you start buying first aid kits you start having accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/once-you-start-buying-first-aid-kits-you-start-having-accidents/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) > [“Mr S. got angry. ‘Yes, I do have a son. He’s a good-for-nothing. A dead loss.’ I couldn’t ask which prison he was in,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/mr-s-got-angry-yes-i-do-have-a-son-he-s-a-good-for-nothing-a-dead/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) > [“I have been told that my above-described theory is all wrong and is only due to my Central European conceit, because the English do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/i-have-been-told-that-my-above-described-theory-is-all-wrong-and-is/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) > [Rich people (in Australia) have swimming pools in their gardens but, at least, they do swim in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/rich-people-in-australia-have-swimming-pools-in-their-gardens-but-at/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) > [“An average English house combines all the curses of civilisation with the vicissitudes of life in the open. It is all right to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/an-average-english-house-combines-all-the-curses-of-civilisation-with/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) > [Australia objects to the mini-skirt not on moral but on economic grounds. Australians are no prudes and the lovely, healthy, sporty Australian girls have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/australia-objects-to-the-mini-skirt-not-on-moral-but-on-economic/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) > [The Art of Conversation could not die in Australia; it never lived. Television did not kill it; there was nothing there to kill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/the-art-of-conversation-could-not-die-in-australia-it-never-lived/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) [Explore all 110 George Mikes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bargaining/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Bargaining is a repulsive habit; compromise is one of the highest human virtues - the difference between the two being that the first is practised on the Continent, the latter in Great Britain.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Mikes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/bargaining-is-a-repulsive-habit-compromise-is-one-of-the-highest/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bargaining" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/bargaining-is-a-repulsive-habit-compromise-is-one-of-the-highest/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eef/george-mikes-4493_bargaining_bargaining-is-a-repulsive-habit-compromi_1168888.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eef/george-mikes-4493_bargaining_bargaining-is-a-repulsive-habit-compromi_1168888.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eef/george-mikes-4493_bargaining_bargaining-is-a-repulsive-habit-compromi_1168888.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Bargaining is a repulsive habit; compromise is one of the highest human virtues - the difference between the…” — George Mikes", "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": "George Mikes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Bargaining is a repulsive habit; compromise...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/bargaining-is-a-repulsive-habit-compromise-is-one-of-the-highest/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/bargaining-is-a-repulsive-habit-compromise-is-one-of-the-highest/#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 } } ] } ```