--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Diplomats operate through deadlock, which…" description: "\"Diplomats operate through deadlock, which is the way by which two sides can test each other's determination. Even if they have egos for it few heads of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0c/henry-a-kissinger-1068_demand_diplomats-operate-through-deadlock-which_2440234.jpg" --- # Diplomats operate through deadlock, which is the way by… ![“Diplomats operate through deadlock, which is the way by which two sides can test each other's determination. Even if they have egos for it few heads of government have the time to resolve stalemates, their meetings are too short and the demands of protocol too heavy.” quote by Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0c/henry-a-kissinger-1068_demand_diplomats-operate-through-deadlock-which_2440234.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0c/henry-a-kissinger-1068_demand_diplomats-operate-through-deadlock-which_2440234.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0c/henry-a-kissinger-1068_demand_diplomats-operate-through-deadlock-which_2440234.jpg) > “Diplomats operate through deadlock, which is the way by which two sides can test each other's determination. Even if they have egos for it few heads of government have the time to resolve stalemates, their meetings are too short and the demands of protocol too heavy.” [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Deadlock reveals resolve, but protocol and time limit resolution. **In simple terms:** Stalemates test determination. Key Takeaway Recognize limits, seek creative breakthroughs. Themes politics conflict resolution power dynamics Mood analytical cautious Type philosophical strategic When to use this quote - international summit - corporate boardroom - legal mediation - team decision‑making Key Concepts negotiation theory strategic patience institutional inertia Questions to Reflect On - How can flexibility be introduced? - What alternatives exist when talks stall? A Different Perspective Rigid protocols can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [Determination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determination/) [Diplomats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diplomats/) [Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Meetings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meetings/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Resolve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resolve/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Two sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-sides/) ## Related quotes > [I do not stand on protocol. If you just call me Excellency, it will be okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-do-not-stand-on-protocol-if-you-just-call-me-excellency-it-will-be/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [I don't stand on protocol. Just call me your Excellency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-don-t-stand-on-protocol-just-call-me-your-excellency/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [To say that we are closer to victory today is to believe, in the face of the evidence, the optimists who have been wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/to-say-that-we-are-closer-to-victory-today-is-to-believe-in-the-face-2/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [Truman left in the middle of an unpopular war, a war of choice. Truman didn't have to go into South Korea. And he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-krauthammer/truman-left-in-the-middle-of-an-unpopular-war-a-war-of-choice-truman/) [Charles Krauthammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-krauthammer/) > [To say that we are closer to victory today is to believe in the face of the evidence, the optimists who have been wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/to-say-that-we-are-closer-to-victory-today-is-to-believe-in-the-face/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [It seems now more certain than ever that the bloody experience of Vietnam is to end in a stalemate,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/it-seems-now-more-certain-than-ever-that-the-bloody-experience-of/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [Veneration of Mark Twain is one of the roots of our current intellectual stalemate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kennedy-toole/veneration-of-mark-twain-is-one-of-the-roots-of-our-current/) [John Kennedy Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kennedy-toole/) > [Man the sum of what have you. A problem in impure properties carried tediously to an unvarying nil: stalemate of dust and desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/man-the-sum-of-what-have-you-a-problem-in-impure-properties-carried/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [“I have noticed that in books this sort of stalemate never seems to occur; the authors are so anxious to move their stories forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/i-have-noticed-that-in-books-this-sort-of-stalemate-never-seems-to/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [It takes a vice to check a vice, and virtue is the by-product of a stalemate between opposite vices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/it-takes-a-vice-to-check-a-vice-and-virtue-is-the-by-product-of-a/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“Some people who have been working out regularly for months or even years are still out of shape because the number of cheat days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-people-who-have-been-working-out-regularly-for-months-or-even/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [At the same time, old confrontations have taken on frightening urgency, especially the India-Pakistan conflict over Kashmir and the violent stalemate in the Middle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/at-the-same-time-old-confrontations-have-taken-on-frightening-urgency/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [Finally Doug broke the stalemate and looked at Megan. "Thanks a lot," he said sarcastically. Then he yanked off his plastic gloves, tossed them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-brian/finally-doug-broke-the-stalemate-and-looked-at-megan-thanks-a-lot-he/) [Kate Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-brian/) > [“It was a stalemate Silas was willing to live with, and apparently, so was his mother. They both knew it wasn’t about the hem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-berk/it-was-a-stalemate-silas-was-willing-to-live-with-and-apparently-so/) [Ari Berk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-berk/) > [Marriage, in my view, should be a balanced stalemate between equal adversaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/marriage-in-my-view-should-be-a-balanced-stalemate-between-equal/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Henry A. Kissinger > [90% of politicians give the other 10% a bad name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/90-of-politicians-give-the-other-10-a-bad-name/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [I believe it is a mistake to isolate arms control from other areas of policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-believe-it-is-a-mistake-to-isolate-arms-control-from-other-areas-of/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [ Before the Freedom of Information Act, I used to say at meetings "The illegal we do immediately. The unconstitutional takes a little longer." \[...\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/before-the-freedom-of-information-act-i-used-to-say-at-meetings-the/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [The convictions that leaders have formed before reaching high office are the intellectual capital they will consume as long as they continue in office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-convictions-that-leaders-have-formed-before-reaching-high-office/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Nothing is more urgent than a serious, dare I say compassionate, debate as to where we are going at home and abroad. Technicians cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/nothing-is-more-urgent-than-a-serious-dare-i-say-compassionate-debate/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Jews were segregated from 1933 on. We could only play against other Jewish teams. This wasn't just social segregation; this was the beginning of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/jews-were-segregated-from-1933-on-we-could-only-play-against-other/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [The Russian people, at least the ones I know, have pride in being a Russian. And, therefore, they want to be taken seriously in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-russian-people-at-least-the-ones-i-know-have-pride-in-being-a/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [There are only two reasons to sit in the back row of an airplane: Either you have diarrhea, or you're anxious to meet people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/there-are-only-two-reasons-to-sit-in-the-back-row-of-an-airplane/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [John Paul II was one of the greatest men of the last century. Perhaps the greatest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/john-paul-ii-was-one-of-the-greatest-men-of-the-last-century-perhaps/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Does anyone have any questions for my answers?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/does-anyone-have-any-questions-for-my-answers/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Taiwan will probably not declare independence. The question isn't independence. The issue is whether Taiwan will declare itself as a sovereign separate state. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/taiwan-will-probably-not-declare-independence-the-question-isn-t/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [China is a country with a record of continuous self-government going back 4,000 years, the only society that has achieved this. One must start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/china-is-a-country-with-a-record-of-continuous-self-government-going/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [With proper tactics, nuclear war need not be as destructive as it appears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/with-proper-tactics-nuclear-war-need-not-be-as-destructive-as-it/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [I think a resumption of the Cold War would be a historic tragedy. If a conflict is avoidable, on a basis reflecting morality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-think-a-resumption-of-the-cold-war-would-be-a-historic-tragedy-if-a/) [Henry A. 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I don't make any demands of them, and I don't try to shape them or their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-chua/my-dogs-can-t-do-anything-and-what-a-relief-i-don-t-make-any-demands/) [Amy Chua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-chua/) > [The trouble is. . .that everybody sneers at restrictions and demands freedom, till something annoying happens; then they demand angrily what has become of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/the-trouble-is-that-everybody-sneers-at-restrictions-and-demands/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [You be greater than your feelings. I don't demand this of you - life does. Otherwise you'll be washed away by feelings. 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