--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It doesn’t matter what the terms are…" description: "\"“It doesn’t matter what the terms are, just that there are terms. It’s the goodwill that matters. When that runs out, the treaty is broken, whatever th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/hilary-mantel-440_quote_it-doesn-t-matter-what-the-terms-are-jus_1441489.jpg" --- # It doesn’t matter what the terms are, just that there are… ![“It doesn’t matter what the terms are, just that there are terms. It’s the goodwill that matters. When that runs out, the treaty is broken, whatever the terms say.” quote by Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/hilary-mantel-440_quote_it-doesn-t-matter-what-the-terms-are-jus_1441489.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/hilary-mantel-440_quote_it-doesn-t-matter-what-the-terms-are-jus_1441489.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/hilary-mantel-440_quote_it-doesn-t-matter-what-the-terms-are-jus_1441489.jpg) > ““It doesn’t matter what the terms are, just that there are terms. It’s the goodwill that matters. When that runs out, the treaty is broken, whatever the terms say.”” [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Treaties matter only when goodwill exists; without it, any terms are meaningless. **In simple terms:** Goodwill sustains agreements. Key Takeaway Build trust, not just contracts. Themes politics trust agreements Mood cautious serious Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - diplomacy - business contracts - personal promises Key Concepts international law ethics Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain goodwill? - What happens when trust fails? A Different Perspective Goodwill can be fragile. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Broken Terms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broken-terms-5160168/) [Matter Terms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter-terms-5160169/) [Terms Goodwill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terms-goodwill-5160170/) [Treaty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treaty/) [Treaty Broken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treaty-broken-5160167/) ## Related quotes > [“Wolsey always said that the making of a treaty is the treaty. It doesn't matter what the terms are, just that there are terms.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/wolsey-always-said-that-the-making-of-a-treaty-is-the-treaty-it-doesn/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [Expression, to a great extent, is a matter of terms, and terms are anyone's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-ives/expression-to-a-great-extent-is-a-matter-of-terms-and-terms-are-2/) [Charles Ives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-ives/) > [The European Union and Russia have an identical viewpoint. We have condemned any potential revision of the ABM treaty, believing that such a revision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-chirac/the-european-union-and-russia-have-an-identical-viewpoint-we-have/) [Jacques Chirac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-chirac/) > [I dare predict that the influence of the Treaty of Renunciation of War will be felt in a large proportion of all future international…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/i-dare-predict-that-the-influence-of-the-treaty-of-renunciation-of/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [Only seven years ago we made a treaty by which we were assured that the buffalo country should be left to us forever. Now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sitting-bull/only-seven-years-ago-we-made-a-treaty-by-which-we-were-assured-that/) [Sitting Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sitting-bull/) > [“1503  Scotland and England sign the Treaty of Everlasting Peace; it lasts ten years.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-kerr/1503-scotland-and-england-sign-the-treaty-of-everlasting-peace-it/) [Gordon Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-kerr/) > [I will never be without information,' she determined. 'I will do better than my sisters. If a bird or any other beast comes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/i-will-never-be-without-information-she-determined-i-will-do-better/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Still, in international matters, the treaty changes nothing. That is, it doesn't prevent us from being friends with other countries, which indeed we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/still-in-international-matters-the-treaty-changes-nothing-that-is-it/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [People don't like land mines, especially the survivors and the people who are living in the countries with them. They think they are cowardly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/people-don-t-like-land-mines-especially-the-survivors-and-the-people/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [The Constitution says that troops can be in the Philippines if there's a treaty that provides for it, and we have two treaties with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-macapagal-arroyo/the-constitution-says-that-troops-can-be-in-the-philippines-if-there/) [Gloria Macapagal Arroyo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-macapagal-arroyo/) > [“What’s a treaty? It’s a piece of paper. An agreement means nothing in itself. It’s the power to force others to comply with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-kincaid-2/what-s-a-treaty-it-s-a-piece-of-paper-an-agreement-means-nothing-in/) [S. J. Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-kincaid-2/) > [ Our agreements on creating the conditions for preparing a peace treaty \[with Japan\] should be rooted in this trust. This may be achieved, for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/our-agreements-on-creating-the-conditions-for-preparing-a-peace/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [I started digging and found that Israel signed a peace treaty with the United Arab Emirates after the country had diversified their economy, instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-agassi/i-started-digging-and-found-that-israel-signed-a-peace-treaty-with/) [Shai Agassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-agassi/) > [Should hostilities once break out between Japan and the United States, it is not enough that we take Guam and the Philippines, nor even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isoroku-yamamoto/should-hostilities-once-break-out-between-japan-and-the-united-states/) [Isoroku Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isoroku-yamamoto/) > [Agreements. Specifically, a treaty ratified by all the orders of whimsical like forms who dwell here that affords a measure of security for mortal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mull/agreements-specifically-a-treaty-ratified-by-all-the-orders-of/) [Brandon Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mull/) ## More by Hilary Mantel > [People will identify with a persecuted minority without asking themselves what they are identifying with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/people-will-identify-with-a-persecuted-minority-without-asking/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“The hunter is among the most innocent of men; living in the moment makes him feel pure. When he returns in the evening, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/the-hunter-is-among-the-most-innocent-of-men-living-in-the-moment/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“But what would happen … I mean, what would be so awful … if they did meet up?” “Why, it would be like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/but-what-would-happen-i-mean-what-would-be-so-awful-if-they-did-meet/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [When you have committed enough words to paper, you feel you have a spine stiff enough to stand up in the wind. But when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/when-you-have-committed-enough-words-to-paper-you-feel-you-have-a/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [At New Year's he had given Anne a present of silver forks with handles of rock crystal. He hopes she will use them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/at-new-year-s-he-had-given-anne-a-present-of-silver-forks-with/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“The story of my own childhood is a complicated sentence that I am always trying to finish, to finish and put behind me. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/the-story-of-my-own-childhood-is-a-complicated-sentence-that-i-am/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“He wants to say, because Anne is not a carnal being, she is a calculating being, with a cold slick brain at work behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/he-wants-to-say-because-anne-is-not-a-carnal-being-she-is-a/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“Come to that, don't pay out good money for horoscopes. If things are going to go badly for you, is that what you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/come-to-that-don-t-pay-out-good-money-for-horoscopes-if-things-are/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“But my sins are my strength, he thinks; the sins I have done, that others have not even found the opportunity of committing. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/but-my-sins-are-my-strength-he-thinks-the-sins-i-have-done-that/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [Feminism hasn't failed, it's just never been tried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/feminism-hasn-t-failed-it-s-just-never-been-tried/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“Mirabeau: “If you have been told to clear us from this hall, you must ask for orders to use force. We shall leave our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/mirabeau-if-you-have-been-told-to-clear-us-from-this-hall-you-must/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“Cardinal Campeggio has implored Katherine to bow to the king's will, accept that her marriage is invalid and retire to a convent. Certainly, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/cardinal-campeggio-has-implored-katherine-to-bow-to-the-king-s-will/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“Sion calls Anne an eel, he calls her a slippery dipper from the slime, and he remembers what the cardinal had called her: my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/sion-calls-anne-an-eel-he-calls-her-a-slippery-dipper-from-the-slime/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [I spend a great deal of time on research, on finding all the available accounts of a scene or incident, finding out all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/i-spend-a-great-deal-of-time-on-research-on-finding-all-the-available/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“At the front, people die for their mistakes. Why should politicians be more gently treated? They made the war. They deserve a dozen deaths,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/at-the-front-people-die-for-their-mistakes-why-should-politicians-be/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) [Explore all 559 Hilary Mantel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) ## More Treaty quotes > [Agreements. Specifically, a treaty ratified by all the orders of whimsical like forms who dwell here that affords a measure of security for mortal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mull/agreements-specifically-a-treaty-ratified-by-all-the-orders-of/) [Brandon Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mull/) > [Should hostilities once break out between Japan and the United States, it is not enough that we take Guam and the Philippines, nor even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isoroku-yamamoto/should-hostilities-once-break-out-between-japan-and-the-united-states/) [Isoroku Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isoroku-yamamoto/) > [I started digging and found that Israel signed a peace treaty with the United Arab Emirates after the country had diversified their economy, instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-agassi/i-started-digging-and-found-that-israel-signed-a-peace-treaty-with/) [Shai Agassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-agassi/) > [ Our agreements on creating the conditions for preparing a peace treaty \[with Japan\] should be rooted in this trust. This may be achieved, for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/our-agreements-on-creating-the-conditions-for-preparing-a-peace/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [“What’s a treaty? It’s a piece of paper. An agreement means nothing in itself. It’s the power to force others to comply with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-kincaid-2/what-s-a-treaty-it-s-a-piece-of-paper-an-agreement-means-nothing-in/) [S. J. Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-kincaid-2/) > [The Constitution says that troops can be in the Philippines if there's a treaty that provides for it, and we have two treaties with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-macapagal-arroyo/the-constitution-says-that-troops-can-be-in-the-philippines-if-there/) [Gloria Macapagal Arroyo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-macapagal-arroyo/) > [People don't like land mines, especially the survivors and the people who are living in the countries with them. They think they are cowardly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/people-don-t-like-land-mines-especially-the-survivors-and-the-people/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [Still, in international matters, the treaty changes nothing. That is, it doesn't prevent us from being friends with other countries, which indeed we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/still-in-international-matters-the-treaty-changes-nothing-that-is-it/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [I will never be without information,' she determined. 'I will do better than my sisters. If a bird or any other beast comes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/i-will-never-be-without-information-she-determined-i-will-do-better/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“1503  Scotland and England sign the Treaty of Everlasting Peace; it lasts ten years.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-kerr/1503-scotland-and-england-sign-the-treaty-of-everlasting-peace-it/) [Gordon Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-kerr/) > [Only seven years ago we made a treaty by which we were assured that the buffalo country should be left to us forever. Now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sitting-bull/only-seven-years-ago-we-made-a-treaty-by-which-we-were-assured-that/) [Sitting Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sitting-bull/) > [I dare predict that the influence of the Treaty of Renunciation of War will be felt in a large proportion of all future international…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/i-dare-predict-that-the-influence-of-the-treaty-of-renunciation-of/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [The European Union and Russia have an identical viewpoint. We have condemned any potential revision of the ABM treaty, believing that such a revision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-chirac/the-european-union-and-russia-have-an-identical-viewpoint-we-have/) [Jacques Chirac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-chirac/) > [All of this has to be understood as part of a process leading ultimately to a treaty that will give an international body power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-pashayan/all-of-this-has-to-be-understood-as-part-of-a-process-leading/) [Chip Pashayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-pashayan/) > [I do not consider the Lisbon Treaty to be a good thing for Europe, for the freedom of Europe, or for the Czech Republic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-klaus/i-do-not-consider-the-lisbon-treaty-to-be-a-good-thing-for-europe-for/) [Vaclav Klaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-klaus/) [Browse all 123 Treaty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treaty/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It doesn’t matter what the terms are, just that there are terms. 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