--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When a nation issues ultimatums, it…" description: "\"When a nation issues ultimatums, it leaves no room for compromise and ensures that war will continue.\" — Howard Zinn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4aa/howard-zinn-576_compromise_when-a-nation-issues-ultimatums-it-leave_774563.jpg" --- # When a nation issues ultimatums, it leaves no room for… ![“When a nation issues ultimatums, it leaves no room for compromise and ensures that war will continue.” quote by Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4aa/howard-zinn-576_compromise_when-a-nation-issues-ultimatums-it-leave_774563.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4aa/howard-zinn-576_compromise_when-a-nation-issues-ultimatums-it-leave_774563.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4aa/howard-zinn-576_compromise_when-a-nation-issues-ultimatums-it-leave_774563.jpg) > “When a nation issues ultimatums, it leaves no room for compromise and ensures that war will continue.” [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ultimatums eliminate compromise, making conflict inevitable and prolonging war. **In simple terms:** Ultimatums prevent compromise and fuel ongoing war. Key Takeaway Seek flexible solutions. Themes conflict diplomacy war Mood cautionary analytical Type historical political When to use this quote - international negotiations - political crises - trade disputes Key Concepts negotiation power dynamics peacebuilding Questions to Reflect On - When is a firm stance justified? - How can compromise be achieved under pressure? A Different Perspective Sometimes firm stances are necessary for security. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise/) [Compromise Ensures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise-ensures-5979586/) [Ensures War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ensures-war-5979585/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Issues Ultimatums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues-ultimatums-5979583/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Rooms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rooms/) [Ultimatums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimatums/) [Ultimatums Leaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimatums-leaves-5979584/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“Me and ultimatums? Yeah, we don’t mix. Give me two options and tell me I need to pick between them and I’ll find a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callie-hart/me-and-ultimatums-yeah-we-don-t-mix-give-me-two-options-and-tell-me-i/) [Callie Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/callie-hart/) > [Relationships are negotiated and if you deal with ultimatums and authority all the time, then you're not going to get anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mcgraw/relationships-are-negotiated-and-if-you-deal-with-ultimatums-and/) [Phil McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mcgraw/) > [“I drive my husband crazy because I don’t browse books—I buy books. And he’s always giving me these ultimatums like, ‘If you don’t finish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-dallas-howard/i-drive-my-husband-crazy-because-i-don-t-browse-books-i-buy-books-and/) [Bryce Dallas Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-dallas-howard/) > [The weather today is partly angry, leading to resignation and ultimatums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/the-weather-today-is-partly-angry-leading-to-resignation-and/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Well, there's been plenty of ultimatums, and one thing that we better be very clear is that we can't continue to have the kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/well-there-s-been-plenty-of-ultimatums-and-one-thing-that-we-better/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [If you are negotiating you must do so in a spirit of reconciliation, not from the point of view of issuing ultimatums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/if-you-are-negotiating-you-must-do-so-in-a-spirit-of-reconciliation/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [There are no ultimatums for Renault other than we want to improve as quickly as we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-horner/there-are-no-ultimatums-for-renault-other-than-we-want-to-improve-as/) [Christian Horner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-horner/) > [I do not deal with threats and ultimatums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-lapid/i-do-not-deal-with-threats-and-ultimatums/) [Yair Lapid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-lapid/) > [“61 ULTIMATUMS Great Alamance Camp May 16th 1771 To the People now Assembled in Arms, who Style themselves Regulators In Answer to your Petition,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/61-ultimatums-great-alamance-camp-may-16th-1771-to-the-people-now/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [Never accept ultimatums, conventional wisdom, or absolutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/never-accept-ultimatums-conventional-wisdom-or-absolutes/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [“Ultimatums have negative connotations for many because they’re often used by bullies and abusers, who tend to be comfortable pushing their partners’ backs against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/ultimatums-have-negative-connotations-for-many-because-they-re-often/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [It's pretty irrefutable that you can help yourself. I just don't believe in ultimatums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher/it-s-pretty-irrefutable-that-you-can-help-yourself-i-just-don-t/) [Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher/) > [When my husband gives me this ultimatum, "You either stop singing, or you move out," then it became very clear that what I needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-marie/when-my-husband-gives-me-this-ultimatum-you-either-stop-singing-or/) [Rene Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-marie/) > [“Simple answers, reductionist politics, are the most prone to compromise, to saying we’re addressing the essential issue and all that other stuff can slide.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/simple-answers-reductionist-politics-are-the-most-prone-to-compromise/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-erhard/a-compromise-is-the-art-of-dividing-a-cake-in-such-a-way-that/) [Ludwig Erhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-erhard/) ## More by Howard Zinn > [“A black man, Benjamin Banneker, who taught himself mathematics and astronomy, predicted accurately a solar eclipse, and was appointed to plan the new city…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/a-black-man-benjamin-banneker-who-taught-himself-mathematics-and/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/there-is-no-flag-large-enough-to-cover-the-shame-of-killing-innocent/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [“a good education is a synthesis of book learning and involvement in social action, because each enrich the other. The accumulation of knowledge, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/a-good-education-is-a-synthesis-of-book-learning-and-involvement-in/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [The mountain of history books under which we all stand leans so heavily in the other direction-so tremblingly respectful of states and statesmen and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/the-mountain-of-history-books-under-which-we-all-stand-leans-so/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Let's face a historical truth: we have never had a "free market", we have always had government intervention in the economy, and indeed that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/let-s-face-a-historical-truth-we-have-never-had-a-free-market-we-have/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [I can UNDERSTAND pessimism, but I don't BELIEVE in it. It's not simply a matter of faith, but of historical EVIDENCE. Not overwhelming evidence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/i-can-understand-pessimism-but-i-don-t-believe-in-it-it-s-not-simply/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Protest beyond the law is not a departure from democracy; it is absolutely essential to it. It is a corrective to the sluggishness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/protest-beyond-the-law-is-not-a-departure-from-democracy-it-is/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Now I have been studying very closely what happens every day in the courts in Boston, Massachusetts. You would be astounded--maybe you wouldn't, maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/now-i-have-been-studying-very-closely-what-happens-every-day-in-the/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [They were not mentioned in the Declaration of Independence, they were absent in the Constitution and they were invisible in the new political democracy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/they-were-not-mentioned-in-the-declaration-of-independence-they-were/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [“Sexual purity was to be the special virtue of a woman. It was assumed that men, as a matter of biological nature, would sin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/sexual-purity-was-to-be-the-special-virtue-of-a-woman-it-was-assumed/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [“Middle-class Americans might be invited to join a new elite by attacks against the corruption of the established rich. The New Yorker Cadwallader Colden,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/middle-class-americans-might-be-invited-to-join-a-new-elite-by/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [If those in charge of our society - politicians, corporate executives, and owners of press and television - can dominate our ideas, they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/if-those-in-charge-of-our-society-politicians-corporate-executives/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [We were not born critical of existing society. There was a moment in our lives (or a month, or a year) when certain facts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/we-were-not-born-critical-of-existing-society-there-was-a-moment-in/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Behind the deceptive words designed to entice people into supporting violence -- words like democracy, freedom, self-defense, national security -- there is the reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/behind-the-deceptive-words-designed-to-entice-people-into-supporting/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [“George Washington had turned down the requests of blacks, seeking freedom, to fight in the Revolutionary army. So when the British military commander in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/george-washington-had-turned-down-the-requests-of-blacks-seeking/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) [Explore all 461 Howard Zinn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) ## More Compromise quotes > [Leaders need to compromise, negotiate with members of both parties and ideologies, and reform health care the right way - by developing a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/leaders-need-to-compromise-negotiate-with-members-of-both-parties-and/) [Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/) > [A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-erhard/a-compromise-is-the-art-of-dividing-a-cake-in-such-a-way-that/) [Ludwig Erhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-erhard/) > [Real love is not based upon romance,candle light,dinner and walk along beach.Infact,It's based on care,compromise,respect and trust..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/real-love-is-not-based-upon-romance-candle-light-dinner-and-walk/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Simple answers, reductionist politics, are the most prone to compromise, to saying we’re addressing the essential issue and all that other stuff can slide.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/simple-answers-reductionist-politics-are-the-most-prone-to-compromise/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“I’m not sure sex qualifies as R and R, but it’s a compromise I can live with.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-morgen/i-m-not-sure-sex-qualifies-as-r-and-r-but-it-s-a-compromise-i-can/) [Shelby Morgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-morgen/) > [You know what the Englishman's idea of compromise is? He says, Some people say there is a God. Some people say there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/you-know-what-the-englishman-s-idea-of-compromise-is-he-says-some/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [But if you get chronically, psychosocially stressed, you're going to compromise your health. So, essentially, we've evolved to be smart enough to make ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/but-if-you-get-chronically-psychosocially-stressed-you-re-going-to/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [The human spirit will not invest itself in a compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/the-human-spirit-will-not-invest-itself-in-a-compromise/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) > [No relationship is perfect, ever. There are always some ways you have to bend, to compromise, to give something up in order to gain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/no-relationship-is-perfect-ever-there-are-always-some-ways-you-have/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“And what would you like, Sharie?" asked Miss Mush. "What do you have?" asked Sharie. "Potato salad". "What else is there?" asked Sharie. "Nothing"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/and-what-would-you-like-sharie-asked-miss-mush-what-do-you-have-asked/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) > [A lasting relationship consists of the 3 C's: Commitment. Communication. Compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/a-lasting-relationship-consists-of-the-3-c-s-commitment-communication/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [As a politician - particularly as a politician in a coalition - you quickly realise that compromise is a part of the game. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-davey/as-a-politician-particularly-as-a-politician-in-a-coalition-you/) [Edward Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-davey/) > [“The fact that I can get away with something is the very reason why I shouldn’t do it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-fact-that-i-can-get-away-with-something-is-the-very-reason-why-i/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [There could be some compromise, but I think we have to stick to the provisions of the treaty, and the provisions of the treaty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-santer/there-could-be-some-compromise-but-i-think-we-have-to-stick-to-the/) [Jacques Santer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-santer/) > [Love is not only about romance, candle-lit dinners and walking hand in hand. In fact, real love is about a lifetime of compromise, commitment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aarti-khurana/love-is-not-only-about-romance-candle-lit-dinners-and-walking-hand-in/) [Aarti Khurana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aarti-khurana/) [Browse all 2,076 Compromise quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When a nation issues ultimatums, it leaves no room for compromise and ensures that war will continue.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Howard Zinn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/when-a-nation-issues-ultimatums-it-leaves-no-room-for-compromise-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compromise" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/when-a-nation-issues-ultimatums-it-leaves-no-room-for-compromise-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4aa/howard-zinn-576_compromise_when-a-nation-issues-ultimatums-it-leave_774563.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4aa/howard-zinn-576_compromise_when-a-nation-issues-ultimatums-it-leave_774563.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4aa/howard-zinn-576_compromise_when-a-nation-issues-ultimatums-it-leave_774563.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When a nation issues ultimatums, it leaves no room for compromise and ensures that war will continue.” — Howard Zinn", "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": "Howard Zinn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When a nation issues ultimatums, it...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/when-a-nation-issues-ultimatums-it-leaves-no-room-for-compromise-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/when-a-nation-issues-ultimatums-it-leaves-no-room-for-compromise-and/#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 } } ] } ```