Little people Quote by John E. Douglas
““The problem with offering up the top guy, in addition to encouraging other desperate little people to try the same thing, is that you lose your maneuvering room. You always want to negotiate through intermediaries, which allows you to stall for time and avoid making promises you don’t want to keep. Once you put the hostage taker in direct contact with someone he perceives as a decision maker, everyone is backed against the wall, and if you don’t give in to his demands, you risk having things head south in a hurry. The longer you keep them talking, the better.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Criminal Profiling Insights, 1990s
Negotiating through intermediaries preserves leverage and buying time, while direct contact forces rapid decisions and risk.
In simple terms: Using go-betweens keeps control; direct talks create pressure.
Key Takeaway
Maintain buffers to manage high‑stakes negotiations.
Themes
negotiation
leverage
risk management
Mood
tense
strategic
Type
advisory
practical
When to use this quote
- hostage situations
- business deals
- political talks
- legal settlements
Key Concepts
psychology
power dynamics
crisis negotiation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you create effective buffers without losing credibility?
- When is it better to cut the middleman?
A Different Perspective
Direct contact can backfire if the other party feels trapped.
![“I cannot go to elections with an open stomach. If you want to negotiate we have to conclude it before the elections. I cannot just start the negotiations [with Palestinians] saying we are ready to do this and that and not having any reply.” quote by Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cea/shimon-peres-1970_election_i-cannot-go-to-elections-with-an-open-st_2790727.jpg)
