--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Great nations, and even medium-sized…" description: "\"“Great nations, and even medium-sized ones, can always seek revision of frontiers by normal diplomatic means - if the political climate is favourable. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0a/mikl-s-b-nffy-34077_patience_great-nations-and-even-medium-sized-ones_1985933.jpg" --- # Great nations, and even medium-sized ones, can always seek… ![“Great nations, and even medium-sized ones, can always seek revision of frontiers by normal diplomatic means - if the political climate is favourable. No propaganda or previous jockeying for position is necessary, for if the right moment is chosen and there are good reasons for a change, then there…” quote by Miklós Bánffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0a/mikl-s-b-nffy-34077_patience_great-nations-and-even-medium-sized-ones_1985933.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0a/mikl-s-b-nffy-34077_patience_great-nations-and-even-medium-sized-ones_1985933.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0a/mikl-s-b-nffy-34077_patience_great-nations-and-even-medium-sized-ones_1985933.jpg) > ““Great nations, and even medium-sized ones, can always seek revision of frontiers by normal diplomatic means - if the political climate is favourable. No propaganda or previous jockeying for position is necessary, for if the right moment is chosen and there are good reasons for a change, then there is nothing to stop anyone from putting forward proposals for territorial adjustments...It is always possible to keep alive certain issues with propaganda abroad, but the acquisition of territory needs quiet patient work. No doubt it can be a help if the world gets to know about the existence of such a problem, but it is not until the world is convinced of injustice that redress can follow.”” [Miklós Bánffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikl-s-b-nffy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Territorial change requires diplomatic patience, public awareness, and perceived injustice, not propaganda. **In simple terms:** Quiet diplomacy and justice drive border adjustments. Key Takeaway Build consensus and wait for the right moment. Themes politics diplomacy territory justice Mood analytical strategic Type political historical When to use this quote - negotiations - media campaigns - legal advocacy Key Concepts international relations conflict resolution public opinion Questions to Reflect On - What evidence convinces the world of injustice? - How can quiet work be measured? A Different Perspective Public opinion may be slow to shift, delaying action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Right moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-moment/) ## Related quotes > [“But the guy sitting at the table next to me who'd been imagining killing his wife and was now imagining seducing me wasn't the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-brighton/but-the-guy-sitting-at-the-table-next-to-me-who-d-been-imagining/) [Lori Brighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-brighton/) > [“There is a time and place for everything. Sometimes what is meant to be is held up at times cause of circumstances or because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-g-ortiz/there-is-a-time-and-place-for-everything-sometimes-what-is-meant-to/) [Kenneth G. Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-g-ortiz/) > [“It's only later that I'll see you're feeding me rehearsed lines and perfectly timed smiles and gasps and tears that come at precisely the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-demetrios/it-s-only-later-that-i-ll-see-you-re-feeding-me-rehearsed-lines-and/) [Heather Demetrios](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-demetrios/) > [I have to do a better job of picking the spots where I want to attack and picking the right moment when I need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristaps-porzingis/i-have-to-do-a-better-job-of-picking-the-spots-where-i-want-to-attack/) [Kristaps Porzingis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristaps-porzingis/) > [Hope for the best is what we do, right from the moment we're born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/hope-for-the-best-is-what-we-do-right-from-the-moment-we-re-born/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [“The surest way to bring out the best in you may simply be to remind yourself, again and again, that you can make your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhuwan-thapaliya/the-surest-way-to-bring-out-the-best-in-you-may-simply-be-to-remind/) [Bhuwan Thapaliya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhuwan-thapaliya/) > [“Tell me: How do you know that you won't be killed by a falling meteor? How do you know that you shut off the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fletcher-wortmann/tell-me-how-do-you-know-that-you-won-t-be-killed-by-a-falling-meteor/) Fletcher Wortmann > [The one who plays this game the best is Iniesta: he knows exactly when to go forward and when to drop back. He picks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-roman-riquelme/the-one-who-plays-this-game-the-best-is-iniesta-he-knows-exactly-when/) [Juan Roman Riquelme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-roman-riquelme/) > [When we said that no more areas of power should go to the EU we were right. And now thanks to the European Union…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hague/when-we-said-that-no-more-areas-of-power-should-go-to-the-eu-we-were/) [William Hague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hague/) > [Daniil is a player who will not give you many chances to attack. If I have enough power and choose the right moment, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrey-rublev/daniil-is-a-player-who-will-not-give-you-many-chances-to-attack-if-i/) [Andrey Rublev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrey-rublev/) > [You can wait your whole life for the right moment and it might never come, so I'm a big believer in making now the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logan-henderson/you-can-wait-your-whole-life-for-the-right-moment-and-it-might-never/) [Logan Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logan-henderson/) > [I don't want your future I don't need your past One bright moment Is all I ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-welch/i-don-t-want-your-future-i-don-t-need-your-past-one-bright-moment-is/) [Florence Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-welch/) > [The great mistake is to anticipate the outcome of the engagement; you ought not to be thinking of whether it ends in victory or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-great-mistake-is-to-anticipate-the-outcome-of-the-engagement-you/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [Premature ideas do not exist, one must bide one's time until the right moment comes along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-monnet/premature-ideas-do-not-exist-one-must-bide-one-s-time-until-the-right/) [Jean Monnet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-monnet/) > [What a good thing, for instance, it was that one princess should sleep for a hundred years! Was she not saved from all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/what-a-good-thing-for-instance-it-was-that-one-princess-should-sleep/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) ## More by Miklós Bánffy > [“...for a man is a Herdentier - an animal that always follows the herd, a gregarious animal - and quickly follow's its neighbour example.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikl-s-b-nffy/for-a-man-is-a-herdentier-an-animal-that-always-follows-the-herd-a/) [Miklós Bánffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikl-s-b-nffy/) > [“With human beings the urge to make peace takes some time to germinate, while Homo Sapiens is always ready to hate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikl-s-b-nffy/with-human-beings-the-urge-to-make-peace-takes-some-time-to-germinate/) [Miklós Bánffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikl-s-b-nffy/) > [“Artificially to incite hatred is not only supererogatory in politics and foreign relations, it is also positively harmful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikl-s-b-nffy/artificially-to-incite-hatred-is-not-only-supererogatory-in-politics/) [Miklós Bánffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikl-s-b-nffy/) > [“A man's character is only formed after the impressions of childhood and early youth have become blended with the indefinable and hidden influences both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikl-s-b-nffy/a-man-s-character-is-only-formed-after-the-impressions-of-childhood/) [Miklós Bánffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikl-s-b-nffy/) > [“Terrible is the situation of a small country that stands alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikl-s-b-nffy/terrible-is-the-situation-of-a-small-country-that-stands-alone/) [Miklós Bánffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikl-s-b-nffy/) > [“Propaganda, if too raucous, will always prove counterproductive. The damage arises because in peacetime the nation that never stops menacing others and shouting grievances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikl-s-b-nffy/propaganda-if-too-raucous-will-always-prove-counterproductive-the/) [Miklós Bánffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikl-s-b-nffy/) > [“The public can never know all the facts, ands public opinion is always swayed by passion, never by reason and the best interests of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikl-s-b-nffy/the-public-can-never-know-all-the-facts-ands-public-opinion-is-always/) [Miklós Bánffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikl-s-b-nffy/) > [“...if one is to confer successfully with foreigners, it is essential to know their ways of thinking and be able to put oneself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikl-s-b-nffy/if-one-is-to-confer-successfully-with-foreigners-it-is-essential-to/) [Miklós Bánffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikl-s-b-nffy/) > [“Since then many years have passed, and in those years I have often thought how strange are the ways of Fate. Set on one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikl-s-b-nffy/since-then-many-years-have-passed-and-in-those-years-i-have-often/) [Miklós Bánffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikl-s-b-nffy/) > [“Such apparently illogical actions are almost never inspired by a single motive. They spring from an unknown number of threads, perhaps thousands of them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikl-s-b-nffy/such-apparently-illogical-actions-are-almost-never-inspired-by-a/) [Miklós Bánffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikl-s-b-nffy/) > [“Such is the psychology of crowds that the majority will follow whoever appeared to be in power...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikl-s-b-nffy/such-is-the-psychology-of-crowds-that-the-majority-will-follow/) [Miklós Bánffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikl-s-b-nffy/) > [“In the great world outside Hungary events were taking place that would change all their lives: the uprising in Russia, the dispute over Crete,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikl-s-b-nffy/in-the-great-world-outside-hungary-events-were-taking-place-that/) [Miklós Bánffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikl-s-b-nffy/) > [“In times of revolution there is not a man who does not feel himself capable of anything.He seizes the moment. He starts with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikl-s-b-nffy/in-times-of-revolution-there-is-not-a-man-who-does-not-feel-himself/) [Miklós Bánffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikl-s-b-nffy/) [Explore all 14 Miklós Bánffy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikl-s-b-nffy/) ## More Patience quotes > [Many patients imagine that they have tried everything. True, they have used many remedies, but they have never had the cause of their infirmity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-palmer/many-patients-imagine-that-they-have-tried-everything-true-they-have/) [Daniel D. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-d-palmer/) > [Dating someone on the opposite end of the happy spectrum teaches you an incredible amount of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/dating-someone-on-the-opposite-end-of-the-happy-spectrum-teaches-you/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [I am fairly tired--bored beyond endurance--by the world we live in, and its ideals, and am ready to say so, not violently, but kindly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/i-am-fairly-tired-bored-beyond-endurance-by-the-world-we-live-in-and/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [We're on the road 300 days a year. There's no recovery time. It's a test of your physical and mental endurance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-phoenix/we-re-on-the-road-300-days-a-year-there-s-no-recovery-time-it-s-a/) [Beth Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-phoenix/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“Here is my procedure for a saliva test: Prepare 7 strips of pH paper. Take a baseline pH reading. Have the patient drink 10cc…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ameer-rosic/here-is-my-procedure-for-a-saliva-test-prepare-7-strips-of-ph-paper/) Ameer Rosic > [“There is no time for patience - there is no time for diplomacy - there is no time for policies, legislations and meaningless paperwork.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/there-is-no-time-for-patience-there-is-no-time-for-diplomacy-there-is/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Grace is the wonderful spirit that imbues every fiber of our being when we practice the fruits of the spirit: kindness, patience, understanding, forgiveness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/grace-is-the-wonderful-spirit-that-imbues-every-fiber-of-our-being/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [“Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess: Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayer-of-an-anonymous-abbess-lord-thou-knowest-better-than-myself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-patient-carries-her-or-his-own-doctor-inside/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Character never quits; and with patience and persistence; Dreams do come true!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-maravich/character-never-quits-and-with-patience-and-persistence-dreams-do/) [Pete Maravich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-maravich/) > [I don't know about writing. It's quite lonely. You have to have a lot of patience with yourself. I don't know if I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-wilson/i-don-t-know-about-writing-it-s-quite-lonely-you-have-to-have-a-lot/) [Ruth Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-wilson/) > [There are few husbands whom the wife cannot win in the long run, by patience and love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-of-valois/there-are-few-husbands-whom-the-wife-cannot-win-in-the-long-run-by/) [Margaret of Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-of-valois/) > [God has perfect timing...Never early...never late...It takes a little patience...It takes a lot of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-has-perfect-timing-never-early-never-late-it-takes-a-little/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 7,997 Patience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Great nations, and even medium-sized ones, can always seek revision of frontiers by normal diplomatic means - if the political climate is favourable. No propaganda or previous jockeying for position is necessary, for if the right moment is chosen and there are good reasons for a change, then there is nothing to stop anyone from putting forward proposals for territorial adjustments...It is always possible to keep alive certain issues with propaganda abroad, but the acquisition of territory needs quiet patient work. No doubt it can be a help if the world gets to know about the existence of such a problem, but it is not until the world is convinced of injustice that redress can follow.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Miklós Bánffy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikl-s-b-nffy/great-nations-and-even-medium-sized-ones-can-always-seek-revision-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Patience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikl-s-b-nffy/great-nations-and-even-medium-sized-ones-can-always-seek-revision-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0a/mikl-s-b-nffy-34077_patience_great-nations-and-even-medium-sized-ones_1985933.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0a/mikl-s-b-nffy-34077_patience_great-nations-and-even-medium-sized-ones_1985933.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0a/mikl-s-b-nffy-34077_patience_great-nations-and-even-medium-sized-ones_1985933.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Great nations, and even medium-sized ones, can always seek revision of frontiers by normal diplomatic means…” — Miklós Bánffy", "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": "Miklós Bánffy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikl-s-b-nffy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Great nations, and even medium-sized ones,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikl-s-b-nffy/great-nations-and-even-medium-sized-ones-can-always-seek-revision-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikl-s-b-nffy/great-nations-and-even-medium-sized-ones-can-always-seek-revision-of/#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 } } ] } ```