--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is neither the statesman nor the…" description: "\"It is neither the statesman nor the friend who is asking your help and assistance, but simply the man.\" — Pierre Laval" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/pierre-laval-40204_asking_it-is-neither-the-statesman-nor-the-frie_2751974.png" --- # It is neither the statesman nor the friend who is asking… ![“It is neither the statesman nor the friend who is asking your help and assistance, but simply the man.” quote by Pierre Laval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/pierre-laval-40204_asking_it-is-neither-the-statesman-nor-the-frie_2751974.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/pierre-laval-40204_asking_it-is-neither-the-statesman-nor-the-frie_2751974.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/pierre-laval-40204_asking_it-is-neither-the-statesman-nor-the-frie_2751974.png) > “It is neither the statesman nor the friend who is asking your help and assistance, but simply the man.” [Pierre Laval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-laval/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The request for help should be directed to the individual, not their title or role. **In simple terms:** Ask the person, not the position. Key Takeaway Focus on the individual’s needs. Themes humility service individuality Mood reflective serious Type advice ethical When to use this quote - personal counseling - community aid - conflict resolution Key Concepts political ethics personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate between role and person? - When might a title be relevant? A Different Perspective Titles can obscure personal accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [Statesman, yet friend to truth! of soul sincere, In action faithful, and in honour clear; Who broke no promise, serv'd no private end, Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/statesman-yet-friend-to-truth-of-soul-sincere-in-action-faithful-and/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [I am asking my Attorney General to create a special unit of federal prosecutors and leading state attorneys general to expand our investigations into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-am-asking-my-attorney-general-to-create-a-special-unit-of-federal/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [A wise man who stands firm is a statesman, a foolish man who stands firm is a catastrophe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-wise-man-who-stands-firm-is-a-statesman-a-foolish-man-who-stands/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No branch of the law is of more importance to the counsellor, the statesman, or the citizen, than a thorough acquaintance with the Constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-freeman-miller/no-branch-of-the-law-is-of-more-importance-to-the-counsellor-the/) [Samuel Freeman Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-freeman-miller/) > [A statesman cannot afford to be a moralist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durant/a-statesman-cannot-afford-to-be-a-moralist/) [Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/) > [The less a statesman amounts to, the more he loves the flag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kin-hubbard/the-less-a-statesman-amounts-to-the-more-he-loves-the-flag/) [Kin Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kin-hubbard/) > [The statesman who yields to war fever...is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-statesman-who-yields-to-war-fever-is-no-longer-the-master-of/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The quest for peace is the statesman's most exacting duty... Practical progress to lasting peace is his fondest hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/the-quest-for-peace-is-the-statesman-s-most-exacting-duty-practical/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [A statesman who confines himself to popular legislation - or, for the matter of that, a playwright who confines himself to popular plays -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/a-statesman-who-confines-himself-to-popular-legislation-or-for-the/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [The statesman cannot govern without stability of belief, true or false.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-statesman-cannot-govern-without-stability-of-belief-true-or-false/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [In our country and in our times no man is worthy the honored name of statesman who does not include the highest practicable education…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/in-our-country-and-in-our-times-no-man-is-worthy-the-honored-name-of/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [A statesman who shakes the fruit trees of his neighbors - to dislodge the worms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-statesman-who-shakes-the-fruit-trees-of-his-neighbors-to-dislodge/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [The three great ends which a statesman ought to propose to himself in the government of a nation, are 1. Security to possessors; 2.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/the-three-great-ends-which-a-statesman-ought-to-propose-to-himself-in/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [A statesman is a politician who has been dead ten or fifteen years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/a-statesman-is-a-politician-who-has-been-dead-ten-or-fifteen-years/) [Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/) > [He is almost a statesman. He lies well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/he-is-almost-a-statesman-he-lies-well/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) ## More by Pierre Laval > [But the same intelligence compels Germany to practise the same policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/but-the-same-intelligence-compels-germany-to-practise-the-same-policy/) [Pierre Laval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-laval/) > [In the event of a victory over Germany by Soviet Russia and England, Bolshevism in Europe would inevitably follow. Under these circumstances I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/in-the-event-of-a-victory-over-germany-by-soviet-russia-and-england/) [Pierre Laval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-laval/) > [It is in order that France may find her place in the new Europe that you will respond to my appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/it-is-in-order-that-france-may-find-her-place-in-the-new-europe-that/) [Pierre Laval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-laval/) > [We have given most of Europe to Hitler. Let us try to hold on to what we have got left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/we-have-given-most-of-europe-to-hitler-let-us-try-to-hold-on-to-what/) [Pierre Laval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-laval/) > [I defy anyone - and I have said this to the Germans - to build a solid, articulated, and viable Europe without France's consent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/i-defy-anyone-and-i-have-said-this-to-the-germans-to-build-a-solid/) [Pierre Laval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-laval/) > [Workers of France, it is for the freedom of the prisoners that you will go to work in Germany! It is for our country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/workers-of-france-it-is-for-the-freedom-of-the-prisoners-that-you/) [Pierre Laval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-laval/) > [I am a peasant from the Auvergne. I want to keep my farm, and I want to keep France. Nothing else matters now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/i-am-a-peasant-from-the-auvergne-i-want-to-keep-my-farm-and-i-want-to/) [Pierre Laval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-laval/) > [I want to tell you that I think this war is a great mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/i-want-to-tell-you-that-i-think-this-war-is-a-great-mistake/) [Pierre Laval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-laval/) > [France cannot be destroyed. She is an old country who, despite her misfortunes, has, and always will have, thanks to her past, a tremendous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/france-cannot-be-destroyed-she-is-an-old-country-who-despite-her/) [Pierre Laval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-laval/) > [I feel that an understanding could be reached with Germany which would result in a lasting peace with Europe and believe that a German…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/i-feel-that-an-understanding-could-be-reached-with-germany-which/) [Pierre Laval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-laval/) [Explore all 11 Pierre Laval quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-laval/) ## More Asking quotes > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“Stop asking yourself how or why and tell yourself you can." - Charmainism”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-smith-ladd/stop-asking-yourself-how-or-why-and-tell-yourself-you-can-charmainism/) [Charmaine Smith Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-smith-ladd/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [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/) > [If you're having a bad day already and everybody is just asking you petty questions, it drives people to the edge, or something really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-weixler/if-you-re-having-a-bad-day-already-and-everybody-is-just-asking-you/) [Jess Weixler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-weixler/) > [You never give away your heart; you lend it from time to time. If it were not so, how could we take it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/you-never-give-away-your-heart-you-lend-it-from-time-to-time-if-it/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I'm not asking people to feel sorry for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-m-not-asking-people-to-feel-sorry-for-me/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [Use Google Before Asking A Stupid Question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muskaan/use-google-before-asking-a-stupid-question/) [Muskaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muskaan/) > [There were people asking 'Can women be funny?' People still ask that. It's like asking: 'Can women breathe in and out?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-walters/there-were-people-asking-can-women-be-funny-people-still-ask-that-it/) [Julie Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-walters/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [Love cannot be had for the asking; it comes only as a gift from the heart of another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/love-cannot-be-had-for-the-asking-it-comes-only-as-a-gift-from-the/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) Browse all 3,313 Asking quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is neither the statesman nor the friend who is asking your help and assistance, but simply the man.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pierre Laval" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/it-is-neither-the-statesman-nor-the-friend-who-is-asking-your-help/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asking" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/it-is-neither-the-statesman-nor-the-friend-who-is-asking-your-help/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/pierre-laval-40204_asking_it-is-neither-the-statesman-nor-the-frie_2751974.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/pierre-laval-40204_asking_it-is-neither-the-statesman-nor-the-frie_2751974.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/pierre-laval-40204_asking_it-is-neither-the-statesman-nor-the-frie_2751974.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is neither the statesman nor the friend who is asking your help and assistance, but simply the man.” — Pierre Laval", "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": "Pierre Laval", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-laval/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is neither the statesman nor...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/it-is-neither-the-statesman-nor-the-friend-who-is-asking-your-help/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-laval/it-is-neither-the-statesman-nor-the-friend-who-is-asking-your-help/#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 } } ] } ```