--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Indeed, in foreign policymaking…" description: "\"Indeed, in foreign policymaking, inconsistency is often a virtue. I speak not of principles but of policy.\" — Richard N. Haass" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/971/richard-n-haass-3803_consistency_indeed-in-foreign-policymaking-inconsist_1871412.jpg" --- # Indeed, in foreign policymaking, inconsistency is often a… ![“Indeed, in foreign policymaking, inconsistency is often a virtue. I speak not of principles but of policy.” quote by Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/971/richard-n-haass-3803_consistency_indeed-in-foreign-policymaking-inconsist_1871412.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/971/richard-n-haass-3803_consistency_indeed-in-foreign-policymaking-inconsist_1871412.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/971/richard-n-haass-3803_consistency_indeed-in-foreign-policymaking-inconsist_1871412.jpg) > “Indeed, in foreign policymaking, inconsistency is often a virtue. I speak not of principles but of policy.” [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In diplomacy, flexibility and adapting to circumstances can outweigh rigid adherence to principles. **In simple terms:** Policy may need to bend for practical results. Key Takeaway Embrace adaptable strategies. Themes politics flexibility policy principles Mood pragmatic critical Type analytical strategic When to use this quote - negotiations - crisis management - international agreements Key Concepts realpolitik strategic adaptation Questions to Reflect On - When does flexibility become unreliability? - How to balance principle and pragmatism? A Different Perspective Too much inconsistency can erode credibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consistency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consistency/) [Inconsistency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inconsistency/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [The greatest offence against virtue is to speak ill of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/the-greatest-offence-against-virtue-is-to-speak-ill-of-it/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [“The speakers use all accents of sincerity and sweetness, and they continuously praise virtue; but they never speak as if power would be theirs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-speakers-use-all-accents-of-sincerity-and-sweetness-and-they/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“What conclusion is to be drawn from this paradox so worthy of being born in our time; and what will become of virtue when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jaques-rousseau-2/what-conclusion-is-to-be-drawn-from-this-paradox-so-worthy-of-being/) Jean Jaques Rousseau > [People with virtue must speak out; People who speak are not all virtuous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/people-with-virtue-must-speak-out-people-who-speak-are-not-all/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Inconsistency is the bugbear of fools! I wouldn't give a damn for a fellow who couldn't change his mind with a change of conditions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fisher-1st-baron-fisher/inconsistency-is-the-bugbear-of-fools-i-wouldn-t-give-a-damn-for-a/) John Fisher, 1st Baron Fisher > [Only when you give up being consistent will you find the truth! Inconsistency makes you free to discover other roads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/only-when-you-give-up-being-consistent-will-you-find-the-truth/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [There are those who would misteach us that to stick in a rut is consistency - and a virtue, and that to climb out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/there-are-those-who-would-misteach-us-that-to-stick-in-a-rut-is/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [But pure wit is akin to Puritanism; to the perfect and painful consciousness of the final fact in the universe. Very briefly, the man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/but-pure-wit-is-akin-to-puritanism-to-the-perfect-and-painful/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Nothing that is not a real crime makes a man appear so contemptible and little in the eyes of the world as inconsistency, especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/nothing-that-is-not-a-real-crime-makes-a-man-appear-so-contemptible/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [There are inconsistencies in Donald Trump's ideology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-remnick/there-are-inconsistencies-in-donald-trump-s-ideology/) [David Remnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-remnick/) > [“Having, then, once introduced an element of inconsistency into his system, he was far too consistent not to be inconsistent consistently, and he lapsed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/having-then-once-introduced-an-element-of-inconsistency-into-his/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [Inconsistencies cannot both be right; but, imputed to man, they may both be true](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/inconsistencies-cannot-both-be-right-but-imputed-to-man-they-may-both/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Inconsistency on the part of pastors and the faithful between what they say and what they do, between word and manner of life, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/inconsistency-on-the-part-of-pastors-and-the-faithful-between-what/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [A inconsistent person is still consistent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heritier-ndele/a-inconsistent-person-is-still-consistent/) [Heritier Ndele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heritier-ndele/) > [The important thing is that when you get into some stretches of inconsistency that we don't overreact on the one hand and try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-carlisle/the-important-thing-is-that-when-you-get-into-some-stretches-of/) [Rick Carlisle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-carlisle/) ## More by Richard N. Haass > [Terrorists and terrorism cannot be eliminated any more than we can rid the world of disease. There will always be those who will resort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/terrorists-and-terrorism-cannot-be-eliminated-any-more-than-we-can/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [There is no way to know for certain what accounts for North Korean decisionmaking, given how closed a country it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/there-is-no-way-to-know-for-certain-what-accounts-for-north-korean/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [Security is the absolute precondition for sustainable recovery from conflict; without it, people cannot rebuild their country or return to school or work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/security-is-the-absolute-precondition-for-sustainable-recovery-from/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [When great powers fade, as they inevitably must, it's normally for one of two reasons. Some powers exhaust themselves through overreach abroad, underinvestment at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/when-great-powers-fade-as-they-inevitably-must-it-s-normally-for-one/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [Americans never would alter the way entitlement programs are funded or education administered without serious study and widespread debate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/americans-never-would-alter-the-way-entitlement-programs-are-funded/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [Sovereignty must be redefined if states are to cope with globalisation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/sovereignty-must-be-redefined-if-states-are-to-cope-with-globalisation/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [America's armed forces are an essential background to much of what the U.S. accomplishes internationally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/america-s-armed-forces-are-an-essential-background-to-much-of-what/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [No amount of sanctioning will persuade North Korea to give up nuclear weapons, nor will China step up and solve the problem for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/no-amount-of-sanctioning-will-persuade-north-korea-to-give-up-nuclear/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [Weapons of mass destruction - nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons - are just that, and no cause can excuse their use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/weapons-of-mass-destruction-nuclear-biological-and-chemical-weapons/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [No one pursuing reasonable goals and who is prepared to compromise can argue that terrorism is his or his group's only option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/no-one-pursuing-reasonable-goals-and-who-is-prepared-to-compromise/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [The rise of populism is in part a response to stagnating incomes and job loss, owing mostly to new technologies but widely attributed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/the-rise-of-populism-is-in-part-a-response-to-stagnating-incomes-and/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [We all have some basic obligation to one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/we-all-have-some-basic-obligation-to-one-another/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [What countries must do to join the World Trade Organization is precisely what they must do to become productive and democratic: accept the rule…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/what-countries-must-do-to-join-the-world-trade-organization-is/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [I believe in diplomacy; I don't believe in talking to... that talking to Iran somehow constitutes a concession or a favour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/i-believe-in-diplomacy-i-don-t-believe-in-talking-to-that-talking-to/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [I've worked for four presidents, and I've concluded that almost nothing is inevitable. History is to a significant extent the result of the interaction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/i-ve-worked-for-four-presidents-and-i-ve-concluded-that-almost/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) [Explore all 121 Richard N. Haass quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) ## More Consistency quotes > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [One things guys have to remember is consistency... You can't make up for three years of eating poorly in just one workout.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/one-things-guys-have-to-remember-is-consistency-you-can-t-make-up-for/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [I give you everything you want as an artist, for so long. Consistency. Wordplay. Wittiness. You can check the checklist. Only thing I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jadakiss/i-give-you-everything-you-want-as-an-artist-for-so-long-consistency/) [Jadakiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jadakiss/) > [I have always wanted to learn the piano, but because I travel so much, I can never get any consistency of lessons. So everywhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/i-have-always-wanted-to-learn-the-piano-but-because-i-travel-so-much/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [There's always, I guess, a philosophy that if you come in, you want to change all the parts, you want to change everything over.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-gillick/there-s-always-i-guess-a-philosophy-that-if-you-come-in-you-want-to/) [Pat Gillick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-gillick/) > [But change must always be balanced with some degree of consistency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-d-burton/but-change-must-always-be-balanced-with-some-degree-of-consistency/) [Ron D. Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-d-burton/) > [“Strong trust is built brick by brick, through honesty, consistency, and showing up even when it’s hard to keep the promise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayoub-imilouane/strong-trust-is-built-brick-by-brick-through-honesty-consistency-and/) [Ayoub Imilouane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayoub-imilouane/) > [I like the consistency of a TV show, but I like it for three months out of my year, not nine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-mack/i-like-the-consistency-of-a-tv-show-but-i-like-it-for-three-months/) [Allison Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-mack/) > [The superpowers often behave like two heavily armed blind men feeling their way around a room, each believing himself in mortal peril from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-superpowers-often-behave-like-two-heavily-armed-blind-men-feeling/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“So, whenever you find yourself putting forth great effort without success, you're trying to force something that won't fit under the circumstances. That's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-vigorito/so-whenever-you-find-yourself-putting-forth-great-effort-without/) [Tony Vigorito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-vigorito/) > [To me, style is consistency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/to-me-style-is-consistency/) Adam Ant > [About 120 million of us place the big bang 2,500 years after the Babylonians and Sumerians learned to brew beer. If our polls are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/about-120-million-of-us-place-the-big-bang-2-500-years-after-the/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [I've learned over the years that when it comes to success, consistency is key. Consistent hard work that we may not like doing today,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/i-ve-learned-over-the-years-that-when-it-comes-to-success-consistency/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [Consistency of performance is essential. You don't have to be exceptional every week but as a minimum you need to be at a level…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-dyche/consistency-of-performance-is-essential-you-don-t-have-to-be/) [Sean Dyche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-dyche/) [Browse all 866 Consistency quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consistency/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Indeed, in foreign policymaking, inconsistency is often a virtue. I speak not of principles but of policy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard N. 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