--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Number one, that it is smart to…" description: "\"Number one, that it is smart to communicate and negotiate with your enemy instead of just waging war with bombs and weapons of mass destruction.\" — The..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c00/theodore-c-sorensen-22160_bombs_number-one-that-it-is-smart-to-communica_1081886.png" --- # Number one, that it is smart to communicate and negotiate… ![“Number one, that it is smart to communicate and negotiate with your enemy instead of just waging war with bombs and weapons of mass destruction.” quote by Theodore C. Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c00/theodore-c-sorensen-22160_bombs_number-one-that-it-is-smart-to-communica_1081886.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c00/theodore-c-sorensen-22160_bombs_number-one-that-it-is-smart-to-communica_1081886.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c00/theodore-c-sorensen-22160_bombs_number-one-that-it-is-smart-to-communica_1081886.png) > “Number one, that it is smart to communicate and negotiate with your enemy instead of just waging war with bombs and weapons of mass destruction.” [Theodore C. Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-c-sorensen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates dialogue over violent conflict, suggesting negotiation is smarter than war. **In simple terms:** Talk instead of fighting. Key Takeaway Choose negotiation over war. Themes peace diplomacy conflict resolution Mood thoughtful strategic Type advisory inspirational When to use this quote - international negotiations - community disputes - business negotiations - family conflicts Key Concepts strategic communication mutual benefit Questions to Reflect On - Can dialogue replace all wars? - What barriers prevent effective negotiation? A Different Perspective Negotiation may fail if parties lack trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bombs/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) [Weapons of mass destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons-of-mass-destruction/) ## Related quotes > [Unfortunately, many regard the critic as an enemy, instead of seeing him as a guide to the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/unfortunately-many-regard-the-critic-as-an-enemy-instead-of-seeing/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [Its better to keep a honest enemy instead of a good friend, because it hurts when a friend backstabs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghav-singh/its-better-to-keep-a-honest-enemy-instead-of-a-good-friend-because-it/) [Raghav Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghav-singh/) > [The death toll from small arms dwarfs that of all other weapons systems — and in most years greatly exceeds the toll of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/the-death-toll-from-small-arms-dwarfs-that-of-all-other-weapons/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [At another location, we found barrels of chemical material that was intended for use as biochemical weapons. Everyone talks about there being no weapons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/at-another-location-we-found-barrels-of-chemical-material-that-was/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [Saddam Hussein had a lengthy history of reckless and sudden aggression. He cultivated ties to terror -- hosting the Abu Nidal organization, supporting terrorists,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/saddam-hussein-had-a-lengthy-history-of-reckless-and-sudden/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Vulnerability is something that I negotiate every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/vulnerability-is-something-that-i-negotiate-every-day/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [Almost always, when I'm on TV, the producers who call me, who negotiate what we're going to say, is a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/almost-always-when-i-m-on-tv-the-producers-who-call-me-who-negotiate/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [As women, you have to negotiate your way through a man's world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kari-matchett/as-women-you-have-to-negotiate-your-way-through-a-man-s-world/) [Kari Matchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kari-matchett/) > [You negotiate in bad faith if you do not forgive your adversary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/you-negotiate-in-bad-faith-if-you-do-not-forgive-your-adversary/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [If Iran does not take steps in the near future to live up to its obligations, then the United States will not continue to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/if-iran-does-not-take-steps-in-the-near-future-to-live-up-to-its/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I will negotiate with my worst enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-newsom/i-will-negotiate-with-my-worst-enemy/) [Gavin Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-newsom/) > [“Fire isn’t patient. Fire does not negotiate. I should have known these things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lawrence/fire-isn-t-patient-fire-does-not-negotiate-i-should-have-known-these/) [Mark Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lawrence/) > [I am not the center of the universe. And it's a lesson that I keep having to learn; it's my ongoing work, I'd say.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-fabian/i-am-not-the-center-of-the-universe-and-it-s-a-lesson-that-i-keep/) [Patrick Fabian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-fabian/) > [I had a couple of agents, but then I went on my own. I thought I could negotiate my own deals and it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-grobbelaar/i-had-a-couple-of-agents-but-then-i-went-on-my-own-i-thought-i-could/) [Bruce Grobbelaar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-grobbelaar/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) ## More by Theodore C. Sorensen > [If we can but tear the blindfold of self-deception from our eyes and loosen the gag of self-denial from our voices, we can restore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-c-sorensen/if-we-can-but-tear-the-blindfold-of-self-deception-from-our-eyes-and/) [Theodore C. 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