"To be agreeable in society, you must consent to be taught many things which you already know."
- Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord
"I am more afraid of an army of 100 sheep led by a lion than an army of 100 lions led by a sheep"
"The art of statemanship is to foresee the inevitable and to expedite its occurrence."
"They had learned nothing and forgotten nothing."
"A diplomat who says “yes” means “maybe", a diplomat who says “maybe" means “no”, and a diplomat who says “no” is no diplomat."
"Speech was given to man to conceal his thoughts."
- Charles Maurice De Talleyrand
"It is the beginning of the end."
- Talleyrand
"The art of putting the right men in the right places is first in the science of government but that of finding places for the discontented is the most difficult."
"I know where there is more wisdom than is found in Napoleon Voltaire or all the ministers present and to come - in public opinion."
"The art of statesmanship is to foresee the inevitable and to expedite its occurrence."