Lawrence Eagleburger Quotes

Powerful Lawrence Eagleburger for Daily Growth

About Lawrence Eagleburger

Lawrence Sidney Eagleburger (November 19, 1930 – December 27, 2011) was a renowned American diplomat, politician, and businessman. Born in Mobile, Alabama, he served under five U.S. Presidents, earning recognition as a leading voice in foreign affairs during the latter half of the 20th century. Raised in Texas, Eagleburger attended Texas A&M University, where he was a member of the Corps of Cadets and ROTC. His military career began with the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War. After leaving active duty, he completed his education at the George Washington University's National Law Center. Eagleburger's diplomatic career spanned over four decades. He served as Ambassador to both the Republic of Yugoslavia and the Federal Republic of Germany, in addition to stints as Under Secretary of State (1989-1992) and Acting Secretary of State (1992). During his tenure under President George H.W. Bush, he played a pivotal role in the peaceful reunification of Germany. Notable among Eagleburger's major works are "The American Role in the World" (co-authored with William Webster) and "A Moment in History: The Tiananmen Square Protests & Crackdown, 1989" (edited with Strobe Talbott). His extensive experience and astute diplomatic skills made him a go-to commentator on international affairs. Post-retirement from public service, Eagleburger served as the President and CEO of The Carlyle Group, a global alternative asset manager. He continued to contribute his expertise through board memberships at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Atlantic Council. Lawrence Eagleburger's life embodied a deep commitment to public service, diplomacy, and international relations. His impact on global politics remains significant, particularly in shaping the post-Cold War era.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Diplomacy is the ability to tell people to go to hell in such a way that they ask for directions."

This quote by Lawrence Eagleburger humorously suggests that diplomacy, at its core, involves communicating effectively while maintaining control and preserving relationships, even when delivering difficult or unpopular messages. The use of the phrase "go to hell" emphasizes the challenging nature of the message, but the added element of politeness and tact ("ask for directions") indicates a skillful approach that aims to keep the line of communication open despite the unpleasantness of the message. It's a reminder that diplomacy is an art that requires finesse, sensitivity, and the ability to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics with grace.

"The United Nations is an institution which has an immunity from criticism. If it does something wrong, you are not allowed to criticize it."

This quote by Lawrence Eagleburger highlights a perceived issue within the United Nations (UN) system, suggesting that there's an unspoken rule or expectation that prevents fair and constructive criticism of the organization. The implication is that the UN operates with a certain degree of immunity from scrutiny, which could potentially hinder its ability to learn, adapt, and improve effectively. It underscores the importance of maintaining a healthy dialogue and fostering an environment where the UN can be held accountable for its actions while preserving its mission to promote peace, development, and uphold human rights worldwide.

"You don't have to be in love, but it helps."

This quote suggests that while romantic love is not a necessity for all aspects of life or relationships, it can significantly improve and enrich them. The presence of love brings warmth, understanding, and a deeper connection between people. However, the absence of love does not necessarily mean that everything will be lacking in these qualities; it merely implies that there is room for improvement and potential growth through the development of affection and emotional bonding.

"There are some things that cannot be learned quickly, and time, regardless of how much, cannot make up for lack of talent or interest."

This quote emphasizes the importance of both natural talent and personal interest in mastering a skill or accomplishing a task. Time alone, no matter how much is devoted, cannot compensate for an absence of either inherent ability or genuine passion. It suggests that success often requires a combination of effort, dedication, and innate potential, coupled with a deep-seated curiosity or enthusiasm.

"Foreign policy should not be made on television, in public statements, or in Congressional hearings, where a nation's secrets can be exposed to its adversaries."

This quote by Lawrence Eagleburger emphasizes the importance of discretion in foreign policy-making. He suggests that sensitive national matters should not be discussed openly in public forums like television or Congressional hearings, as such exposure could potentially benefit adversarial nations, compromising security and negotiating positions. Instead, diplomacy should take place behind closed doors, allowing for a more thoughtful, strategic, and secure approach to international relations.

The fact of the matter is that if we were going to do anything about Gaddafi, it should have been at the beginning. And by fooling around like this as long as we have, we have wasted an opportunity that would have gotten rid of him.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Beginning, Fact, Been, Gaddafi

Any Ambassador or Foreign Service Officer who has his or her head screwed on right knows that the U.S. position in the world is far more dependent on our ability to compete in world markets.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Compete, Screwed, Officer, Ambassador

There's Hezbollah, there's Hamas, there is a whole range of terrorist targets out there related to Palestine and to Israel that we ought to be trying to deal with. And there's a great deal of targets in the Philippines, Indonesia. You name it, there are a number of places where there are targets that we ought to be trying to deal with.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Deal, Range, Hamas, Indonesia

Some day, somebody is going to have to start talking about what happens to us all a decade from now if we let these North Koreans and the Iranians go forward with their nuclear weapons program.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Some, Decade, North, Iranians

And beyond that, the next issue is how do we guarantee one of these weapons, not necessarily this missile, but nuclear weapons ends up in the hands of Al Qaeda or some other terrorist group.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Next, Some, Other, Qaeda

There are a lot of other terrorist targets we ought to be focusing on. Well, there is Syria, for example, which is pumping through - because of Iran, is pumping weapons on into Hezbollah and so forth - which is then producing a lot of agony in Palestine and in Israel. We ought to be doing a bit to try to stop that.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Doing, Through, Other, Targets

If we had made it clear from the very beginning that we were not going to tolerate another nuclear power on the face of the earth, and had done it in Korea, where we could have accomplished it militarily, if necessary, I would put a stop to it and would have put a stop to it there.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Beginning, Another, Very, Tolerate

What I can't quite see at this stage is that the evidence, even to the president, seems to be that clear. And if it is that clear, I can't understand why we are not capable of convincing our closest allies that given that evidence, they ought to join us in this effort.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Capable, Why, Evidence, Closest

The question really is how do we get Embassy Officers into the minds of the American business community. That is a much more difficult task than understanding a statistical matrix.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Question, Statistical, Embassy

In the best of all worlds everyone in the Embassy is doing something to assist U.S. exports.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Doing, Everyone, Worlds, Embassy

The point is, once they have a missile that can hit the United States, we are now back in the kind of game we used to worry about with the Soviet Union, only the Soviet Union was more mature about this whole thing than I think the North Koreans will be.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Game, Soviet Union, I Think, Koreans

My point here is I think international pressures of our acting unilaterally again are going to be such that the administration will say, well, we just can't take this on now.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Think, Here, I Think, Pressures

I think what he's - what he believes, and he may be correct, I don't know, that we have some intelligence information that leads us to know some things about what's going on in Iraq that we haven't revealed to others.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Think, Some, I Think, Revealed

The consequence of a world full of nuclear powers to me is so incomprehensible in terms of the dangers that that implies.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

World, Consequence, Dangers, Powers

One nuclear war is going to be the last nuclear - the last war, frankly, if it really gets out of hand. And I just don't think we ought to be prepared to accept that sort of thing.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Think, Going, Last, Ought

There is a natural partnership between State and Commerce, and the American business community to work together to educate the United States about marketing overseas.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Partnership, United States, Educate

Small- and medium-sized companies do not know what we have to offer and that needs to be changed. We must react just as strenuously on their behalf as we do for larger companies.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Small, Needs, Larger, Medium-Sized

My father was somewhat to the right of Genghis Khan.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Father, Right, Somewhat, Khan

What is more important is that Foreign Service Officers understand business, about the needs of U.S. business and how to help U.S. companies make the right connections abroad.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Business, Needs, Abroad, Connections

I believe that sooner or later we're going to have to deal with Saddam Hussein, because of his general reputation, because of what I'm convinced he's done with regard to terrorism and the support thereof. But I'm not at all sure I believe that it has to be right now.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Reputation, Deal, Hussein, Saddam

My own view of this, by the way, is, if the war on terrorism is successful over time, in its own way it's going to box Saddam in in a way that's going to make it much more difficult for him to maintain his power, and that he's going to become increasingly isolated. I think that's going to take time.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Own, I Think, Increasingly, Saddam

The question is not really about a shift to the economic cone where officers are writing about the balance of payments and the need for economic stabilization.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Question, Need, Shift, Officers

In a time of constrained resources we will have to shift emphasis. but not necessarily from the traditional Political Officer to the traditional Economic Officer.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Will, Traditional, Officer, Emphasis

The whole nuclear thing is a terrible mess and it's hard for me to understand why it is that we, the United States, seem to be the only ones that are really particularly concerned about it and prepared to do something.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Concerned, United States, Nuclear

We have to spend a lot more time training people to be good advocates of U.S. business.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Business, More, Lot, Advocate

Now there is a cultural change under way in the Foreign Service.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Service, Now, Cultural, Foreign Service

That said, there is a tendency to help the large industrial conglomerate more quickly than the small company you have never heard of. That is something in the culture we are trying to change.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Small, Large, Tendency, Industrial

We must advertise to U.S. business that we are there, that our attitude has changed, and that we care. When we are asked to help, we have to perform and provide the right advice.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Business, Advice, Perform, Advertise

There are sometimes problems for which there is no immediate solution, and there are sometimes problems for which there is no solution.

- Lawrence Eagleburger

Solution, Sometimes, Which, Immediate

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