George P. Shultz

“Decisions are not made in a vacuum. They are made in a political context.”

“Let the facts be your guide.”

“Negotiation is a euphemism for capitulation if the shadow of power is not cast across the bargaining table.”

“Deterrence is the art of producing in the mind of the enemy... the fear to attack.”

“Nothing ever gets settled in this town until it gets settled right.”

“Demography is destiny.”

“If you go into a negotiation, you have to be prepared to get up from the table and walk away.”

“You have to be there. You have to be engaged. You have to be a factor in the equation.”

“In a world of change, you have to be able to learn, unlearn, and relearn.”

“If there is one lesson that I have learned in all my years in Washington, it is that the best way to get ahead is to be straight with people.”

“Nothing ever gets settled in this town until it gets settled right.”

“Trust is the coin of the realm.”

“The minute you start talking about what you're going to do if you lose, you have lost.”

“The minute you start talking about what you're going to do if you lose, you have lost.”

“You've got to have an open mind and be ready to learn.”

“If you want to get anything done, you can't be too particular about who gets the credit.”

“The world is awash in change. The only question is, are we going to be victims of that change, or are we going to be its architects?”

“Negotiating is a time-honored human activity and a part of our everyday lives. It is the way to solve problems, to get things done.”

“I’ve learned that you’ve got to be willing to read the riot act to your friends, as well as your enemies.”

“When you're in a hole, stop digging.”