Folk Wisdom

Subject: Folk Wisdom
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Mar 14 - 05:55 AM

In memoriam on the death of Tony Benn, one of the last of the radical left in British politics, I recall his aphorism on power

What power have you got?
Where did you get it from?
In whose interests do you use it?
To whom are you accountable?
How do we get rid of you?

and wonder whether there are other aphorisms we might gather together as a form of folk wisdom, such as

Diplomacy is the art of having someone else have your own way - and getting the credit for it.

Any other suggestions?

Subject: RE: Folk Wisdom
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 14 Mar 14 - 06:35 AM

I'd always heard

"Diplomacy is the art of never offending anyone ...

... Unintentionally."

John

Subject: RE: Folk Wisdom
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 14 Mar 14 - 06:44 AM

Fool me once ~~ shame on you!!

Fool me twice ~~ shame on me!!!

~M~

Subject: RE: Folk Wisdom
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Mar 14 - 07:32 AM

Diplomacy at the moment: the art of being disarming when your country isn't.

Subject: RE: Folk Wisdom
From: Musket
Date: 14 Mar 14 - 08:20 AM

Interesting. I have just posted on the Tony Benn tribute post. I used to be one he asked those questions of, face to face... (I chaired an NHS body in his constituency.)

In another thread, I quoted Voltaire who gave this particular nugget of folk wisdom-

"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."

Quite.