"There are occasions when you can hear the mysterious language of the Earth, in water, or coming through the trees, emanating from the mosses, seeping through the under currents of the soil, but you have to be willing to wait and receive."
About John Hay
John Hay — Life and Legacy
John Hay was a significant figure in American diplomacy, serving as Secretary of State under Presidents McKinley and Roosevelt. His contributions during the Spanish-American War and the formulation of the Open Door Policy marked pivotal moments in U.S. foreign relations. Hay's perspective on diplomacy was deeply influenced by his belief in the necessity of negotiation and compromise. He famously stated, 'The best way to keep your word is not to give it,' reflecting a pragmatic approach to international dealings. This insight reveals his understanding that in the complex world of diplomacy, flexibility and strategy often outweigh rigid commitments. Hay's quotes not only encapsulate his views on leadership but also challenge the notion of power, suggesting that true strength lies in service and collaboration. His legacy continues to resonate in contemporary discussions about diplomacy and international relations, emphasizing the enduring relevance of his ideas in a world where negotiation remains crucial.
Quote collection
John Hay quotes
18 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"The evils of tyranny are rarely seen but by him who resists it."
"Dealing with a government with whom mendacity is a science is an extremely difficult matter."
"Friends are the sunshine of life."
"Speak with the speech of the world; think with the thoughts of the few."
"True luck consists not in holding the best of the cards at the table; luckiest is he who knows just when to rise and go home."
"Make all good men your well-wishers, and then, in the years' steady sifting, Some of them turn into friends. Friends are the sunshine of life."
"There are three species of creatures who when they seem coming are going, when they seem going they come: diplomats, women, and crabs."
"I think that saving a little child And bringing him to his own, Is a derned sight better business Than loafing around the throne."
"At my door the Pale Horse stands to carry me to unknown lands."
"The people will come to their own at last,-God is not mocked forever."
"Break not the rose; its fragrance and beauty are surely sufficient, resting contented with these, never a thorn shall you feel."
"Maidens! why should you worry in choosing whom you shall marry? Choose whom you may, you will find you have got somebody else."
"The best loved man or maid in the town would perish with anguish Could they hear all that their friends say in the course of a day."
"The use of proverbs is characteristic of an unlettered people. They are invaluable treasures to dunces with good memories."
"Unto each man comes a day when his favorite sins all forsake him, And he complacently thinks he has forsaken his sins."
"What is first love worth, except to prepare for a second? What does second love bring? Only regret for the first."
"It would never occur to most of us that 'plants' say anything at all, except in terms of what we read into them, or try to use them for. Yet in their responses to this wonderfully rhythmic and varying earth they are the most expressive of all forms of life."