Diplomacy, of course, is a subtle and nuanced craft, so much so that it's said that when the most wily diplomat of the nineteenth-century passed away, other diplomats asked, on reports of his death, 'What do you suppose the old fox meant by that?'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Reagan compares diplomacy to a subtle craft, using a metaphor of a wily fox to illustrate its complexity.
- In plain terms
- Diplomacy is very subtle, like a cunning fox whose words are hard to interpret.
- What can you take from it?
- Diplomatic actions often require careful interpretation and nuance.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why is diplomacy described as subtle?
- What is the role of ambiguity in diplomacy?
Another view
The metaphor simplifies diplomacy without addressing the tangible stakes of international policy.
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