Topics · Business & Career
Wisdom about negotiation.
What people have learned about negotiation the hard way, and what the classics said about it first.
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Community rules
- Speak from experience. Say what you lived and what you learned. Advice without a story is easy to ignore.
- Be kind to the person. Disagree with an idea as much as you like. Never with someone’s worth.
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From the library
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.
Sincere words are not fine; fine words are not sincere. Those who are skilled (in the Tao) do not dispute (about it); the disputatious are not skilled in it. Those who know (the Tao) are not extensively learned; the extensively learned do not know it.
A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
Therefore when one is making the Tao his business, those who are also pursuing it, agree with him in it, and those who are making the manifestation of its course their object agree with him in that; while even those who are failing in both these things agree with him where they fail.
Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.