Maybe the future of Syria will not be a presidential system where one person will have all the power, so, the discussion about who should and should not rule Syria will become irrelevant. Let the Syrian people decide.
Mohammad Javad ZarifRead
If you look at the developments in the international scene over the past many years, we haven't been able to resolve many problems and many crises, because we have approached them from a zero-sum perspective. My gain has always been defined as somebody else's loss, and through that, we never resolve problems.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes that a zero-sum perspective hinders conflict resolution.
In this quote, Mohammad Javad Zarif highlights that viewing international issues as one party's gain equating to another's loss leads to persistent problems and unresolved crises. This zero-sum mindset restricts cooperation and mutual benefit, suggesting that true progress can only be achieved by shifting toward more collaborative approaches that recognize the interconnectedness of global challenges.
In practice
In a speech about international diplomacy, one could reference this quote to illustrate the importance of cooperation over competition.
Maybe the future of Syria will not be a presidential system where one person will have all the power, so, the discussion about who should and should not rule Syria will become irrelevant. Let the Syrian people decide.
There are only two kinds of freedom in the world; the freedom of the rich and powerful, and the freedom of the artist and the monk who renounces possessions.
I have often asked myself whether, given the choice, I would choose to have manic-depressive illness. If lithium were not available to me, or didn't work for me, the answer would be a simple no... and it would be an answer laced with terror. But lithium does work for me, and therefore I can afford to pose the question. Strangely enough, I think I would choose to have it. It's complicated.
War is war. The only good human being is a dead one.
I do not quote from the scriptures;_x000D_ I simply see what I see.
The guest will judge better of a feast than the cook
We are effectively destroying ourselves by violence masquerading as love.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.