Nele > Recent Status Updates

"I am skeptical about the idea that we can learn much from history, at least in the sense that knowledge of past follies will prevent us from making similar blunders in the future. History is all a matter of interpretation. Often the wrong interpretations of the past are more dangerous than ignorance. Memories of old hurts and hatreds kindle new conflagrations."

"A whole lifetime in Asia had taught her to back off in order to get what she wanted: if you insist too strongly you will cause embarrassment, and embarrassment leads to refusal, and refusal in Asia is irreversible, for about-turns involve loss of face, tantamount to humiliation. therefore never be too (overtly) forceful; never insist, always suggest."