People keep asking who did the most in Paris, and I’m just saying: some of us negotiated treaties, and some of us negotiated vibes. by Benjamin Franklin

At least Thomas had quiet confidence. John had loud suspicion, which is just confidence with a headache.

Benjamin, be honest: your real superpower was making everyone think they were your favorite correspondent.

You spent half your time collecting compliments from French society and the other half pretending that was strategy.

I never said I was the best at everything. I said I was the best at making the room think I was.

I’m only here to note that both of you treated diplomacy like a personality contest and somehow made it work.

That’s because he was allergic to saying one sentence when he could publish a whole pamphlet and a joke with it.

Jefferson, you walked into every room looking like the room owed you an apology.

John, if being charming in a foreign capital is not strategy, explain why you left with stress and I left with results.