President Assad noted that dialogue was the best means to end long-standing disputes with Tehran, arguing that any attempt to contain a country ends by strengthening it.

VOA: standard.2009.03.18

How it ends up in the long run for the Dutch is that the Dutch cease to be a great power.

荷兰长远之后的下场,便是荷兰国力日衰,风光不再

耶鲁公开课 - 欧洲文明课程节选