I'd say accepting "No" as an answer, is more important. If someone says "No" to me, and it's something that I really, really want, then negotiations can begin.

I'd say accepting "No" as an answer, is more important. If someone says "No" to me, and it's something that I really, really want, then negotiations can begin. If the other party is impervious to compromise, then it's incumbent upon me to either "live with it," or "flee the scene" (or call Vinnie and Bugsy, to do some negotiating for me). My experience -especially these days- is that people see "No" as either a personal affront, or to be discounted and ignored, because it isn't what they want to hear. "No." is a complete sentence. I don't owe anyone an explanation (unless we start negotiating). I need to accept that, from others.