A doctrine is something that pins you down to a given mode of conduct and dozens of situations which you cannot foresee, which is a great mistake in principle. When the word 'containment' was used in my 'X' article, it… — George F. Kennan Copy Share Image
It is clear that the main element of any United States policy toward the Soviet Union must be that of long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies. — George F. Kennan Copy Share Image
We should not lose ourselves in vainglorious sohemes for changing human nature all over the planet. Rather, we should learn to view ourselves with… — George F. Kennan Copy Share Image
Forms of government are forged mainly in the fire of practice, not in the vacuum of theory. They respond to national character and to… — George F. Kennan Copy Share Image
“In the face of this situation we would be better off to dispense now with a number of the concepts which have underlined our… — George F. Kennan Copy Share Image
“If you accept a democratic system, this means that you are prepared to put up with those of its workings, legislative or administrative, with… — George F. Kennan Copy Share Image
The jealous and intolerant eye of the Kremlin can distinguish, in the end, only vassals and enemies, and the neighbors of Russia, if they… — George F. Kennan Copy Share Image
Do people ever reflect, one wonders, that the best way to protect against the penetration of one's secrets by others is to have the… — George F. Kennan Copy Share Image
Actually, the inability of any society to resist immigration, the inability to find other solutions to the problem of employment at the lower, more… — George F. Kennan Copy Share Image
There is more respect to be won in the opinion of this world by a resolute and courageous liquidation of unsound positions than by… — George F. Kennan Copy Share Image
The nuclear bomb is the most useless weapon ever invented. It can be employed to no rational purpose. It is not even an effective… — George F. Kennan Copy Share Image
The United States cannot reshape other countries in its own image and that, with a few exceptions, its efforts to police the world are… — George F. Kennan Copy Share Image
