Government Quotes by Henry A. Kissinger

15 Government quotes by Henry A. Kissinger

All Government quotes Henry A. Kissinger’s page

Henry A. Kissinger’s 15 statements on government carry the weight of a seasoned diplomat. They dissect the mechanics of statecraft with a precision that feels like a masterclass in real‑world politics.

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The one thing man fears is the unknown. When presented with this scenario, individual rights will be willingly relinquished for the guarantee…

Henry A. Kissinger

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The defining issue is that the government in Taiwan was considered to be the government of all of China, and the authorities…

Henry A. Kissinger

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Left to its own devices, the State Department machinery tends toward inertia rather than creativity; it is always on the verge of…

Henry A. Kissinger

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I have great respect for the Taiwanese. They have done an extraordinary job. But it was not a sustainable position to say…

Henry A. Kissinger

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The key decision for a statesman is whether to commit his nation or not. There is no middle course. Once a great…

Henry A. Kissinger

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The American formal position has been that we oppose violence by governments against their people. That principle should not be abandoned.

Henry A. Kissinger

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Diplomats operate through deadlock, which is the way by which two sides can test each other's determination. Even if they have egos…

Henry A. Kissinger

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Well it did not make excessive sense to say that 20 million people are the recognized government of a billion people that…

Henry A. Kissinger

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We first became conscious of the plane publicly on a Monday. I thought then by the weekend it would be done. But…

Henry A. Kissinger

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I think an appeal to American idealism and willingness to sacrifice would be an important contribution, because what is happening now in…

Henry A. Kissinger

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China is a country with a record of continuous self-government going back 4,000 years, the only society that has achieved this. One…

Henry A. Kissinger

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My country's history, Mr. President, tells us that it is possible to fashion unity while cherishing diversity, that common action is possible…

Henry A. Kissinger

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For my generation the relationship with Europe was the central point of American foreign policy. Even during my time in government there…

Henry A. Kissinger

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If you mean by "military victory" an Iraqi government that can be established and whose writ runs across the whole country, that…

Henry A. Kissinger

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Today, America would be outraged if U.N. troops entered Los Angeles to restore order. Tomorrow they will be grateful! This is especially…

Henry A. Kissinger

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More by Henry A. Kissinger

90% of politicians give the other 10% a bad name.

Henry A. Kissinger

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I believe it is a mistake to isolate arms control from other areas of policy.

Henry A. Kissinger

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Before the Freedom of Information Act, I used to say at meetings "The illegal we do immediately. The unconstitutional takes a little longer." [...]…

Henry A. Kissinger

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The convictions that leaders have formed before reaching high office are the intellectual capital they will consume as long as they continue in office.

Henry A. Kissinger

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Nothing is more urgent than a serious, dare I say compassionate, debate as to where we are going at home and abroad. Technicians cannot…

Henry A. Kissinger

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Jews were segregated from 1933 on. We could only play against other Jewish teams. This wasn't just social segregation; this was the beginning of…

Henry A. Kissinger

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The Russian people, at least the ones I know, have pride in being a Russian. And, therefore, they want to be taken seriously in…

Henry A. Kissinger

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There are only two reasons to sit in the back row of an airplane: Either you have diarrhea, or you're anxious to meet people…

Henry A. Kissinger

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John Paul II was one of the greatest men of the last century. Perhaps the greatest.

Henry A. Kissinger

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Does anyone have any questions for my answers?

Henry A. Kissinger

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Taiwan will probably not declare independence. The question isn't independence. The issue is whether Taiwan will declare itself as a sovereign separate state. That…

Henry A. Kissinger