--- title: "18 Knows Quotes By Henry A. Kissinger" description: "18 Knows quotes by Henry A. Kissinger. Plus more from Henry A. Kissinger and more Knows sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/henry-a-kissinger-1068_active_in-my-life-i-have-almost-always-been-on_3029032.jpg" --- > [In my life, I have almost always been on the side of active foreign policy. But you need to know with whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/in-my-life-i-have-almost-always-been-on-the-side-of-active-foreign/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/henry-a-kissinger-1068_active_in-my-life-i-have-almost-always-been-on_3029032.jpg) > [The Russian people, at least the ones I know, have pride in being a Russian. And, therefore, they want to be taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-russian-people-at-least-the-ones-i-know-have-pride-in-being-a/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62d/henry-a-kissinger-1068_affair_the-russian-people-at-least-the-ones-i-k_111184.jpg) > [You should not think that you can shape history only by your will. This is also why I'm against the concept of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/you-should-not-think-that-you-can-shape-history-only-by-your-will/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/152/henry-a-kissinger-1068_concepts_you-should-not-think-that-you-can-shape_1902094.jpg) > [I don't consider China a communist state, no. I know that sounds paradoxical, but it's my view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-don-t-consider-china-a-communist-state-no-i-know-that-sounds/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/henry-a-kissinger-1068_china_i-don-t-consider-china-a-communist-state_2566023.jpg) > [The British capitalize on their accent when they don't want you to know what they're saying. But if you wake them up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-british-capitalize-on-their-accent-when-they-don-t-want-you-to/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c39/henry-a-kissinger-1068_accent_the-british-capitalize-on-their-accent-w_514655.jpg) > [China is a country with a record of continuous self-government going back 4,000 years, the only society that has achieved this. One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/china-is-a-country-with-a-record-of-continuous-self-government-going/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/henry-a-kissinger-1068_assumption_china-is-a-country-with-a-record-of-cont_151223.jpg) > [The true conservative is not at home in social struggle. He will attempt to avoid unbridgeable schism, because he knows that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-true-conservative-is-not-at-home-in-social-struggle-he-will/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/249/henry-a-kissinger-1068_conservatism_the-true-conservative-is-not-at-home-in_1705600.jpg) > [What is applicable is to understand that first of all China has undergone a huge revolution in the last years. Anyone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/what-is-applicable-is-to-understand-that-first-of-all-china-has/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/henry-a-kissinger-1068_changed_what-is-applicable-is-to-understand-that_1742486.jpg) > [Well, on the American side, every new administration has to cut its teeth in a crisis, because before a crisis, you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/well-on-the-american-side-every-new-administration-has-to-cut-its/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/511/henry-a-kissinger-1068_administration_well-on-the-american-side-every-new-admi_2534687.jpg) > [The first reactions are often instinctive. So one of the first things we said was that the Chinese had no right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-first-reactions-are-often-instinctive-so-one-of-the-first-things/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16f/henry-a-kissinger-1068_chinese_the-first-reactions-are-often-instinctiv_241148.jpg) > [A nation riven by factions, in which the minority has no hope of ever becoming a majority, or in which some group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/a-nation-riven-by-factions-in-which-the-minority-has-no-hope-of-ever/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28b/henry-a-kissinger-1068_becoming_a-nation-riven-by-factions-in-which-the_877906.jpg) > [China has had a long and complex history and has managed to evolve its own culture for 4,000 years. It therefore not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/china-has-had-a-long-and-complex-history-and-has-managed-to-evolve/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/928/henry-a-kissinger-1068_china_china-has-had-a-long-and-complex-history_2149843.jpg) > [Now we have a whole series of problems - energy, environment, proliferation - which go beyond the nation. And we also know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/now-we-have-a-whole-series-of-problems-energy-environment/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/henry-a-kissinger-1068_catastrophe_now-we-have-a-whole-series-of-problems-e_478521.jpg) > [I don't know what happens in the next years. But I cannot now design a policy in which we try to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-don-t-know-what-happens-in-the-next-years-but-i-cannot-now-design-a/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c99/henry-a-kissinger-1068_challenges_i-don-t-know-what-happens-in-the-next-ye_373140.jpg) > [I knew Deng Xiaoping when he came out of prison. He had, after all, been imprisoned for nearly ten years by Mao.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-knew-deng-xiaoping-when-he-came-out-of-prison-he-had-after-all-been/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f6/henry-a-kissinger-1068_agree_i-knew-deng-xiaoping-when-he-came-out-of_2453230.jpg) > [I do not know what will happen in China politically. I do know that it is impossible to maintain the communist system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-do-not-know-what-will-happen-in-china-politically-i-do-know-that-it/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/099/henry-a-kissinger-1068_china_i-do-not-know-what-will-happen-in-china_982315.jpg) > [Well, I don't know whether it caused anguish in China, but it was not a wise way to proceed. But one has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/well-i-don-t-know-whether-it-caused-anguish-in-china-but-it-was-not-a/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06d/henry-a-kissinger-1068_administration_well-i-don-t-know-whether-it-caused-angu_2135100.jpg) > [You know, this is a very strange phenomenon. I keep reading that in American newspapers, and I keep reading extensive speculations. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/you-know-this-is-a-very-strange-phenomenon-i-keep-reading-that-in/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60e/henry-a-kissinger-1068_chinese_you-know-this-is-a-very-strange-phenomen_1206307.jpg) ## Other authors on Knows ## More by Henry A. Kissinger > [90% of politicians give the other 10% a bad name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/90-of-politicians-give-the-other-10-a-bad-name/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [I believe it is a mistake to isolate arms control from other areas of policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-believe-it-is-a-mistake-to-isolate-arms-control-from-other-areas-of/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [ Before the Freedom of Information Act, I used to say at meetings "The illegal we do immediately. The unconstitutional takes a little longer." \[...\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/before-the-freedom-of-information-act-i-used-to-say-at-meetings-the/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [The convictions that leaders have formed before reaching high office are the intellectual capital they will consume as long as they continue in office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-convictions-that-leaders-have-formed-before-reaching-high-office/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Nothing is more urgent than a serious, dare I say compassionate, debate as to where we are going at home and abroad. Technicians cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/nothing-is-more-urgent-than-a-serious-dare-i-say-compassionate-debate/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/jews-were-segregated-from-1933-on-we-could-only-play-against-other/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [The Russian people, at least the ones I know, have pride in being a Russian. And, therefore, they want to be taken seriously in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-russian-people-at-least-the-ones-i-know-have-pride-in-being-a/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/there-are-only-two-reasons-to-sit-in-the-back-row-of-an-airplane/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [John Paul II was one of the greatest men of the last century. Perhaps the greatest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/john-paul-ii-was-one-of-the-greatest-men-of-the-last-century-perhaps/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Does anyone have any questions for my answers?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/does-anyone-have-any-questions-for-my-answers/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/taiwan-will-probably-not-declare-independence-the-question-isn-t/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [China is a country with a record of continuous self-government going back 4,000 years, the only society that has achieved this. One must start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/china-is-a-country-with-a-record-of-continuous-self-government-going/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [With proper tactics, nuclear war need not be as destructive as it appears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/with-proper-tactics-nuclear-war-need-not-be-as-destructive-as-it/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [I think a resumption of the Cold War would be a historic tragedy. If a conflict is avoidable, on a basis reflecting morality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-think-a-resumption-of-the-cold-war-would-be-a-historic-tragedy-if-a/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [University politics make me long for the simplicity of the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/university-politics-make-me-long-for-the-simplicity-of-the-middle-east/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/henry-a-kissinger/#itemlist", "name": "18 Knows Quotes By Henry A. Kissinger", "numberOfItems": 18, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In my life, I have almost always been on the side of active foreign policy. But you need to know with whom you are cooperating. You need reliable partners.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry A. Kissinger" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/in-my-life-i-have-almost-always-been-on-the-side-of-active-foreign/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/henry-a-kissinger-1068_active_in-my-life-i-have-almost-always-been-on_3029032.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/henry-a-kissinger-1068_active_in-my-life-i-have-almost-always-been-on_3029032.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/henry-a-kissinger-1068_active_in-my-life-i-have-almost-always-been-on_3029032.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In my life, I have almost always been on the side of active foreign policy. But you need to know with whom…” — Henry A. Kissinger", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Russian people, at least the ones I know, have pride in being a Russian. And, therefore, they want to be taken seriously in international affairs.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry A. Kissinger" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-russian-people-at-least-the-ones-i-know-have-pride-in-being-a/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62d/henry-a-kissinger-1068_affair_the-russian-people-at-least-the-ones-i-k_111184.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62d/henry-a-kissinger-1068_affair_the-russian-people-at-least-the-ones-i-k_111184.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62d/henry-a-kissinger-1068_affair_the-russian-people-at-least-the-ones-i-k_111184.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Russian people, at least the ones I know, have pride in being a Russian. And, therefore, they want to be…” — Henry A. Kissinger", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You should not think that you can shape history only by your will. This is also why I'm against the concept of intervention when you don't know its ultimate implications.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry A. Kissinger" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/you-should-not-think-that-you-can-shape-history-only-by-your-will/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/152/henry-a-kissinger-1068_concepts_you-should-not-think-that-you-can-shape_1902094.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/152/henry-a-kissinger-1068_concepts_you-should-not-think-that-you-can-shape_1902094.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/152/henry-a-kissinger-1068_concepts_you-should-not-think-that-you-can-shape_1902094.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You should not think that you can shape history only by your will. This is also why I'm against the concept…” — Henry A. Kissinger", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't consider China a communist state, no. I know that sounds paradoxical, but it's my view.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry A. Kissinger" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-don-t-consider-china-a-communist-state-no-i-know-that-sounds/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/henry-a-kissinger-1068_china_i-don-t-consider-china-a-communist-state_2566023.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/henry-a-kissinger-1068_china_i-don-t-consider-china-a-communist-state_2566023.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/henry-a-kissinger-1068_china_i-don-t-consider-china-a-communist-state_2566023.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't consider China a communist state, no. I know that sounds paradoxical, but it's my view.” — Henry A. Kissinger", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The British capitalize on their accent when they don't want you to know what they're saying. But if you wake them up at 4 A.M., they speak perfect English, the same as we do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry A. Kissinger" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-british-capitalize-on-their-accent-when-they-don-t-want-you-to/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c39/henry-a-kissinger-1068_accent_the-british-capitalize-on-their-accent-w_514655.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c39/henry-a-kissinger-1068_accent_the-british-capitalize-on-their-accent-w_514655.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c39/henry-a-kissinger-1068_accent_the-british-capitalize-on-their-accent-w_514655.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The British capitalize on their accent when they don't want you to know what they're saying. But if you wake…” — Henry A. Kissinger", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 6, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "China is a country with a record of continuous self-government going back 4,000 years, the only society that has achieved this. One must start with the assumption that they must have learnt something about the requirements for survival, and it is not always to be assumed that we know it better than they do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry A. Kissinger" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/china-is-a-country-with-a-record-of-continuous-self-government-going/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/henry-a-kissinger-1068_assumption_china-is-a-country-with-a-record-of-cont_151223.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/henry-a-kissinger-1068_assumption_china-is-a-country-with-a-record-of-cont_151223.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/henry-a-kissinger-1068_assumption_china-is-a-country-with-a-record-of-cont_151223.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“China is a country with a record of continuous self-government going back 4,000 years, the only society that…” — Henry A. Kissinger", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 7, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The true conservative is not at home in social struggle. He will attempt to avoid unbridgeable schism, because he knows that a stable social structure thrives not on triumphs but on reconciliations.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry A. Kissinger" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-true-conservative-is-not-at-home-in-social-struggle-he-will/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/249/henry-a-kissinger-1068_conservatism_the-true-conservative-is-not-at-home-in_1705600.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/249/henry-a-kissinger-1068_conservatism_the-true-conservative-is-not-at-home-in_1705600.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/249/henry-a-kissinger-1068_conservatism_the-true-conservative-is-not-at-home-in_1705600.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The true conservative is not at home in social struggle. He will attempt to avoid unbridgeable schism…” — Henry A. Kissinger", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What is applicable is to understand that first of all China has undergone a huge revolution in the last years. Anyone who saw China as I did in 1971 - and for that matter even in 1979, because not much had changed between 1971 and 1979 - and sees China today, knows one is in a different economic system.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry A. Kissinger" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/what-is-applicable-is-to-understand-that-first-of-all-china-has/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/henry-a-kissinger-1068_changed_what-is-applicable-is-to-understand-that_1742486.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/henry-a-kissinger-1068_changed_what-is-applicable-is-to-understand-that_1742486.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/henry-a-kissinger-1068_changed_what-is-applicable-is-to-understand-that_1742486.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What is applicable is to understand that first of all China has undergone a huge revolution in the last…” — Henry A. Kissinger", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Well, on the American side, every new administration has to cut its teeth in a crisis, because before a crisis, you don't really know what your various subordinates are thinking under stress.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry A. Kissinger" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/well-on-the-american-side-every-new-administration-has-to-cut-its/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/511/henry-a-kissinger-1068_administration_well-on-the-american-side-every-new-admi_2534687.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/511/henry-a-kissinger-1068_administration_well-on-the-american-side-every-new-admi_2534687.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/511/henry-a-kissinger-1068_administration_well-on-the-american-side-every-new-admi_2534687.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Well, on the American side, every new administration has to cut its teeth in a crisis, because before a…” — Henry A. Kissinger", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 10, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The first reactions are often instinctive. So one of the first things we said was that the Chinese had no right to inspect the plane, and that we had a sovereign right to. I don't know what the legal position is, but it was surely psychologically absolutely the unwise thing to do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry A. Kissinger" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-first-reactions-are-often-instinctive-so-one-of-the-first-things/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16f/henry-a-kissinger-1068_chinese_the-first-reactions-are-often-instinctiv_241148.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16f/henry-a-kissinger-1068_chinese_the-first-reactions-are-often-instinctiv_241148.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16f/henry-a-kissinger-1068_chinese_the-first-reactions-are-often-instinctiv_241148.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The first reactions are often instinctive. So one of the first things we said was that the Chinese had no…” — Henry A. Kissinger", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 11, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A nation riven by factions, in which the minority has no hope of ever becoming a majority, or in which some group knows it is perpetually outcast, will seem oppressive to its members, whatever the legal pretensions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry A. Kissinger" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/a-nation-riven-by-factions-in-which-the-minority-has-no-hope-of-ever/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28b/henry-a-kissinger-1068_becoming_a-nation-riven-by-factions-in-which-the_877906.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28b/henry-a-kissinger-1068_becoming_a-nation-riven-by-factions-in-which-the_877906.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28b/henry-a-kissinger-1068_becoming_a-nation-riven-by-factions-in-which-the_877906.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A nation riven by factions, in which the minority has no hope of ever becoming a majority, or in which some…” — Henry A. Kissinger", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 12, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "China has had a long and complex history and has managed to evolve its own culture for 4,000 years. It therefore not necessarily true that we know exactly what is best for the internal structure of China.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry A. Kissinger" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/china-has-had-a-long-and-complex-history-and-has-managed-to-evolve/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/928/henry-a-kissinger-1068_china_china-has-had-a-long-and-complex-history_2149843.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/928/henry-a-kissinger-1068_china_china-has-had-a-long-and-complex-history_2149843.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/928/henry-a-kissinger-1068_china_china-has-had-a-long-and-complex-history_2149843.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“China has had a long and complex history and has managed to evolve its own culture for 4,000 years. It…” — Henry A. Kissinger", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 13, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Now we have a whole series of problems - energy, environment, proliferation - which go beyond the nation. And we also know that a conflict between major powers would be a catastrophe for which there is no compensation in anything you can gain.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry A. Kissinger" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/now-we-have-a-whole-series-of-problems-energy-environment/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/henry-a-kissinger-1068_catastrophe_now-we-have-a-whole-series-of-problems-e_478521.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/henry-a-kissinger-1068_catastrophe_now-we-have-a-whole-series-of-problems-e_478521.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/henry-a-kissinger-1068_catastrophe_now-we-have-a-whole-series-of-problems-e_478521.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Now we have a whole series of problems - energy, environment, proliferation - which go beyond the nation…” — Henry A. Kissinger", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 14, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't know what happens in the next years. But I cannot now design a policy in which we try to keep China from developing, because in some years, if they develop, they might be rich enough to challenge us, and adopt the principle that we will hold down any state that might in the future become strong. That would make us a world empire for which we wouldn't have the talents or the convictions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry A. Kissinger" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-don-t-know-what-happens-in-the-next-years-but-i-cannot-now-design-a/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c99/henry-a-kissinger-1068_challenges_i-don-t-know-what-happens-in-the-next-ye_373140.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c99/henry-a-kissinger-1068_challenges_i-don-t-know-what-happens-in-the-next-ye_373140.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c99/henry-a-kissinger-1068_challenges_i-don-t-know-what-happens-in-the-next-ye_373140.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't know what happens in the next years. But I cannot now design a policy in which we try to keep China…” — Henry A. Kissinger", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 15, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I knew Deng Xiaoping when he came out of prison. He had, after all, been imprisoned for nearly ten years by Mao. I know what China looked like before he took over, and so in my own mind, I don't think of Deng Xiaoping as an oppressor. I think of somebody who, faced with that crisis, made a very painful and decision with which I cannot agree. But I also think of him as a great reformer.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry A. Kissinger" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-knew-deng-xiaoping-when-he-came-out-of-prison-he-had-after-all-been/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f6/henry-a-kissinger-1068_agree_i-knew-deng-xiaoping-when-he-came-out-of_2453230.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f6/henry-a-kissinger-1068_agree_i-knew-deng-xiaoping-when-he-came-out-of_2453230.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f6/henry-a-kissinger-1068_agree_i-knew-deng-xiaoping-when-he-came-out-of_2453230.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I knew Deng Xiaoping when he came out of prison. He had, after all, been imprisoned for nearly ten years by…” — Henry A. Kissinger", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 16, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I do not know what will happen in China politically. I do know that it is impossible to maintain the communist system or probably even a strict one-party system when the economy becomes so pluralistic. Now, what form that takes and what institutions will evolve, I do not have a clear view about. I do not think the United States, as a general principle, ought to intervene in this.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry A. Kissinger" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-do-not-know-what-will-happen-in-china-politically-i-do-know-that-it/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/099/henry-a-kissinger-1068_china_i-do-not-know-what-will-happen-in-china_982315.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/099/henry-a-kissinger-1068_china_i-do-not-know-what-will-happen-in-china_982315.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/099/henry-a-kissinger-1068_china_i-do-not-know-what-will-happen-in-china_982315.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I do not know what will happen in China politically. I do know that it is impossible to maintain the…” — Henry A. Kissinger", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 17, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Well, I don't know whether it caused anguish in China, but it was not a wise way to proceed. But one has to remember that it was the first experience. And in a Republican administration, there is a conservative wing that looks at China as the last embodiment of communism, which therefore tends towards a more bellicose rhetoric anyway than I would. It's not the dominant element, but every once in a while they get a crack at public statement.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry A. Kissinger" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/well-i-don-t-know-whether-it-caused-anguish-in-china-but-it-was-not-a/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06d/henry-a-kissinger-1068_administration_well-i-don-t-know-whether-it-caused-angu_2135100.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06d/henry-a-kissinger-1068_administration_well-i-don-t-know-whether-it-caused-angu_2135100.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06d/henry-a-kissinger-1068_administration_well-i-don-t-know-whether-it-caused-angu_2135100.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Well, I don't know whether it caused anguish in China, but it was not a wise way to proceed. But one has to…” — Henry A. Kissinger", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 18, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You know, this is a very strange phenomenon. I keep reading that in American newspapers, and I keep reading extensive speculations. I meet with the Chinese leaders periodically, and while I don't say they've endorsed the missile shield, it has not been in the forefront of their discussions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry A. Kissinger" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/you-know-this-is-a-very-strange-phenomenon-i-keep-reading-that-in/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60e/henry-a-kissinger-1068_chinese_you-know-this-is-a-very-strange-phenomen_1206307.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60e/henry-a-kissinger-1068_chinese_you-know-this-is-a-very-strange-phenomen_1206307.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60e/henry-a-kissinger-1068_chinese_you-know-this-is-a-very-strange-phenomen_1206307.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You know, this is a very strange phenomenon. I keep reading that in American newspapers, and I keep reading…” — Henry A. Kissinger", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } } ] }, { "@type": "CollectionPage", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/henry-a-kissinger/#webpage", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/henry-a-kissinger/", "name": "Knows Quotes by Henry A. Kissinger", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/henry-a-kissinger/#itemlist" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/henry-a-kissinger-1068_active_in-my-life-i-have-almost-always-been-on_3029032.jpg" }, "description": "18 Knows quotes by Henry A. Kissinger. Plus more from Henry A. Kissinger and more Knows sayings from other authors.", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/henry-a-kissinger/#breadcrumb" } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/henry-a-kissinger/#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Topics", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Knows", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "name": "Henry A. Kissinger", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/henry-a-kissinger/" } ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```