Kenneth Waltz

Then what explains war among states? Rousseau's answer is really that war occurs because there is nothing to prevent it.

— Kenneth Waltz

External pressure seems to produce internal unity.

— Kenneth Waltz

If we are to have peace, we must learn loyalty to a larger group. And before we can learn loyalty, the thing…

— Kenneth Waltz

In a zero-sum game, the problem is entirely one of distribution, not at all one of production.

— Kenneth Waltz

States in the world are like individuals in the state of nature. They are neither perfectly good nor are they controlled by…

— Kenneth Waltz

To solve these problems one needs as much an understanding of politics as an understanding of man - and the one cannot…

— Kenneth Waltz

The most important causes of political arrangements and acts are found in the nature and behavior of man.

— Kenneth Waltz

Each state pursues its own interest's, however defined, in ways it judges best. Force is a means of achieving the external ends…

— Kenneth Waltz

To build a theory of international relations on accidents of geography and history is dangerous.

— Kenneth Waltz

According to the first image of international relations, the locus of the important causes of war is found in the nature and…

— Kenneth Waltz

War may achieve a redistribution of resources, but labor, not war, creates wealth.

— Kenneth Waltz

In anarchy there is no automatic harmony .

— Kenneth Waltz

If we gather more and more data and establish more and more associations, however, we will not finally find that we know…

— Kenneth Waltz

The implication of game theory, which is also the implication of the third image, is, however, that the freedom of choice of…

— Kenneth Waltz

With many sovereign states, with no system of law enforceable among them, with each state judging its grievances and ambitions according to…

— Kenneth Waltz

Asking who won a given war, someone has said, is like asking who won the San Francisco earthquake. That in war there…

— Kenneth Waltz

War most often promotes the internal unity of each state involved. The state plagued by internal strife may then, instead of waiting…

— Kenneth Waltz

The transitory interests of royal houses may be advanced in war; the real interests of all people are furthered by the peace.

— Kenneth Waltz

Each man does seek his own interest, but, unfortunately, not according to the dictates of reason.

— Kenneth Waltz

It is not true that were the Soviet Union to disappear the remaining states could easily live in peace.

— Kenneth Waltz

Is it capitalism or states that must be destroyed in order to get peace, or must both be abolished?

— Kenneth Waltz

Once socialism replaces capitalism, reason will determine the policies of states.

— Kenneth Waltz

The best critical consideration of the inherent weakness of a federation of states in which the law of the federation has to…

— Kenneth Waltz

No system of balance functions automatically.

— Kenneth Waltz