Accounts Quote by Errol Barrow
“We will not regard any great power as necessarily right in a given dispute unless we are convinced of this, yet at the same time we will not view the great powers with perennial suspicion merely on account of their size, their wealth, or their nuclear potential. We will be friends of all, satellites of none.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: United Nations Assembly, Errol Barrow, 1975
Great powers should not be assumed righteous solely by size; they must earn trust, while maintaining independence from all.
In simple terms: Power isn’t automatically right.
Key Takeaway
Judge power by actions, not size.
Themes
politics
ethics
power
independence
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
philosophical
strategic
When to use this quote
- international negotiations
- policy making
- alliances
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
realism
sovereignty
diplomacy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can small nations assert influence?
- What checks prevent power abuse?
A Different Perspective
Idealism may overlook pragmatic constraints.
