--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ever since I assumed my present office my…" description: "\"Ever since I assumed my present office my main purpose has been to work for the pacification of Europe, for the removal of those suspicions and those a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/neville-chamberlain-22527_air_ever-since-i-assumed-my-present-office-m_2804112.jpg" --- # Ever since I assumed my present office my main purpose has… ![“Ever since I assumed my present office my main purpose has been to work for the pacification of Europe, for the removal of those suspicions and those animosities which have so long poisoned the air. The path which leads to appeasement is long and bristles with obstacles. The question of…” quote by Neville Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/neville-chamberlain-22527_air_ever-since-i-assumed-my-present-office-m_2804112.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/neville-chamberlain-22527_air_ever-since-i-assumed-my-present-office-m_2804112.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/neville-chamberlain-22527_air_ever-since-i-assumed-my-present-office-m_2804112.jpg) > “Ever since I assumed my present office my main purpose has been to work for the pacification of Europe, for the removal of those suspicions and those animosities which have so long poisoned the air. The path which leads to appeasement is long and bristles with obstacles. The question of Czechoslovakia is the latest and perhaps the most dangerous. Now that we have got past it, I feel that it may be possible to make further progress along the road to sanity.” [Neville Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-chamberlain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He aimed to secure peace in Europe by reducing mistrust and hostility, but faced many obstacles, especially regarding Czechoslovakia. **In simple terms:** He tried to calm Europe, but it was hard. Key Takeaway Seek realistic peace, not just appeasement. Themes peace politics conflict resolution diplomacy history Mood cautious reflective Type historical political When to use this quote - foreign policy negotiations - international treaties - crisis management - public opinion shaping Key Concepts appeasement national interest security dilemma Questions to Reflect On - Did appeasement prevent war? - What alternatives existed? A Different Perspective His approach ignored aggressive expansion, leading to greater conflict later. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animosity/) [Appeasement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appeasement/) [Czechoslovakia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/czechoslovakia/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Sanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanity/) [Suspicion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suspicion/) ## Related quotes > [War is a brutal and fierce means of pacification; it means the suppression of resistance by the destruction or enslavement of the conquered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/war-is-a-brutal-and-fierce-means-of-pacification-it-means-the/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [The trade unions, far from being content with these declarations, established international liaisons and supported every policy based on pacification and understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-jouhaux/the-trade-unions-far-from-being-content-with-these-declarations/) [Leon Jouhaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-jouhaux/) > [The Pact of Munich is signed. Czechoslovakia as a power is out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-jodl/the-pact-of-munich-is-signed-czechoslovakia-as-a-power-is-out/) [Alfred Jodl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-jodl/) > [I was 25 years old and pursuing my doctorate in economics when I was allowed to spend six months of postgraduate studies in Naples,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-klaus/i-was-25-years-old-and-pursuing-my-doctorate-in-economics-when-i-was/) [Vaclav Klaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-klaus/) > [This is not 1968 and the invasion of Czechoslovakia, where Russia can threaten its neighbors, occupy a capital, overthrow a government, and get away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/this-is-not-1968-and-the-invasion-of-czechoslovakia-where-russia-can/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [We are a nation that worships speed and power. And for good reason. Without power we would still be part of England and everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/we-are-a-nation-that-worships-speed-and-power-and-for-good-reason/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [“Aomame imagined 1926 Czechoslovakia: The First World War had ended, and the country was freed from the long rule of the Hapsburg Dynasty. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/aomame-imagined-1926-czechoslovakia-the-first-world-war-had-ended-and/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [If I hadn't left Czechoslovakia, I would have been dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/if-i-hadn-t-left-czechoslovakia-i-would-have-been-dead/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [“Very often the test of one's allegiance to a cause or to a people is precisely the willingness to stay the course when things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/very-often-the-test-of-one-s-allegiance-to-a-cause-or-to-a-people-is/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [When I went to Czechoslovakia under the old Communist regime one day in the '80s, I thought to myself whatever I do, whatever happens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/when-i-went-to-czechoslovakia-under-the-old-communist-regime-one-day/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“When, in May, tensions reached a high point, London warned Berlin that if it attacked Czechoslovakia and the French were embroiled as well, "His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/when-in-may-tensions-reached-a-high-point-london-warned-berlin-that/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [I will begin by saying what everybody would like to ignore or forget... we have sustained a total and unmitigated defeat... All is over.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-will-begin-by-saying-what-everybody-would-like-to-ignore-or-forget/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [When I was first in Czechoslovakia, it occurred to me that I work in a society where as a writer everything goes and nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/when-i-was-first-in-czechoslovakia-it-occurred-to-me-that-i-work-in-a/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [“The Czech Republic. Czechoslovakia hasn't existed for almost twenty years. So unless her parents are visiting 1992, they're in the Czech Republic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-morrill/the-czech-republic-czechoslovakia-hasn-t-existed-for-almost-twenty/) [Lauren Morrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-morrill/) > [When I first started to take photographs in Czechoslovakia, I met this old gentleman, this old photographer, who told me a few practical things.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-koudelka/when-i-first-started-to-take-photographs-in-czechoslovakia-i-met-this/) [Josef Koudelka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-koudelka/) ## More by Neville Chamberlain > [We are resolved that the method of consultation shall be the method adopted to deal with any other questions that may concern our two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-chamberlain/we-are-resolved-that-the-method-of-consultation-shall-be-the-method/) [Neville Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-chamberlain/) > [We would fight not for the political future of a distant city, rather for principles whose destruction would ruin the possibility of peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-chamberlain/we-would-fight-not-for-the-political-future-of-a-distant-city-rather/) [Neville Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-chamberlain/) > [In the event of any action which clearly threatened Polish independence and which the Polish Government accordingly considered it vital to resist with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-chamberlain/in-the-event-of-any-action-which-clearly-threatened-polish/) [Neville Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-chamberlain/) > [My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honor. I believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-chamberlain/my-good-friends-for-the-second-time-in-our-history-a-british-prime/) [Neville Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-chamberlain/) > [I tell you that I'm not dictatorial, I'm not intolerant, I'm not overpowering! You're all wrong, wrong, wrong, I tell you! I'm the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-chamberlain/i-tell-you-that-i-m-not-dictatorial-i-m-not-intolerant-i-m-not/) [Neville Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-chamberlain/) > [This is a sad day for all of us, and to none is it sadder than to me. Everything that I have worked for,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-chamberlain/this-is-a-sad-day-for-all-of-us-and-to-none-is-it-sadder-than-to-me/) [Neville Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-chamberlain/) > [Though I never shout at Labour Members or insult them, I can never understand the psychology of some of our men who endeavoured to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-chamberlain/though-i-never-shout-at-labour-members-or-insult-them-i-can-never/) [Neville Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-chamberlain/) > [It is evil things that we will be fighting against-brute force, bad faith, injustice, oppression and persecution-and against them I am certain that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-chamberlain/it-is-evil-things-that-we-will-be-fighting-against-brute-force-bad/) [Neville Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-chamberlain/) > [I believe it is peace in our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-chamberlain/i-believe-it-is-peace-in-our-time/) [Neville Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-chamberlain/) > [However much we may sympathize with a small nation confronted by a big and powerful neighbor, we cannot in all circumstances undertake to involve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-chamberlain/however-much-we-may-sympathize-with-a-small-nation-confronted-by-a/) [Neville Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-chamberlain/) > [Whatever may be the reason, whether it was that Hitler thought he might get away with what he had got without fighting for it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-chamberlain/whatever-may-be-the-reason-whether-it-was-that-hitler-thought-he/) [Neville Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-chamberlain/) > [Whatever the lengths to which others may go, His Majesty's Government will never resort to the deliberate attack on women and children and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-chamberlain/whatever-the-lengths-to-which-others-may-go-his-majesty-s-government/) [Neville Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-chamberlain/) > [No doubt the Jews aren't a lovable people; I don't care about them myself; but that is not sufficient to explain the Pogrom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-chamberlain/no-doubt-the-jews-aren-t-a-lovable-people-i-don-t-care-about-them/) [Neville Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-chamberlain/) > [I am speaking to you from the Cabinet Room at 10 Downing Street. This morning the British Ambassador in Berlin handed the German Government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-chamberlain/i-am-speaking-to-you-from-the-cabinet-room-at-10-downing-street-this/) [Neville Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-chamberlain/) > [Armed conflict between nations is a nightmare to me, but if I were convinced that any nation had made up its mind to dominate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-chamberlain/armed-conflict-between-nations-is-a-nightmare-to-me-but-if-i-were/) [Neville Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-chamberlain/) [Explore all 27 Neville Chamberlain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-chamberlain/) ## More Air quotes > [I will be a tireless advocate for our District's defense priorities including Sheppard Air Force Base, Pantex, Bell Helicopter, universities conducting important research, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-jackson/i-will-be-a-tireless-advocate-for-our-district-s-defense-priorities/) [Ronny Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-jackson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [If U.S. air, naval, missile, and ground forces were not in and around Korea, and if we were not treaty-bound to fight alongside South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/if-u-s-air-naval-missile-and-ground-forces-were-not-in-and-around/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The cooler days have brought a wistful mood upon him. The smell of coalsmoke in the air at night. Old times, dead years. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-cooler-days-have-brought-a-wistful-mood-upon-him-the-smell-of/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [I'm a candle flame that sways in currents of air you can't see. You need to be the one who steadies me to burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-gordimer/i-m-a-candle-flame-that-sways-in-currents-of-air-you-can-t-see-you/) [Nadine Gordimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-gordimer/) > [It is sometimes said that scientists are unromantic, that their passion to figure out robs the world of beauty and mystery. But is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/it-is-sometimes-said-that-scientists-are-unromantic-that-their/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) > [There was a little nook on Air Force Two that contained the vice presidential seal, and I would sort of wedge myself in there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-biden/there-was-a-little-nook-on-air-force-two-that-contained-the-vice/) [Jill Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-biden/) > [Words are substance strange. Speak one and the air ripples into another's ears. Write one and the eye laps it up. But the sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-beachy-quick/words-are-substance-strange-speak-one-and-the-air-ripples-into/) [Dan Beachy-Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-beachy-quick/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. 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The logical consequence is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/washington-bureaucrats-have-classified-the-very-air-we-exhale-as-a/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [“It is unnatural to fear something natural.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/it-is-unnatural-to-fear-something-natural/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) Browse all 6,278 Air quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Ever since I assumed my present office my main purpose has been to work for the pacification of Europe, for the removal of those suspicions and those animosities which have so long poisoned the air. The path which leads to appeasement is long and bristles with obstacles. The question of Czechoslovakia is the latest and perhaps the most dangerous. 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