The biggest lesson I learned from Vietnam is not to trust [our own] government statements. I had no idea until then that you could not rely on [them].

Quote by J William Fulbright

Topics: Government Quotes

The citizen who criticizes his country is paying it an implied tribute.

The citizen who criticizes his country is paying it an implied tribute.

As a conservative power, the United States has a vital interest in upholding and expanding...

As a conservative power, the United States has a vital interest in upholding and expanding...

In a democracy dissent is an act of faith. Like medicine, the test of its...

In a democracy dissent is an act of faith. Like medicine, the test of its...

I think we Americans tend to put too high a price on unanimity, as if...

I think we Americans tend to put too high a price on unanimity, as if...

In our excessive involvement in the affairs of other countries, we are not only living...

In our excessive involvement in the affairs of other countries, we are not only living...

There are many respects in which America, if it can bring itself to act with...

There are many respects in which America, if it can bring itself to act with...

Law is the essential foundation of stability and order both within societies and in international...

Law is the essential foundation of stability and order both within societies and in international...

We must dare to think unthinkable thoughts.

We must dare to think unthinkable thoughts.

When we violate the law ourselves, whatever short-term advantage may be gained, we are obviously...

When we violate the law ourselves, whatever short-term advantage may be gained, we are obviously...

There has been a strong tradition in this country that it is not the function...

There has been a strong tradition in this country that it is not the function...

What they fear, I think rightly, is that traditional Vietnamese society cannot survive the American...

What they fear, I think rightly, is that traditional Vietnamese society cannot survive the American...

To be a statesman, you must first get elected.

To be a statesman, you must first get elected.

I do not question the power of our weapons and the efficiency of our logistics;...

I do not question the power of our weapons and the efficiency of our logistics;...

The cause of our difficulties in southeast Asia is not a deficiency of power but...

The cause of our difficulties in southeast Asia is not a deficiency of power but...

We have the power to do any damn fool thing we want to do, and...

We have the power to do any damn fool thing we want to do, and...

The rapprochement of peoples is only possible when differences of culture and outlook are respected...

The rapprochement of peoples is only possible when differences of culture and outlook are respected...

There has been a tendency through the years for reason and moderation to prevail as...

There has been a tendency through the years for reason and moderation to prevail as...

When public men indulge themselves in abuse, when they deny others a fair trial, when...

When public men indulge themselves in abuse, when they deny others a fair trial, when...

Power confuses itself with virtue and tends also to take itself for omnipotence.

Power confuses itself with virtue and tends also to take itself for omnipotence.

The price of empire is America's soul, and that price is too high.

The price of empire is America's soul, and that price is too high.