There has been a tendency through the years for reason and moderation to prevail as long as things are going tolerably well or as long as our problems seem clear and finite and manageable.

Quote by J William Fulbright

Topics: J William Fulbright Quotes

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...

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...

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.

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.

There is an inevitable divergence between the world as it is and the world as...

There is an inevitable divergence between the world as it is and the world as...

The biggest lesson I learned from Vietnam is not to trust [our own] government statements....

The biggest lesson I learned from Vietnam is not to trust [our own] government statements....

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...

In the name of noble purposes men have committed unspeakable acts of cruelty against one...

In the name of noble purposes men have committed unspeakable acts of cruelty against one...

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...

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...

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...

We are trying to remake Vietnamese society, a task which certainly cannot be accomplished by...

We are trying to remake Vietnamese society, a task which certainly cannot be accomplished by...

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...

The Soviet Union has indeed been our greatest menace, not so much because of what...

The Soviet Union has indeed been our greatest menace, not so much because of what...

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...

We must dare to think unthinkable thoughts.

We must dare to think unthinkable thoughts.

Once imbued with the idea of a mission, a great nation easily assumes that it...

Once imbued with the idea of a mission, a great nation easily assumes that it...

In the long course of history, having people who understand your thought is much greater...

In the long course of history, having people who understand your thought is much greater...

To be a statesman, you must first get elected.

To be a statesman, you must first get elected.

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...