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Quotes by Statesman

"Without tradition, art is a flock of sheep without a shepherd. Without innovation, it is a corpse."

"When I repress my emotion my stomach keeps score."

"I am prepared to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter."

"It was the nation and the race dwelling all round the globe that had the lion's heart. I had the luck to be called upon to give the roar."

"But it is a law of life and development in history where two national civilizations meet they fight for ascendancy."


"It makes a great deal of difference whether one wills not to sin or has not the knowledge to sin."

"When ambitious desires arise in thy heart, recall the days of extremity thou has passed through."


"A nation's progress is a testament to its unity, and the discipline of its people shapes the path to prosperity."

"We must lead in a different way... We must have an active president, who gives strong direction and works with the government for its implementation."


"Success consecrates the most offensive crimes."

"Parliament must not be told a direct untruth, but it's quite possible to allow them to mislead themselves."

"It was both necessary and desirable for us to be so strong at sea that no Sea Power could attack us without risk, so that we might be free to protect our oversea interests, independently of the influence and the choice of other Sea Powers."

"I do not deny that I planned sabotage. I did not plan it in a spirit of recklessness nor because I have any love of violence. I planned it as a result of a calm and sober assessment of the political situation that had arisen after many years of tyranny, exploitation and oppression of my people by the whites."

"But I want to just caution, it is not incumbent on the United States to prove that Saddam Hussein is trying to acquire weapons of mass destruction. He's already demonstrated that he's trying to acquire weapons of mass destruction."

"I can't for the life of me see that by being permissive you actually assist anyone."

"The demographic weight of countries such as China and India exercise a massive pressure on our wages and salaries. They have accomplished massive technological advances and the revolution in information technology has reduced the costs of transport."

"For me, unemployment and poverty in the Greater Montreal area is not mainly a problem of structure, or design, or statistics. It is a profoundly human situation."

"I do not keep a diary. Never have. To write a diary every day is like returning to one's own vomit."

"Since the German people, with unparalleled heroism, but also at the cost of fearful sacrifices, has waged war against half the world, it is our right and our duty to obtain safety and independence for ourselves at sea."

"I have never developed indigestion from eating my words."

"In the lead up to the Iraq war and its later conduct, I saw at a minimum, true dereliction, negligence and irresponsibility, at worse, lying, incompetence and corruption."

"Modern diplomats approach every problem with an open mouth."

"It is especially important to encourage unorthodox thinking when the situation is critical: At such moments every new word and fresh thought is more precious than gold. Indeed, people must not be deprived of the right to think their own thoughts."

"Germany must be a country which generates political ideas and leadership, which is capable of compromise, which is sovereign and yet knows that it needs its partners on both sides of the Atlantic."


"One of the things that became clear, and which was actually rather disturbing, was the fact that there was a view which was being expressed by people whose scientific credentials you can't question."

"The secret to success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes."

"Europe has found itself confronted with fresh challenges - challenges of a global character, the nature of which is directly connected with changes in the international climate and the difficulties of seeking new models for co-operation."

"As in the case of wines that improve with age the oldest friendships ought to be the most delightful."


"A statesman wants courage and a statesman wants vision; but believe me, after six months' experience, he wants first, second, third and all the time - patience."


"No distinctions of caste and creed should hamper us. All are the sons and daughters of India. We should all love our country and build our destiny on mutual love and help."

"It is certainly not unrealistic to think we could have elections by mid-year 2004 and when a sovereign government is installed - my job here will be done."

"I will not surrender responsibility for my life and my actions."
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