Walter Lippmann Quotes

Diplomacy [is] ... the art of restraining power.

The management of a balance of power is a permanent undertaking, not an exertion that has a foreseeable end.

A great power imposes the obligation of exercising restraint

Addressing global resentment cannot be put off. If we do not learn to use our predominant power with great restraint, we will antagonize the world.

The world is fortunate - for the time being, at least - that it has an American president in Obama who is prepared to take a conciliatory and concessive attitude towards America's decline and that it has a Chinese leadership which has been extremely cautious about expressing an opinion, let alone flexing its muscles.

A great power has to have the discipline not only to go when necessary but to know when not to go. Getting involved in ethnic, religious civil wars is a recipe for disaster.

You can do a lot with diplomacy, but with diplomacy backed up by force you can get a lot more done

Very near the heart of all foreign affairs is the relationship between policy and military power.

As long as there are sovereign nations possessing great power, war is inevitable.

All diplomacy is a continuation of war by other means.

Diplomacy, is persuasion in the shadow of power.

… neither the sanctions of international law nor the justice of a cause can be depended upon for a fair settlement of differences, when they come into conflict with a strong political necessity on the one side opposed to comparative weakness on the other.

Our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please …. Our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

Soft power … cannot accomplish much in the absence of a willingness to use hard power.

The way that you get your diplomats listened to in an imperfect world is you make certain you back them up with hard power. The reason I say that is, as much as I’d like to live in a world where people who are out to do others harm would be willing to listen to rational thought, not everyone is.

'Peace through Strength' only works if you have and show strength.

A strong nation, like a strong person, can afford to be gentle, firm, thoughtful, and restrained. It can afford to extend a helping hand to others. It's a weak nation, like a weak person, that must behave with bluster and boasting and rashness and other signs of insecurity.

The most important thing about power is to make sure you don't have to use it.

Peace is purchased from strength. It's not purchased from weakness or unilateral retreats.

In a world of complex threats, our security and leadership depends on all elements of our power - including strong and principled diplomacy.

We all know that in war the political and military factors have to complement each other.

To attempt to superimpose its views through the exercise of force, is seldom the part of intelligence; it is frequently the part of ignorance.

In almost every country there are elements of opinion which would welcome such a conclusion because they wish to return to the politics of the balance of power, unrestricted and unregulated armaments, international anarchy, and preparation for war.

Alliances and partnerships produce stability when they reflect realities and interests.

American presence is, you know, the major cause of balance of power and the stability in this region.