Edward Gibbon Quotes

It is difficult for the strongest advocate of national rights to assert that the people in actual occupation or political control over a given area of the earth are entitled to do what they will with "their own," entirely disregarding the direct and indirect consequences of their actions upon the rest of the world.

I am confident that you brothers in parliament will champion the will of the people over that of the occupier.

I saw no reason why other nations should tell Central Americans how to solve their problems.

A true world outlook is incompatible with a foreign imperialism, no matter how high-minded the governing country.

[America] well knows that by once enlisting under other banners than her own, were they even the banners of foreign independence, she would involve herself beyond the power of extrication, in all the wars of interest and intrigue, of individual avarice, envy and ambition, which assume the colors and usurp the standards of freedom …. She might become the dictatress of the world. She would no longer be the ruler of her own spirit.

As long as I live here, I shall be defending my country, my Arab colleagues, anyone in the area against any foreign interference. For that I am asking for arms for my country and for my colleagues in the Arab world.

I try to put myself in others' shoes: How does any country give up any sovereignty and expect to survive as a government? I don't think that any Philippine president, or any leader for that matter, can afford to give up any portion of territorial sovereignty. That would be political suicide.

I just think it is entirely normal for the United Kingdom to be an independent nation state.

You don't have to be a brilliant historian to know that in Europe, messing with countries' borders, messing with their self-determination, their ability to choose their own futures, this is extremely dangerous, and that's why I think it is important to stand up to Putin.

This is the first aspiration of countries: we are the landlords in our countries so that they remain free, and we can live in security.

For us, sovereignty of Syria is very important.

In a world that has gone global, we no longer have a choice. If we don't export freedom, we risk importing the viruses which have corrupted other nations. ... Some critics complained that President Bush was arrogant when he suggested America can and should export freedom to other countries. This implies the people of unfree countries may not wish to be free. Which is the greater arrogance?

[Vladimir] Putin spoke unabashedly about the importance of national sovereignty in Syria, a concept apparently near and dear to his heart, unless it comes to the sovereignty of Georgia, Ukraine or any other country in which he intervenes. Then he offered his cooperation, but without making any concrete concessions at all. And he didn't have to, either. He knows what he can rely on. He has assets that are more valuable than words: He has tanks in Ukraine, fighter jets in Syria - and Barack Obama in the White House.

I don't care how little your country is, you got a right to run it like you want to. When the big nations quit meddling then the world will have peace.

It's fair to say average Americans think that the average Afghan doesn't want American troops in their country.

The people are the masters of the revolution in each country. It is like putting a cart before the horse that foreigners carry out the revolution for them. The revolution can neither be exported nor imported.

My heart rebels against any foreigner imposing on my country the peace which is here called Pax-Britannica.

I am aware how almost impossible it is in this country to carry out a foreign policy not approved by the Jews.

There is nothing perhaps more adverse to nature and reason than to hold in obedience remote countries and foreign nations, in opposition to their inclination and interest.

We have an orientation that tends to make us think that everything is our responsibility and that we should be doing this. It is the Iraqis' country, 28 million of them. They are perfectly capable of running that country.

The end of foreign occupation is one of the pre-requisites if we are to witness any progress in our efforts to help Iraq go forward.

Russia should recognize the freedom of countries, such as Ukraine, to choose their alliances.

The values that we talked about, the values democracy and free speech and international norms and rule of law, respecting the ability of other countries to determine their own destiny and preserve their sovereignty and territorial integrity. Things are not something that we can set aside.

The only one who can fight for these values like democracy and freedoms are the people of any country or any society, not the foreigners.

What's a country? It's just an administrative unit, a glorified municipality. Why do we imbue it with esoteric meaning and protect it with nuclear bombs? I can't bow down to a municipality... it's just not intelligent. The bastards will do what they have to do, and we'll do what we have to do. Even if they annihilate us, we'll go down on the other side.