Leon Blum Quotes

In these days of intimate relations, of economic stress and of intense desire to protect national interests and advance national opportunity, the treatment of questions which, from a legal standpoint, are domestic, often seriously affects international relations. The principle, each nation for itself to the full extent of its powers, is the principle of war, not of peace.

The foreign policy of America can best be described by one word: peace.

You always have more than one goal in foreign policy.

We had to avoid wounding Austria too severely; we had to avoid leaving behind in her any unnecessary bitterness of feeling or desire for revenge; we ought rather to reserve the possibility of becoming friends again with our adversary of the moment, and in any case to regard the Austrian state as a piece on the European chessboard and the renewal of friendly relations as a move open to us. If Austria were severely injured, she would become the ally of France and of every other opponent of ours; she would even sacrifice her anti-Russian interests for the sake of revenge on Prussia.

America remains the indispensable nation. There are times when America, and only America, can make a difference between war and peace, between freedom and repression.

Why entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor, or caprice?

Foreign policy must be about priorities. The United States cannot do everything everywhere.

I have always thought that foreign-policy idealism has to be tempered with realism.

It's not just Iraq - it's the Atlantic partnership which is at stake.

And when we draw lines in the sand with regard to certain basic things that are vital to our interest and to the interest of democracy and our friends around the world, we have to be willing to back that up.

Foreign policy is really domestic policy with its hat on.

It's not a choice between war and peace. It's a choice between war and endless war. It's not appeasement. I think it's better even to call it American self-interest.

A country grows in history not only because of the heroism of its troops on the field of battle, it grows also when it turns to justice and to right for the conservation of its interests.

United States is a great Country and has its effective role on the international arena, so we have to boost our relations with it, in order to achieve peace and stability in our region and the world.

When the commander-in-chief sends Americans to fight and die, it should be only to protect our vital national interests, not for his own personal, political gain.

The choice, however, is as clear now for nations as it was once for the individual: peace or extinction.

After September 11, the European governments have completely failed. They are incapable of seeing beyond their own national scope of interests.

We are ready to engage in international co-operation against terrorism with a view to safeguarding national interests and regional security and stability.

The international community lies at the center of the Obama foreign policy. Unfortunately, it is a fiction. There is no such thing. Different countries have different histories, geographies, necessities, and interests. There's no natural, inherent, or enduring international community.

We have to make sure that we are a force for peace and stability in the world, and that we're prepared to defend freedom and the security of the American people.

A political society does not live to conduct foreign policy; it would be more correct to say that it conducts foreign policy in order to live.

Americans tend to go for it all. In international politics you can’t have it all. You have to compromise.

I can predict with absolute certainty that within another generation there will be another world war if the nations of the world do not concert the method by which to prevent it.

Clearly, for France in her present position, intelligent activity consists of practicing a policy of entente with Germany in order to survive

I have ever deemed it fundamental for the United States never to take active part in the quarrels of Europe. Their political interests are entirely distinct from ours. Their mutual jealousies, their balance of power, their complicated alliances, their forms and principles of government, are all foreign to us. They are nations of eternal war.