Tom Lantos Quotes

Time has taught me not to lose hope, yet not to trust too much in hope either.

Hope is a great falsifier. Let good judgment keep her in check.

You don't try to do more than you should.

I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us, that the less we use our power the greater it will be.

You must be wise, but not too wise.

I've always believed in having a sense of balance and stealth.

I think I invented the phrase 'Don't overdo it.'

You know, there's times when you should play and there's times when you gotta hold back.

When a thing is not worth overdoing, leave it alone!

Perfect reason flees all extremity, and leads one to be wise with sobriety.

Do not prove things too much.

I hope to stand firm enough not to go backward, and yet not go forward fast enough to wreck the common cause.

I like to be an optimist, but I like to be a realist, too.

I would say I'm cautiously optimistic.

When you have gained a victory, do not push it too far.

Better wilt thou live...by neither always pressing out to sea nor too closely hugging the dangerous shore in cautious fear of storms.

Everything should be done with moderation and using common sense.

Zeal should not outrun discretion.

To use what has a boundary to pursue what is limitless is dangerous; with this knowledge, if we still go after knowledge, we will run into trouble. Do not do what is good in order to gain praise. If you do what is bad be sure to avoid the punishment. Follow the Middle Course, for this is the way to keep yourself together, to sustain your life, to care for your parents and to live for many years.

Wisdom has its excesses, and has no less need of moderation than folly.

Beware of undertaking too much at the start. Be content with quite a little. Allow for accidents. Allow for human nature, especially your own.

I think we have every reason to hope for the best but expect and prepare for the worst.

We must consult our means rather than our wishes.

Better stop short than fill to the brim. Oversharpen the blade, and the edge will soon blunt. Amass a store of gold and jade, and no one can protect it.