Population growth and the proliferation of mega-cities around the world redefines the entire global security agenda. Helmut Schmidt More Quotes by Helmut Schmidt More Quotes From Helmut Schmidt [Ronald] Reagan seems to be a man of some basic convictions and on the other hand willing to let others do the ground homework, the detailed work. Helmut Schmidt homework men hands The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement. Helmut Schmidt biggest room improvement world The critical thing about Western democracy is the fact that you usually have a transition of power without bloodshed. That is an enormous advantage. But still, democracy as we know it was only invented recently in the West, historical speaking. It did not really work in ancient Rome. It functioned for less than 200 years in ancient Athens. Helmut Schmidt you democracy power work Whoever wants to reach a distant goal must take many small steps. Helmut Schmidt reach small take goal People with visions should go to the doctor. Helmut Schmidt doctor go should people When I became a soldier, I was drafted in 1937, and instead of being released two years later, I had to stay on because the war had started in the meantime. I was a soldier for more than eight years, as long a time as I was Chancellor. Helmut Schmidt soldier time war long Germany is one of the medium powers of the world. It is a non-nuclear power. It is in a lower class than the United States, the Soviet Union, France, the United Kingdom and others. Helmut Schmidt others power class world I was in government for 13 years and in that time only once met the head of the German security services, and that was because he was an old friend. Otherwise, I carefully avoided having anything to do with these people. They are unavoidable but not really necessary. Helmut Schmidt friend government time people I remember the youth movement in 1968. It started on American university campuses as a protest against the Vietnam war, then came to Paris, Frankfurt and Berlin. Within a year, you had an uprising of youth against their elders. Helmut Schmidt you youth remember war The British are very stubborn. The Queen, the Commonwealth, and the special relationship with the U.S. is much more important than Europe. Helmut Schmidt queen important special relationship Britain is less European-minded than Greece. Helmut Schmidt less than greece britain My education has been pro-England. I have been an England-minded citizen of Hamburg, and I am still in a way English-minded, but I have been disappointed by the Brits over the years. Helmut Schmidt i-am disappointed education way The British claim to have a special relationship with the U.S., but if you mention this in Washington, no one knows what you are talking about. Helmut Schmidt you special talking relationship Americans tend to feel satisfied within the wide boundaries of that huge, big country. Helmut Schmidt feel big satisfied country I had a Jewish grandfather. We managed to hide this fact from the authorities by falsifying documents, my father and I. His father was Jewish, but because my father was an illegitimate child, it was rather easy to pretend that his father was unknown. Helmut Schmidt hide child grandfather father Farmers are always conservative. They stick to what they have learned from their fathers and from their grandfathers. This is the same all over the globe. Helmut Schmidt over always farmers conservative Democracy is not the end point of mankind. There may be developments in many different directions in the coming centuries. Democracy has only existed for about 200 years. It started out with the American Declaration of Independence. The Americans got their ideas from the Europeans, in the main from the French, the Dutch and the British. Helmut Schmidt end independence democracy ideas Particularly since the computerization of the world, the impact of media has grown enormously. The printed books and the printed media have become less important. Why should somebody read Laozi or Confucius if he can Google? Helmut Schmidt impact media important world If I ever had to emigrate, I would probably go to America. Helmut Schmidt ever would go america The German public knows me quite well. I have been in their kitchens and living rooms for years. Helmut Schmidt well me living years