The task of a public officer seeking to explain and gain support for a major policy is not that of the writer of a doctoral thesis, qualification must give way to simplicity of statement, nicety and nuance to bluntness, almost brutality, in carrying home a point.

Dean Acheson

Categorized in : Top News

I learned from the example of my father that the manner in which one endures what must be endured is more important than the thing that must be endured.

Dean Acheson

important keys father

The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time. The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time.

Dean Acheson

future one-day live-in-the-moment

I think Churchill is right, the only thing to be said for democracy is that there is nothing else that's any better, and therefore he used to say, Tyranny tempered by assassination, but lots of assassination. People say, If the Congress were more representative of the people it would be better. I say the Congress is too damn representative. It's just as stupid as the people are; just as uneducated, just as dumb, just as selfish.

Dean Acheson

selfish stupid thinking

Always remember that the future comes one day at a time.

Dean Acheson

change motivational inspirational

Great Britain has lost an Empire and has not yet found a role.

Dean Acheson

empires roles history

Like apples in a barrel infected by one rotten one, the corruption of Greece would infect Iran and all to the east. It would also carry infection to Africa through Asia Minor and Egypt, and to Europe through Italy and France, already threatened by the strongest domestic Communist parties in Western Europe. The Soviet Union was playing one of the greatest gambles in history at minimal cost. It did not need to will all the possibilities. Even one or two offered immense gains. We and we alone were in a position to break up the play.

Dean Acheson

party war two

A memorandum is written not to inform the reader but to protect the writer.

Dean Acheson

accountability political funny

Brains are no substitute for judgement.

Dean Acheson

substitutes judgement brain

I have a curious and apprehensive feeling as I watch JFK that he is sort of an Indian snake charmer.

Dean Acheson

snakes feelings watches

Negotiation in the classic diplomatic sense assumes parties more anxious to agree than to disagree.

Dean Acheson

agree-to-disagree party inspirational

No people in history have ever survived who thought they could protect their freedom by making themselves inoffensive to their enemies.

Dean Acheson

protect people enemy

Great Britain has lost an Empire and not yet found a role. The attempt to playa separate power rolethat is, a role apart from Europe, based on a special relationship with the United States, on being the head of the Commonwealthis about to be played out. Her Majesty's Government is now attempting, wisely in my opinion, to re-enter Europe.

Dean Acheson

government special europe

The great corrupter of public men is the ego - corrupter because distracter. Wealth, sensuality, power cannot hold a candle to it. Looking in the mirror distracts one's attention from the problem.

Dean Acheson

ego-problem mirrors men

I have almost invariably found that charm is used as a substitute for intelligence in persons of both sexes. Thus, I have always been and will remain wary of it.

Dean Acheson

charm used sex

The limitations imposed by democratic political practices makes it difficult to conduct our foreign affairs in the national interest.

Dean Acheson

affair political practice

The test for aid to poor nations is therefore whether it makes them capable of being productive. If it fails to do so, it is likely to make them even poorer in the - not so very - long run.

Dean Acheson

poor-nations running long

I doubt very much if a man whose main literary interests were in works by Mr. Zane Grey, admirable as they may be, is particularly equipped to be the chief executive of this country, particularly where Indian Affairs are concerned.

Dean Acheson

political men country

You can't argue with a river, it isgoing to flow.You can dam it up?put it to useful purposes?deflect it, but you can't argue with it.

Dean Acheson

flow purpose rivers

The future comes one day at a time [so don't fear and try to solve all the worries and problems of the future today].

Dean Acheson

one-day-at-a-time worry trying

Vietnam was worse than immoral - it was a mistake.

Dean Acheson

immoral vietnam mistake