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Robert McNamara

Robert McNamara Quotes

Former United States Secretary of Defense

Robert McNamara was the United States Secretary of Defense during the Cold War era, born on June 9, 1916, and passed away on July 6, 2009. He had a profound impact on American military and international relations during his tenure as Defense Secretary.

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All War Nuclear Nations Ifs World Nuclear Weapons Thinking Vietnam War Weapons Action Important May Policy Call Of Duty Force Has Beens Humans Immoral Increase Issues

Famous Robert McNamara Quotes

“They'll be no learning period with nuclear weapons. Make one mistake and you're going to destroy nations.”

Nations Mistake Periods Weapons Nuclear Nuclear Weapons Call Of Duty One Mistake

Author:Robert McNamara

“We do not have the God-given right to shape every nation in our image or as we choose.”

Given Nations Policy Shapes Foreign Policy

Author:Robert McNamara

“The 'realist' conception of continuing old-fashioned 'balance of power' politics may have been well founded in the past, but it is inconsistent with our increasing interdependent world. On moral grounds alone there can be no justification for the 20th century level of killing. To settle disputes without violence must become the primary goal of foreign policy for every nation.”

“There is no more important task in a democracy than resolving the differences among people and finding a course of action that will be supported by a sufficient number to permit the nation to achieve a better life for all.”

People Important Action Courses Nations Differences Numbers Democracy Achieve Findings Tasks Sufficient Permit Better Life

Author:Robert McNamara

“The picture of the world's greatest superpower killing or seriously injuring 1,000 noncombatants a week, while trying to pound a tiny backward nation into submission on an issue whose merits are hotly disputed, is not a pretty one.”

World Trying Nations Issues Week Killing Tiny Merit Pounds Submission Superpower

Author:Robert McNamara

“That's one of the major lessons: no president should ever take this nation to war without full public debate in the Congress and/or in the public.”

Should War Nations President Lessons Majors Congress Debate Patriotic

Author:Robert McNamara

“The indefinite combination of human fallibility and nuclear weapons will lead to the destruction of nations.”

Humans Nations Weapons Destruction Nuclear Combination Nuclear Weapons Call Of Duty Fallibility

Book:The Changing Nature of Global Security and Its Impact on South Asia

Source: The Changing Nature of Global Security and Its Impact on South Asia

“Elimination of nuclear weapons, so naive, so simplistic, and so idealistic as to be quixotic? Some may think so. But as human beings, citizens of nations with power to influence events in the world, can we be at peace with ourselves if we strive for less? I think not.”

Ifs Thinking World Humans May Nations Human Beings Influence Events Citizens Weapons Strive Nuclear Nuclear Weapons Naive Elimination Idealistic Quixotic

Author:Robert McNamara

About the Author

Born: June 9, 1916
Died: July 6, 2009
Known for: Former United States Secretary of Defense
Quotes: 48

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Books & Sources

Official Teacher's Guide for The Fog of War: An Errol Morris FilmRelated source material

The Essence of Security: Reflections in OfficeRelated source material

In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of VietnamRelated source material

The Changing Nature of Global Security and Its Impact on South AsiaRelated source material

The first century of the nuclear age: can we survive itRelated source material

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