Home / Authors / Robert McNamara

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.

Filter quotes by topic

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

“All those involved in the firebombing of Tokyo .. were war criminals interviews recorded in the movie The Fog of War.. the firebombing of Tokyo occurred before the atom bombs.. 100,000 civilians died in one night from American bombs.. 500,000 altogether over several days say some.”

War Country Night Involved Died Criminals Interviews Bombs Atoms Fog Civilians One Night Tokyo Atom Bomb

Author:Robert McNamara

“General, you don't have a war plan! All you have is a kind of horrible spasm!”

Kind War Peace Plans Horrible War Plans

Author:Robert McNamara

“The war in Vietnam is going well and will succeed.”

Wells War Succeed Vietnam

Author:Robert McNamara

“I don't object to its being called "McNamara's war." I think it is a very important war and I am pleased to be identified with it and do whatever I can to win it.”

Thinking I Can Important War Winning Objects

Book:In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam

Source: In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam

“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

“To this day we seem to act in the world as though we know what's right for everybody.”

Knows World War Seems Drug This Day Users

Author:Robert McNamara

“Short of nuclear war itself, population growth is the gravest issue the world faces. If we do not act, the problem will be solved by famine, riots, insurrection and war.”

Ifs World War Problem Faces Growth Poverty Issues Population Nuclear Riot Famine Nuclear War Population Growth Overpopulation Insurrection

Author:Robert McNamara

“The greatest contribution Vietnam is making-right or wrong is beside the point-is that it is developing an ability in the United States to fight a limited war, to go to war without the necessity of arousing the public ire.”

War States Fighting Ability United United States Developing Contribution Vietnam Vietnam War

Author:Robert McNamara

“At my age, 85, I'm at age where I can look back and derive some conclusions about my actions. My rule has been try to learn, try to understand what happened. Develop the lessons and pass them on.”

Trying Looks Has Beens I Can War Age Action Happened Lessons Conclusion Vietnam War

Book:Official Teacher's Guide for The Fog of War: An Errol Morris Film

Source: Official Teacher's Guide for The Fog of War: An Errol Morris Film

“If we'd lost the war, we'd all have been prosecuted as war criminals. And I think he's right. He, and I'd say I, were behaving as war criminals.”

Ifs Thinking Has Beens War Lost Criminals Vietnam War

Book:Official Teacher's Guide for The Fog of War: An Errol Morris Film

Source: Official Teacher's Guide for The Fog of War: An Errol Morris Film

“I want to say, and this is very important: at the end we lucked out. It was luck that prevented nuclear war. We came that close to nuclear war at the end. Rational individuals: Kennedy was rational; Khrushchev was rational; Castro was rational. Rational individuals came that close to total destruction of their societies. And that danger exists today.”

Want Important War Ends Today Individual Danger Cold Destruction Luck Nuclear Rational Cold War Nuclear War Castro

Author:Robert McNamara

About the Author

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

Related Topics

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

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

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

Similar Authors

Herman KahnBrowse related quotes
Joseph RotblatBrowse related quotes
Joseph CirincioneBrowse related quotes
Bernard LownBrowse related quotes
Chuck HornerBrowse related quotes
Noel GaylerBrowse related quotes
John BurroughsBrowse related quotes
Mohamed ElBaradeiBrowse related quotes
John BoltonBrowse related quotes
Iccho ItohBrowse related quotes