“The United States cannot reshape other countries in its own image and that, with a few exceptions, its efforts to police the world are neither in its interests nor within the scope of its resources. This whole tendency to see ourselves as the center of political enlightenment and as teachers to a great part of the rest of the world strikes me as unthought-through, vainglorious and undesirable.” WorldCountryStatesWholeAmericaPoliticalInterestUnitedEffortUnited StatesTeacherEnlightenmentResourcesPoliceStrikesTendenciesExceptionOther CountriesScopeUndesirable Author:George F. Kennan
“It may be laid down as a primary position, and the basis of our system, that every Citizen who enjoys the protection of a free Government, owes not only a proportion of his property, but even his personal services to the defence of it, and consequently that the Citizens of America (with a few legal and official exceptions) from 18 to 50 Years of Age should be borne on the Militia Rolls, provided with uniform Arms, and so far accustomed to the use of them, that the Total strength of the Country might be called forth at a Short Notice on any very interesting Emergency.” ShouldYearsMayCountryUseGovernmentMightAgeAmericaEnjoyInterestingMilitaryPositionArmsCitizensBasesPropertyProtectionPrimariesOfficialsProportionExceptionUniformsAccustomedEmergenciesVery InterestingDefenceMilitiaFree GovernmentFounding Fathers GunShort Notice Author:George Washington
“In the twelfth century the Basque fishermen of Biarritz used to hunt whales with deadly efficiency. When the whales sensibly moved away, the Basques chased them further and further, with the consequence that the fishermen of Biarritz discovered America before Columbus did. This is a matter for local pride but on a larger view it is not quite so stunning, since with the possible exception of the Swiss everybody discovered America before Columbus did.” MatterAmericaUsedViewsHistoryCenturyHumourPrideConsequenceMovedLocalsExceptionEfficiencyHuntsWhalesFishermanStunningColumbusSwissBasques Book:Flying Visits Source: Flying Visits