Dean Acheson Quotes - Page 2

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.

The most important aspect of the relationship between the president and the secretary of state is that they both understand who is president.

If we learn the art of yielding what must be yielded to the changing present, we can save the best of the past.

We have actively sought and are actively seeking to make the United Nations an effective instrument of international cooperation.

The greatest mistake I made was not to die in office.

[President Truman] was free of the greatest vice in a leader, his ego never came between him and his job.

The first requirement of a statesman is that he be dull.

Charm never made a rooster.

Controversial proposals, once accepted, soon become hallowed.

I will undoubtedly have to seek what is happily known as gainful employment, which I am glad to say does not describe holding public office.

Between 9 and 10 AM the American radio is concerned almost exclusively with love. It seems a little like ending breakfast with a stiff bourbon.

Time spent in the advertising business seems to create a permanent deformity like the Chinese habit of foot-binding.

The defensive perimeter [of the United States in East Asia] runs along the Aleutians to Japan and then goes to the Ryukyus.

Washington is like a self-sealing tank on a military aircraft. When a bullet passes through, it closes up.

The Iraqi is really not whacky toady, perhaps, even tacky. When they gave him the word, he gave us the bird and joined with the Arabs, by cracky!

Americans assume Canada to be bestowed as a right and accept this bounty, as they do air, without thought or appreciation.