„We cannot say much about human affairs with any confidence, but sometimes it is possible. We can, for example, be fairly confident that either there will be a world without war, or there won’t be a world—at least, a world inhabited by creatures other than bacteria and beetles, with some scattering of others.“

— Noam Chomsky

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„Sometimes we try to justify this unsavory business on the cynical ground that by rationing out the means of violence we can somehow control the world’s violence. The fact is that we cannot have it both ways. Can we be both the world’s leading champion of peace and the world’s leading supplier of the weapons of war?“
— Jimmy Carter
„Hence the one-sided errors—ces erreurs d'idée fixe—which we cannot escape when we stand too near to one or the other party; either deceives, yet does it unaware, and we confide most willingly in those who think as we do. But if we are by chance of such indifferent nature that we, without special predilection, keep in continual intercourse with all, then we are bewildered by the perfect self-confidence of either party, and our judgement is neutralised in the most depressing manner.“
— Heinrich Heine
„In repudiating extremism, we need to recommit ourselves to a few common-sense principles that should transcend partisan differences.First, we cannot enhance our own security if we place in jeopardy what is most precious to us, namely the centrality of human rights in our daily lives and in global affairs.Second, we cannot maintain our historic self-confidence as a people if we generate public panic.Third, we cannot do our duty as citizens and patriots if we pursue an agenda that polarizes and divides our country.Next, we cannot be true to ourselves if we mistreat others.And finally, in the world at large, we cannot lead if our leaders mislead.“
— Jimmy Carter