In the hands of a determined Secretary, the Foreign Service can be a splendid instrument, staffed by knowledgeable, discreet, and energetic individuals. They do require constant vigilance lest the convictions that led them into a penurious career tempt them to preempt decision-making.

No country can act wisely simultaneously in every part of the globe at every moment of time.

I don't think we should pay people to fight terrorism. I would be amazed if they asked for anything in return.

The Russian empire under czars and commissars has been hard to deal with for other countries.

I believe it is a mistake to isolate arms control from other areas of policy.

When I became security advisor, I became familiar with the so-called SIOP war plans, I called in Secretary McNamara and asked him what they were hiding from me, because I couldn't believe that the National policy would foresee such a level of destructiveness.

I see the future of China as growth. I think that historically China has often gone through periods of consolidation, and then periods of sort of weakening central authority. They undoubtedly face tremendous challenges.