It is not a matter of what is true that counts, but a matter of what is perceived to be true.
Henry A. KissingerThe key decision for a statesman is whether to commit his nation or not. There is no middle course. Once a great nation commits itself, it must prevail. It will acquire no kudos for translating its inner doubts into hesitation.
Henry A. KissingerMany of the scientists have believed that their contribution to ending the nuclear race is not to let any new weapons to be developed.
Henry A. KissingerIn my particular case foreign policy happens to be my hobby, my consuming interest. I had spent decades studying it.
Henry A. KissingerDeng Xiaoping thought of himself as a great revolutionary and a great reformer. He had dismantled the Chinese communist management of the economy. In my next-to-last conversation with him, which was about six months before Tiananmen Square, he said to me that his aim would be the next phase to reduce the Communist Party to philosophical issues. And I said, "What's a philosophical issue?" And he said, "Well, like if we make an alliance with Russia." Given his view of Russia, that was not the likeliest thing that would ever happen.
Henry A. Kissinger