I formed the hypothesis that each of us could have achieved our objectives without the terrible loss of life. And I wanted to test that by going to Vietnam.

Poor planning or poor execution of plans is simply to let some force other than reason shape reality.

Elimination of nuclear weapons, so naive, so simplistic, and so idealistic as to be quixotic? Some may think so. But as human beings, citizens of nations with power to influence events in the world, can we be at peace with ourselves if we strive for less? I think not.

General, you don't have a war plan! All you have is a kind of horrible spasm!

In order to do good, you may have to engage in evil

The commitment of government to deal with the population issue is of course essential....There are many ways to make the death rate increase.

It is true that at the time [1962] we had a strategic nuclear force of approximately five thousand warheads compared to the Soviet's three hundred.