Action should be founded on contemplation, and those of us who act don't put enough time, don't give enough emphasis, to contemplation.

There is no more important task in a democracy than resolving the differences among people and finding a course of action that will be supported by a sufficient number to permit the nation to achieve a better life for all.

Measure what is important, don't make important what you can measure

The indefinite combination of human fallibility and nuclear weapons will lead to the destruction of nations.

Short of nuclear war itself, population growth is the gravest issue the world faces. If we do not act, the problem will be solved by famine, riots, insurrection and war.

They'll be no learning period with nuclear weapons. Make one mistake and you're going to destroy nations.

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.