The single most important impediment to global institutions is the concept of "my country, right or wrong".

World federalists hold before us the vision of a unified mankind living in peace under a just world order... The heart of their program-a world under law- is realistic and attainable.

As a Buddhist, I was trained to be tolerant of everything except intolerance

To understand my feelings — and my conception of the role of Secretary General — the nature of my religious and cultural background must first be understood. I should therefore like to outline not only my beliefs but also my conception of human institutions and of the human situation itself.

Governments, systems, ideologies come and go, but it is humanity which remains.

I don't like to be disturbed at home; I tell the cable office not to call me before 6:30 AM, unless there's a war.

As a Buddhist, I was trained to be tolerant of everything except intolerance. I was brought up not only to develop the spirit of tolerance but also to cherish moral and spiritual qualities such as modesty, humility, compassion, and, most important, to attain a certain degree of emotional equilibrium.