It is one of the perceptual defects of Western government and press to assign Western-style motives to what people do in non-Western societies, as if these are universally relevant.

For four hundred years European civilization has dominated the world - for better or for worse. It is convenient, and flattering, for Americans to assume that this is all over; but it very rash to do so.

Our culture is teleological-it presumes purposive development and a conclusion.

The achievement of nationhood is a product not only of time and circumstance but usually of war and suffering as well.

But Americans are different from everyone else in the world - except the Canadians, and Americans are more different from the Canadians than they often think.

We Americans really seem to be the only truly non-socialist economy on earth.

The accounts that history presents have to be paid. Past has to be reconciled with present in the life of a nation. History is an insistent force: the past is what put us where we are. the past cannot be put behind until it is settled with.