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Henry Kissinger Quotes

55 Insightful Quotes By Henry Alfred Kissinger, The Distinguished Diplomat And Political Thinker

Famous As: 56th United States Secretary of State (1973-77)

Born On: May 27, 1923

Died On: November 29, 2023

Born In: Fürth, Germany

Died At Age: 100

Henry Alfred Kissinger is an American diplomat, political thinker and political scientist who went on to serve as the National Security Advisor as well as Secretary of State of the United States during his illustrious career. He was born in Germany in 1923 but the family fled from Germany due to persecution of Jews by Nazis and eventually ended up in New York. He joined the Army while still studying accountancy at the City College of New York but returned to academics and acquired a degree in political science from Harvard University. He went on to acquire a master’s degree and a Ph.D. from Harvard. Kissinger is well-known for his work as a diplomat who is credited for having shaped the course of United States foreign policy during late sixties and seventies. Kissinger was known as a purveyor of Realpolitik and steered the United States’ foreign policy pertaining to exit from the Vietnam War, Cold War with Russia and policies in China. He went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 but it led to a lot of controversy. Kissinger remains one of the finest minds in the realm of foreign policy and an iconic figure. Henry Kissinger is an able orator and has expressed his thoughts on politics, diplomacy, international relations, peace etc through speeches, writings and interviews. The below collection of Henry Kissinger’s most famous quotes have been excerpted from his writings, papers, thoughts, speeches and interviews. We bring to you a collection of sayings and quotes by Henry Alfred Kissinger on power, academia, corruption, dishonesty, Germany, vision and humour.

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Quotes by Famous People

Leaders

Corrupt politicians make the other ten percent look bad.

Corrupt politicians make the other ten percent look bad.
Henry Kissinger

Nobody will ever win the battle of the sexes. There is too much fraternizing with the enemy.

Nobody will ever win the battle of the sexes. There is too much fraternizing with the enemy.
Will
Henry Kissinger

Military men are just dumb, stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy.

Military men are just dumb, stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy.
Henry Kissinger

There can't be a crisis next week, my schedule is already full.

There can't be a crisis next week, my schedule is already full.
Henry Kissinger

The task of the leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been.

The task of the leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been.
Henry Kissinger

It is not a matter of what is true that counts, but a matter of what is perceived to be true.

It is not a matter of what is true that counts, but a matter of what is perceived to be true.
Henry Kissinger

Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac.
Power
Henry Kissinger

America has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests

America has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests
Friends
Henry Kissinger

The nice thing about being a celebrity is that if you bore people they think it's their fault.

The nice thing about being a celebrity is that if you bore people they think it's their fault.
You Think
Henry Kissinger

Don't be too ambitious. Do the most important thing you can think of doing every year and then your career will take care of itself.

Don't be too ambitious. Do the most important thing you can think of doing every year and then your career will take care of itself.
You Think Will
Henry Kissinger

The absence of alternatives clears the mind marvelously.

The absence of alternatives clears the mind marvelously.
Henry Kissinger

Every victory is only the price of admission to a more difficult problem

Every victory is only the price of admission to a more difficult problem
Henry Kissinger

The issues are too important to be left for the voters.

The issues are too important to be left for the voters.
Henry Kissinger

There cannot be a crisis next week. My schedule is already full.

There cannot be a crisis next week. My schedule is already full.
Henry Kissinger

Americans have a tendency to believe that when there's a problem there must be a solution.

Americans have a tendency to believe that when there's a problem there must be a solution.
Believe
Henry Kissinger

The illegal we do immediately. The unconstitutional takes a little longer.

The illegal we do immediately. The unconstitutional takes a little longer.
Henry Kissinger

A country that demands moral perfection in its foreign policy will achieve neither perfection nor security

A country that demands moral perfection in its foreign policy will achieve neither perfection nor security
Will
Henry Kissinger

Poor old Germany. Too big for Europe, too small for the world

Poor old Germany. Too big for Europe, too small for the world
Henry Kissinger

It is not often that nations learn from the past,even rarer that they draw the correct conclusions from it.

It is not often that nations learn from the past,even rarer that they draw the correct conclusions from it.
Henry Kissinger

Behind the slogans lay an intellectual vacuum.

Behind the slogans lay an intellectual vacuum.
Henry Kissinger

Blessed are the people whose leaders can look destiny in the eye without flinching but also without attempting to play God

Blessed are the people whose leaders can look destiny in the eye without flinching but also without attempting to play God
God
Henry Kissinger

It is one of history's ironies that Communism, advertised as a classless society, tended to breed a privileged class of feudal proportions.

It is one of history's ironies that Communism, advertised as a classless society, tended to breed a privileged class of feudal proportions.
Henry Kissinger

A turbulent history has taught Chinese leaders that not every problem has a solution and that too great an emphasis on total mastery over specific events could upset the harmony of the universe.

A turbulent history has taught Chinese leaders that not every problem has a solution and that too great an emphasis on total mastery over specific events could upset the harmony of the universe.
History
Henry Kissinger

In Washington...the appearance of power is therefore almost as important as the reality of it. In fact, the appearance is frequently its essential reality

In Washington...the appearance of power is therefore almost as important as the reality of it. In fact, the appearance is frequently its essential reality
Power
Henry Kissinger