It is clear that the main element of any United States policy toward the Soviet Union must be that of long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies.
George F. KennanRead
The best thing we can do if we want the Russians to let us be Americans is to let the Russians be Russian.
Interpretation
Accepting and respecting cultural differences fosters harmony and coexistence.
This quote by George F. Kennan emphasizes the importance of allowing people from different cultures and nations, in this case, Russians, to embrace their own identity. By respecting their uniqueness and promoting understanding, it creates a space where mutual coexistence can flourish, thereby allowing individuals to express their national identity without conflict or pressure to conform to another's standards.
In practice
During a cultural exchange, we should remind participants that respecting each other's heritage is crucial.
It is clear that the main element of any United States policy toward the Soviet Union must be that of long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies.
We should cease to talk about vague and unreal objectives such as human rights, the raising of the living standards, and democratization. The day is not far off when we are going to have to deal in straight power concepts. The less we are then hampered by idealistic slogans, the better.
It is an undeniable privilege of every man to prove himself right in the thesis that the world is his enemy; for if he reiterates it frequently enough and makes it the background of his conduct he is bound eventually to be right.
Actually, the inability of any society to resist immigration, the inability to find other solutions to the problem of employment at the lower, more physical, and menial levels of the economic process, is a serious weakness, and possibly even a fatal one, in any national society. The fully healthy society would find ways to meet those needs out of its own resources.
One sometimes feels a guest of one's time and not a member of its household.
The accords were fig leaves of democratic procedure to hide the nakedness of Stalinist dictatorship.
There cannot be peace where there is not trust; there cannot be freedom where there is not loyalty
Anybody who's been through a divorce will tell you that at one point. they've thought murder. The line between thinking murder and doing murder isn't that major.
Despite the changes which come into our lives and with gratitude in our hearts, may we fill our days-as much as we can-with those things which matter most. May we cherish those we hold dear and express our love to them in word and in deed.
Women are tenacious, and all of them should be tenacious of respect; without esteem they cannot exist; esteem is the first demand that they make of love.
I feel like my life is so scattered right now. Like it's all the small pieces of paper and someone's turned on the fan. But, talking to you makes me feel like the fan's been turned off for a little bit. Like things could actually make sense. You completely unscatter me, and I appreciate that so much.
We are linked by blood, and blood is memory without language.
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