History teaches, perhaps, very few clear lessons. But surely one such lesson learned by the world at great cost is that aggression, unopposed, becomes a contagious disease.
Interpretation
Aggression can spread if not challenged, and history shows us the costly consequences of ignoring this truth.
In this quote, Jimmy Carter reflects on the lessons that history offers regarding human behavior, particularly the nature of aggression. He warns that when aggression is not met with resistance, it has the potential to proliferate and lead to widespread harm, suggesting that societies must confront and curb aggression to prevent it from becoming a pervasive force that negatively impacts humanity.
In practice
In a speech about the importance of standing against oppression, I quoted Jimmy Carter's thoughts on aggression.
Acknowledging the physical realities of our planet does not mean a dismal future of endless sacrifice. In fact, acknowledging these realities is the first step in dealing with them. We can meet the resource problems of the world - water, food, minerals, farmlands, forests, overpopulation, pollution - if we tackle them with courage and foresight.
The preeminent obstacle to peace is Israel's colonization of Palestine.
I would say the biggest handicap we have right now is some nutcases in our country that don't believe in global warming. I think they are going to change their position because of pressure from individuals, because the evidence of the ravages of global warming is already there.
If I were president, I'd be very glad to see the Palestinians have a nation recognized by the United Nations. There's no downside to it.
My understanding of racial discrimination as a child was highly distorted because the most prominent man in Archery was an African-American bishop. When he came home from up north, where he was in charge of A.M.E. churches in five states, it was front-page news. He was the most successful man in my life.
Our American values are not luxuries but necessities, not the salt in our bread, but the bread itself. Our common vision of a free and just society is our greatest source of cohesion at home and strength abroad, greater than the bounty of our material blessings.
The church must share in the secular problems of ordinary human life, not dominating, but helping and serving.
People get really scared when women reclaim words, talk about themselves honestly and also make jokes because it's a really unstoppable combination.
For a great many years, as a soldier, I had a suspicion that war was a racket; not until I retired to civil life did I fully realize it.
Others go to bed with their mistresses; I with my ideas.
Feeling that morality has nothing to do with the way you use the resources of the world is an idea that can't persist much longer. If it does, then we won't.
Our brains have been designed to blur the line between self and other. It is an ancient neural circuitry that marks every mammal, from mouse to elephant.
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