QuoteProject
I covered the Vietnam War. I remember the lies that were told, the lives that were lost - and the shock when, twenty years after the war ended, former Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara admitted he knew it was a mistake all along.
Walter Cronkite
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote reflects the complexity and moral implications of war, emphasizing the impact of truth and accountability.

Walter Cronkite's quote underscores the painful realities of war, highlighting the contrast between the information disseminated to the public and the tragic consequences of those decisions. The admission by Robert S. McNamara serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of honesty and the responsibility leaders have in acknowledging their mistakes.

Themes

WarTruthAccountabilityMistakesHistory

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in discussions on the ethics of war during a public debate.

More from Walter Cronkite

Perhaps if all the peoples of the world understand what war really means, we would eliminate it.
Walter CronkiteRead
The death of Churchill at 90 was one of those watershed moments in which the obituary rises to a special calling beyond the sharing of remembered times. It gave an older generation a rare opportunity to explain something of itself to its children.
Walter CronkiteRead
I suppose popularity is measured by ratings. If a broadcaster is known as the leader because of ratings, then that's where people most want to be seen and heard, so there's no question that there's an advantage.
Walter CronkiteRead
Objective journalism and an opinion column are about as similar as the Bible and Playboy magazine.
Walter CronkiteRead
I feel no compulsion to be a pundit. As a matter of fact, I really don't have that much to say about most things. Working with hard news satisfies me completely.
Walter CronkiteRead
I think that our comfort is in our history.
Walter CronkiteRead

Similar quotes

True wisdom consists in two things: Knowledge of God and Knowledge of Self.
John CalvinRead
Do not hold the delusion that your advancement is accomplished by crushing others.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
Maybe a thing that you do not like is really in your interest. It is possible that a thing that you may desire may be against your interest.
Abu BakrRead
The more circumspectly you delay writing down an idea, the more maturely developed it will be on surrendering itself.
Walter BenjaminRead
I know, to banish anger altogether from one's breast is a difficult task. It cannot be achieved through pure personal effort. It can be done only by God's grace.
Mahatma GandhiRead
To err is human, to repent divine; to persist devilish.
Benjamin FranklinRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.