“The debacle in Iraq has reinforced the realist dictum, disparaged by idealists in the 1990s, that the legacies of geography, history and culture really do set limits on what can be accomplished in any given place. But the experience in the Balkans reinforced an idealist dictum that is equally true: One should always work near the limits of what is possible rather than cynically give up on any place. In this decade idealists went too far; in the previous one, it was realists who did not go far enough.”
Robert D. Kaplan
-
Working on it...
-
Working on it...
-
Working on it...
-
Working on it...
Similar quotes
“Any discussion between idealist and realist would never end.”
Toba Beta
Master of Stupidity
“An idealist believes the short run doesn't count. A cynic believes the long run doesn't matter. A realist believes that what is done or left undone in the short run determines the long run.”
Sydney J. Harris
“Scratch any cynic and you will find a disappointed idealist.”
George Carlin
“Finally, the president added, 'The American people are idealists, but they also want their leaders to be realistic...”
Bob Woodward
Obama's Wars
“The simple truth is that nowhere in human history is there another manwho combined so uniquely and effectively in his person both the idealist and realist factors as did Muħammad (Peace be upon him)”
Fazlur Rahman
Major Themes of the Qur'an