A Friendly Reminder

The Arrogance of Power

Forget the sentimental notion that foreign policy is a struggle between virtue and vice with virtue bound to win.

Forget the utopian notion that a brave new world without power politics will follow the unconditional surrender of wicked nations.

Forget the crusading notion that any nation, however virtuous and powerful, can have the mission to make the world over in its own image.

Remember that diplomacy without power is feeble and power without diplomacy is destructive and blind.

Remember that no nation’s power is without limits and, hence, that its policies must respect the power and interests of others.

--Professor Stanley Hoffman, Harvard University

These observations were penned in 1966 (published in 1968) during the Vietnam War.

This passage was taken from a Charlie Rose interview with Prof. Hoffmann, Wednesday, May 26, 2004.