James F. Byrnes Quotes & Sayings

“Friendship without self-interest is one of the rare and beautiful things of life.”

“Too many people are thinking of security instead of opportunity. They seem more afraid of life than death.”

“It is not in the interest of the German people or in the interest of world peace that Germany should become a pawn or a partner in a military struggle for power between the East and the West.”

“Freedom from militarism will give the German people the opportunity, if they will but seize it, to apply their great energies and abilities to the works of peace.”

“It will give them the opportunity to show themselves worthy of the respect and friendship of peace-loving nations, and in time, to take an honorable place among members of the United Nations.”

“German militarism and Nazism have devastated twice in our generation the lands of German neighbors.”

“Power intoxicates men. It is never voluntarily surrendered. It must be taken from them.”

“What we want is a lasting peace. We will oppose soft measures which invite the breaking of the peace.”

“Important as economic unification is for the recovery of Germany and of Europe, the German people must recognize that the basic cause of their suffering and distress is the war which the Nazi dictatorship brought upon the world.”

“That was the principle of reparations to which President Truman agreed at Potsdam. And the United States will not agree to the taking from Germany of greater reparations than was provided by the Potsdam Agreement.”