The great changes in civilisation and society have been wrought by deeply held beliefs and passion rather than by a process of rational deduction.

If the truth contradicts deeply held beliefs, that is too bad.

In the end, rational policy is always good.

By process of deduction, that's what it has to be,

I've always held the view that great states need strategic space. I mean, George Washington took his space from George III. Britain took it from just about everybody. Russia took all of Eastern Europe. Germany's taken it from everywhere they can, and China will want its space too.

The great curse of modern political life is incrementalism.