Quotes From "The March Of Folly: From Troy To Vietnam" By Barbara W. Tuchman

Government was rarely more than a choice between the disastrous and the unpalatable. Barbara W. Tuchman

The process of gaining power employs means which degrade or brutalize the seeker, who awakes to find that power has been possessed at the cost of virtue or moral purpose lost. Barbara W. Tuchman

House speaker Thomas read could see the trend, but he could not have changed himself. Barbara W. Tuchman

Confronted by menace or what is perceived as menace, governments will usually attempt to smash it, rarely to examine it, understand it, and drefine it. Barbara W. Tuchman

The utility of perseverance in absurdity is more than I could ever discern. Edmund Burke Barbara W. Tuchman

He was always acting, always enveloping himself in artificiality, perhaps to conceal the volcano within. Barbara W. Tuchman

Connection" was the cement of the governing class. Barbara W. Tuchman

A phenomenon noticeable throughout history regardless of place or period is the pursuit by governments of policies contrary to their own interests. Mankind, it seems, makes a poorer performance of government than of almost any other human activity. In this sphere, wisdom, which may be defined as the exercise of judgment acting on experience, common sense and available information, is less operative and more frustrated than it should be. Why do holders of high office so often act contrary to the way reason points and enlightened self-interest suggests? Why does intelligent mental process seem so often not to function?. Barbara W. Tuchman

How much does a man's effort depend upon the age in which his work is cast? Pope Clement VII Barbara W. Tuchman

No single characteristic ever overtakes an entire society. Barbara W. Tuchman

Prison does not silence ideas whose time has come. Barbara W. Tuchman

Strong prejudices in an ill-formed mind are hazardous to government. Barbara W. Tuchman

Disorder is the least tolerable up sinful conditions. Barbara W. Tuchman

Why, since folly or perversity is expected of individuals, should we expect anything else from government? Barbara W. Tuchman

No one is is sure of his premise as the man who knows too little. Barbara W. Tuchman

Awful momentum makes carrying through easier than calling off folly. Barbara W. Tuchman

Let us retreat when we can, not when we must. Lord Chatham Barbara W. Tuchman

Folly is a child of power. Barbara W. Tuchman

Policy was not reconsidered because the governing group had no habit of purposeful consultation. Barbara W. Tuchman

Enormity of the stakes became the new self-hypnosis. Barbara W. Tuchman

He never hears the truth about himself by not wishing to hear it." Pope Alexander Barbara W. Tuchman

The limitation prompting folly " was an attitude of superiority so dense as to be impenetrable. Barbara W. Tuchman

That he survived, and indeed returned to government, was one of man's occasional triumphs over medicine. Barbara W. Tuchman

Far from a source of suffering, their adopted faith had been a source of power. Barbara W. Tuchman

One Cardinal entered his cathedral for the first time at his funeral. Barbara W. Tuchman

He wanted AFFIRMATION rather than INFORMATION. Barbara W. Tuchman

To those who think them selves strong, force always seems the easiest solution. Barbara W. Tuchman