James William Fulbright Quotes

I'm sure that President Johnson would never have pursued the war in Vietnam if he'd ever had a Fulbright to Japan, or say Bangkok, or had any feeling for what these people are like and why they acted the way they did. He was completely ignorant.

In a democracy, dissent is an act of faith.

In the long course of history, having people who understand your thought is much greater security than another submarine.

It's the one activity that gives me some hope that the human race won't commit suicide, though I still wouldn't count on it.

The biggest lesson I learned from Vietnam is not to trust [our own] government statements. I had no idea until then that you could not rely on [them].

The exchange program is the thing that reconciles me to all the difficulties of political life.

The junior senator from Wisconsin, by his reckless charges, has so preyed upon the fears and hatreds and prejudices of the American people that he has started a prairie fire which neither he nor anyone else may be able to control.

There has been a strong tradition in this country that it is not the function of the military to educate the public on political issues.

To be a statesman, you must first get elected.

We have the power to do any damn fool thing we want to do, and we seem to do it about every 10 minutes.