James Reston

In foreign policy you have to wait twenty-five years to see how it comes out.

In any war, the first casualty is common sense, and the second is free and open discussion.

Stick with the optimists. It's going to be tough enough even if they're right.

All politics are based on the indifference of the majority.

This is the devilish thing about foreign affairs: they are foreign and will not always conform to our whim.

Europe has a press that stresses opinions; America a press, radio, and television that emphasize news.

A government is the only vessel that leaks from the top.

The ship of state is the only known vessel that leaks from the top.

Americans have always been able to handle austerity and even adversity. Prosperity is what is doing us in.

Wealth is conspicuous, but poverty hides.

This is the very devilish thing about foreign affairs: they are foreign and will not always conform to our whim.

If it's far away, it's news, but if it's close at home, it's sociology.