William J. Perry

“The only way to win a nuclear war is to not fight one.”

“I have never been more fearful of a nuclear detonation than now... The likelihood of a nuclear catastrophe is greater today than during the Cold War.”

“I believe that the United States should lead the world in a campaign to eliminate all nuclear weapons.”

“The problem is not that we have too many nuclear weapons. The problem is that we have any nuclear weapons.”

“Whenever I see a problem, I am not satisfied with just lamenting it. I want to try to solve it.”

“Our nuclear weapons policy is a house of cards. It is built on a foundation of flawed logic and unrealistic assumptions.”

“We are sleepwalking into a nuclear catastrophe.”

“Deterrence is not a miracle worker. It is not some magic spell. It is a series of calculations and judgments.”

“We have to recognize that the threat of terrorism is a long-term threat, and we have to be prepared to deal with it over the long term.”

“The danger of a nuclear catastrophe is greater than it was during the Cold War and most people are blissfully unaware of this danger.”

“The challenge of our time is to create a world in which all people can live in peace and security.”

“Education is the foundation of a strong democracy.”

“A key lesson of the Cold War is that we must maintain a strong military to deter aggression, but we must also pursue diplomacy to resolve conflicts peacefully.”

“Technology is a double-edged sword. It can be used for good or for evil.”

“The most important quality in a leader is integrity.”