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The liberal tradition has its roots in the Enlightenment, that period in the eighteenth-century Europe when intellectuals and political leaders had a powerful sense that reason could be employed to make the world a better place.

— John Mearsheimer The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001)

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More quotes by John Mearsheimer

The most dangerous states in the international system are continental powers with large armies.

The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001)

In the anarchic world of international politics, it is better to be Godzilla than Bambi.

In an ideal world, where there are only good states, power would be largely irrelevant.

The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001)

Simply put, the most powerful state is the one that prevails in a dispute.

The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001)

The ideal situation for any state is to experience sharp economic growth while its rivals' economies grow slowly or hardly at all.

The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001)

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: John Mearsheimer (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.