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States in the world are like individuals in the state of nature. They are neither perfectly good nor are they controlled by law.

— Kenneth Waltz Man, the State, and War (1959)

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More quotes by Kenneth Waltz

No system of balance functions automatically.

Man, the State, and War (1959)

In anarchy there is no automatic harmony.

Man, the State, and War (1959)

To build a theory of international relations on accidents of geography and history is dangerous.

Man, the State, and War (1959)

The most important causes of political arrangements and acts are found in the nature and behavior of man.

Man, the State, and War (1959)

Each man does seek his own interest, but, unfortunately, not according to the dictates of reason.

Man, the State, and War (1959)

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Attribution

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