Short of nuclear war itself, population growth is the gravest issue the world faces. If we do not act, the problem will be solved by famine, riots, insurrection and war.
Robert McnamaraRead
At my age, 85, I'm at age where I can look back and derive some conclusions about my actions. My rule has been try to learn, try to understand what happened. Develop the lessons and pass them on.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Reflecting on life's lessons can lead to personal growth and wisdom that can be shared with others.
In this quote, Robert McNamara emphasizes the importance of reflection and learning throughout one's life. At 85, he recognizes that his experiences have provided valuable lessons, which he believes should not only be understood personally but also shared with others to contribute to their growth and understanding.
Themes
ReflectionLearningWisdomExperienceGrowth
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech on personal development, one might reference this quote to emphasize lifelong learning.
More from Robert Mcnamara
All quotes →All the evidence of history suggests that man is indeed a rational animal, but with a near infinite capacity for folly. . . . He draws blueprints for Utopia, but never quite gets it built. In the end he plugs away obstinately with the only building material really ever at hand--his own part comic, part tragic, part cussed, but part glorious nature.
Robert McnamaraRead
Poor planning or poor execution of plans is simply to let some force other than reason shape reality.
Robert McnamaraRead
Coercion, after all, merely captures man. Freedom captivates him.
Robert McnamaraRead
I want to say, and this is very important: at the end we lucked out. It was luck that prevented nuclear war. We came that close to nuclear war at the end. Rational individuals: Kennedy was rational; Khrushchev was rational; Castro was rational. Rational individuals came that close to total destruction of their societies. And that danger exists today.
Robert McnamaraRead
The indefinite combination of human fallibility and nuclear weapons will lead to the destruction of nations.
Robert McnamaraRead
Similar quotes
But there isn't any second half of myself waiting to plug in and make me whole. It's there. I'm already whole.
Sally FieldRead
Before I can tell my life what I want to do with it, I must listen to my life telling me who I am.
Parker J. PalmerRead
There was never a genius without a tincture of madness.
AristotleRead
Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.
John WoodenRead
We judge of man's wisdom by his hope.
Ralph Waldo EmersonRead
Writing is a strange and solitary activity. There are dispiriting times when you start working on the first few pages of a novel. Every day, you have the feeling you are on the wrong track. This creates a strong urge to go back and follow a different path. It is important not to give in to this urge but to keep going.
Patrick ModianoRead