“This world of ours… must avoid becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate, and be, instead, a proud confederation of mutual trust and respect.”
- October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969
- American
- The 34th President of the United States, General, Military Leader
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Quote
“This world of ours… must avoid becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate, and be, instead, a proud confederation of mutual trust and respect.”
Explanation
This quote captures Eisenhower’s vision for a peaceful, cooperative international order, particularly in the wake of two world wars and amidst the tensions of the Cold War. He warns against a world shaped by fear, suspicion, and hostility, urging instead the building of a global community founded on trust, mutual respect, and shared dignity. His words reflect a deep desire to replace conflict with diplomacy and animosity with understanding.
The historical context is rooted in the early 1950s, when the world was increasingly divided between East and West, communism and capitalism, and nuclear deterrence loomed large. As President and former Allied commander, Eisenhower understood both the horrors of war and the fragility of peace. His administration sought not just to contain threats but to promote international institutions, alliances, and cross-border cooperation, such as through NATO and the United Nations.
Today, the quote remains strikingly relevant. Global challenges like climate change, migration, pandemics, and geopolitical rivalry test our capacity for trust and collaboration. Eisenhower’s message is a call to resist the pull of division and fear, and to foster a world in which nations engage as equals, bound by mutual commitments rather than mutual threats. His ideal of a “proud confederation” reminds us that lasting peace is not merely the absence of war, but the presence of respect and unity.
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