“For the sake of peace and justice, let us move toward a world in which all people are at last free to determine their own destiny.”
- February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004
- American
- The 40th President of the United States, Actor, Politician, Governor of California
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Quote
“For the sake of peace and justice, let us move toward a world in which all people are at last free to determine their own destiny.”
Explanation
This quote encapsulates Ronald Reagan’s idealistic vision of global freedom and self-determination. By linking peace and justice with the ability of all people to “determine their own destiny,” Reagan affirms his belief that true international stability can only be achieved when individuals and nations are free from oppression and external control. It reflects the moral foundation of his foreign policy: that liberty is a universal right, not the privilege of a few.
The quote likely draws from Reagan’s addresses during the Cold War, when he regularly called for the liberation of nations under totalitarian regimes, especially in Eastern Europe and the Soviet sphere. He consistently framed the United States as a champion of freedom and democracy, contrasting it with systems of state control, censorship, and enforced ideology. Reagan believed that spreading democratic ideals would not only advance human rights but also reduce global conflict by replacing tyranny with representative governance.
Today, this message remains relevant in a world still marked by authoritarianism, political repression, and contested sovereignty. The quote serves as a call to support movements for freedom, democratic reform, and national self-determination, whether in emerging democracies or in regions under autocratic rule. Reagan’s words remind us that peace is not merely the absence of war, but the presence of justice and the power of people to shape their own future.
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