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European Nations Quotes

Quotes tracing European power from empire to climate policy.

These quotes span very different eras of European history - one reflects on how ships, guns, and fortresses built the wealth of European nations, while another is a sober warning about how Nazi Germany's conquest, had it succeeded, might have been misread by history as 'civilizing.' It's a reminder that power and its judgment are never neutral.

I am keenly aware that the wealth and power of the European nations are the result not only of their having ships and powerful guns, strong fortresses and formidable troops but also because their people can fully employ their talents,...

Quotes by Sun Yat-sen

If Germany, thanks to Hitler and his successors, were to enslave the European nations and destroy most of the treasures of their past, future historians would certainly pronounce that she had civilized Europe.

Quotes by Simone Weil

Two European nations emerged with credit from the Iraq disaster: France and Germany. Both had the courage to withstand the Bush administration and oppose the U.S.-led invasion.

Quotes by Martin Jacques

The European nations take climate change very seriously.

Quotes by Donella Meadows

Bush Administration Quotes

I travelled to Germany to witness for myself what nationalism, populism and the breakdown of peace between the great European nations had done. Amidst the rubble I made great friends who have remained friends for the rest of our lives.

Quotes by Betty Boothroyd

Frequently Asked Questions

What historical period do these quotes cover?
They range from early colonial-era observations about European ships and military power to World War Two, the 2003 Iraq War, and present-day climate policy.
What does the quote about Hitler and European nations mean?
It's a critical, cautionary statement noting that if Nazi Germany had succeeded in conquering and enslaving Europe, some future historians might have wrongly framed that conquest as a 'civilizing' act - the quote warns against that distortion, not endorses Nazi Germany.
Which countries opposed the Iraq War according to these quotes?
One quote credits France and Germany specifically, saying both had the courage to resist the Bush administration and refuse to join the U.S.-led invasion.
Do any quotes address climate policy?
Yes, one simply states that European nations take climate change very seriously, reflecting a more contemporary and less contested view of European unity.
What common thread runs through these quotes about European nations?
Each one measures European nations by how they use collective power - militarily in past centuries, diplomatically during the Iraq War, and environmentally today.

Elsewhere the tone shifts to more recent politics: France and Germany opposing the U.S.-led Iraq invasion with what one quote calls real courage, and a plainer note that European nations now treat climate change as a serious priority.