Gustav Heinemann Quotes


"Insecurity and resignation mingle with the hope for a better order."
- Gustav Heinemann
(Related: Hope, Insecurity, Order, Resignation)

"We have to recognize that the freedom of the individual has to be protected not only from the power of the state, but even more so from economic and societal power."
- Gustav Heinemann
(Related: Power, Freedom, State)

"War is not the quintessential emergency in which man has to prove himself, as my generation learned at its school desks in the days of the Kaiser; rather, peace is the emergency in which we all have to prove ourselves."
- Gustav Heinemann
(Related: Peace, War, Man, School)

"Trust cannot be commanded; and yet it is also correct that the only one who earns trust is the one who is prepared to grant trust."
- Gustav Heinemann
(Related: Trust)

"Therefore it does not help to sneer at the imperfection of today's reality or to preach absolutes as a daily agenda."
- Gustav Heinemann
(Related: Help, Imperfection, Reality, Today)

"The time has come - and must come - for multilateral conversations about a secure peace in all of Europe."
- Gustav Heinemann
(Related: Peace, Time, Europe)

"The secret of big and revolutionary actions also consists in discovering the tiny step that is simultaneously a strategic step, insofar as it entails additional steps in the direction of a better reality."
- Gustav Heinemann
(Related: Actions, Direction, Reality)

"The first thing I see is the obligation to serve peace."
- Gustav Heinemann
(Related: Peace, First, Obligation)

"Disarmament requires trust."
- Gustav Heinemann
(Related: Trust)

"Ladies and gentlemen, on the occasion of my election I received many letters from people representing all segments of the population and all professions, especially from the younger generation, linking my inauguration with great - far too great - expectations."
- Gustav Heinemann
(Related: People, Expectations, Ladies, Gentlemen, Letters, Population)

"One of our most noble political tasks is to open up trust."
- Gustav Heinemann
(Related: Trust, Open)

"Beyond peace, there is no longer any existence possible."
- Gustav Heinemann
(Related: Peace, Existence)

"Everywhere, authority and tradition have to justify themselves in the face of questions."
- Gustav Heinemann
(Related: Authority, Questions, Tradition)

"I appeal to the responsibility of the blocs and the major powers, not to seek security in the arms race, but rather in a meeting for joint disarmament and arms limitations."
- Gustav Heinemann
(Related: Limitations, Meeting, Race, Responsibility, Security)

"Ladies and gentlemen, I take office at a time in which the world is living in extreme contradictions."
- Gustav Heinemann
(Related: Time, Extreme, Ladies, Gentlemen, Living, Office, World)

"Liberal democracy must finally become the vital element of our society."
- Gustav Heinemann
(Related: Society, Democracy, Liberal)

"Not less, but more democracy - that is the demand, that is the great goal that we have to prescribe for ourselves, and especially for our youth."
- Gustav Heinemann
(Related: Goal, Democracy, Youth)