Michael A. Ledeen Quotes & Sayings

I think the level of casualties is secondary ... [A]ll the great scholars who have studied American character have come to the conclusion that we are a warlike people and that we love war ... What we hate is not casualties but losing. — Michael A. Ledeen

They must attack us in order to survive, just as we must destroy them to advance our historic mission. — Michael A. Ledeen

In order to achieve the most noble accomplishments, the leader may have to 'enter into evil.' This is the chilling insight that has made Machiavelli so feared, admired, and challenging. It is why we are drawn to him still ... — Michael A. Ledeen

Paradoxically, preserving liberty may require the rule of a single leader-a dictator-willing to use those dreaded 'extraordinary measures, which few know how, or are willing, to employ.' — Michael A. Ledeen

We are imitating Nature, who is variable; and he who imitates her cannot be blamed. — Michael A. Ledeen

Powerful dictatorships that make their leaders powerful need to stage wars to get ordinary people to march in lockstep like mindless Nazi robots. That is the road to Greatness. — Michael A. Ledeen