23 Quotes by U Thant

As we watch the sun go down, evening after evening, through the smog across the poisoned waters of our native earth, we must ask ourselves seriously whether we really wish some future universal historian on another planet to say about us: "With all their genius and with all their skill, they ran out of foresight and air and food and water and ideas," or, They went on playing politics until their world collapsed around them.

As a Buddhist, I was trained to be tolerant of everything except intolerance.

To understand my feelings – and my conception of the role of Secretary General – the nature of my religious and cultural background must first be understood. I should therefore like to outline not only my beliefs but also my conception of human institutions and of the human situation itself.

The single most important impediment to global institutions is the concept of “my country, right or wrong”.

I don’t like to be disturbed at home; I tell the cable office not to call me before 6:30 AM, unless there’s a war.