John Bolton Quotes

You know, as somebody who writes op-eds and appears on the television, I appreciate as well as anybody that ... there is a limit to what that accomplishes.

There is no such thing as the United Nations.

In the United States, there is a broadly shared view that the U.N. is one of many potential instruments to advance U.S. issues, and we have to decide whether a particular issue is best done through the U.N. or best done through some other mechanism.

My philosophy is not a bean-counting, accounting 'look at this.' It is a philosophy that smaller government is better government, and government that is closer to the people is best of all.

If Iran obtains nuclear weapons, then almost certainly Saudi Arabia will do the same, as will Egypt, Turkey and perhaps others in the region.

Just like Sept. 11, only with nuclear weapons this time, that's the threat. I think that is the threat. I think it's just facing reality. It's not a happy reality, but it's reality and if you don't deal with it, it will become even more unpleasant.

I want to make sure that, not only in the Republican Party but in the body politic as a whole, people are aware of threats that remain to the United States.

I am not a neoconservative.

We estimate that once Iraq acquires fissile material - whether from a foreign source or by securing the materials to build an indigenous fissile material capability - it could fabricate a nuclear weapon within one year.

There's no such thing as the United Nations. If the U.N. secretary building in New York lost 10 stories, it wouldn't make a bit of difference.

I don't think I would have to run a campaign that's financed like General Motors.

If I were doing the Security Council today, I'd have one permanent member, the United States, because that's the real reflection of the distribution of power in the world. All international laws are invalid, meaningless attempts to constrict American power.

My priority is to give the United States the kind of influence it should have.

I am not a professional politician.

I don't think there is any good answer to the question why shouldn't gays and lesbians who want to serve their country be allowed to do it.

As you know, I have over the years written critically about the U.N. I have consistently stressed in my writings that American leadership is critical to the success of the U.N., an effective U.N., one that is true to the original intent of its charter's framers.

I haven't given up on the possibility that sweet reason will prevail.

I don't think Hamas will be satisfied simply ruling the Gaza Strip.

I don't do carrots.

The U.N. is one of many competitors in a marketplace of global problem solving.

Negotiation is not a policy. It's a technique. It's something you use when it's to your advantage, and something that you don't use when it's not to your advantage.

The Nobel Peace Prize has become hopelessly politicized. I think it cheapens the prize itself.

There's no religious test under the constitution. That's what it says. Period.

I think that Ronald Reagan had it right, being against abortion except in certain limited, defined circumstances.

I think some of this fascination with the 'Arab Spring' is just a grand experiment with Israel's survival.

I'm obviously aware that people are quite focused on the economy rather than foreign policy issues, but that is something that should and can be altered as people see the nature of the threats around the world that we face.

When you have a regime that would be happier in the afterlife than in this life, this is not a regime that is subject to classic theories of deterrence.

I'm a conservative Republican. I have been since I was 15 years old and participated in the 'Goldwater for President' campaign in 1964.

Well, I'm a libertarian conservative, so I believe in limited government/maximum individual freedom.

A lot of people have said to me, 'That's a great idea, running for president. You'll get booked for more speeches. You can write a book.'

People don't like to talk about victory and defeat anymore.

I have decided not to run for president.

North Korea is going to get away with keeping its nuclear weapons.

Let me ask, who died and made him king? Who gave him the authority to endanger 300 million Americans? That's not the way it works, and if he thinks he can get away with that, he's got another think coming.

The only thing that will stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons is regime change in Tehran.

I've never attended any Tea Party functions.

Obviously, you make preparations before you engage in any meeting.

There's no doubt that Iran funds and supplies Hamas with weapons.

Let there be no ambiguity about the American view that Syria's lack of cooperation .. is not acceptable.

Don't get me wrong: I would love to be president.

People say you favor assassination, what do you think war is? Except that it's assassination on a much larger scale, a much more horrific scale.

I don't much believe in bumper sticker characterizations of foreign policy.