Political Quotes

“Mr. President, one of the protagonists of Leo Tolstoy's epic ``War and Peace'' is the iconic Russian general Mikhail Kutuzov. Kutuzov was brought out of retirement to be the commander in chief of Russian forces during Napoleon's invasion, and his unorthodox strategy confounded and frustrated his superiors and his underlings alike. He becomes convinced, as Tolstoy depicts, that Napoleon will lose the war by overextending his army. He believes by playing the long game he will exhaust and defeat the seemingly invincible, unstoppable French army. Tolstoy creates a fictionalized version of Kutuzov, of course, but one of the most famous passages from ``War and Peace'' is worth repeating here today. Speaking of those who doubt his strategy, Kutuzov says: Patience and time are my warriors, my champions. Again, quoting from the book: He [Kutuzov] knew that an apple should not be plucked while it is green. It will fall of itself when ripe, but if picked unripe the apple is spoiled, the tree is harmed, and your teeth are set on edge. Like an experienced sportsman, Kutuzov knew that the beast was wounded, and wounded as only the whole strength of Russia could have wounded it. Whether or not this famous Russian general ever shared this exact sentiment, it is representative of a time when the Russians better than anyone on Earth knew how to play the long game. How times have changed.…”