Lester B Pearson Quotes That Will Woah You!

By Editorial Staff 02 Jun, 2024 Quotes

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Lester B. Pearson, Canada’s 14th Prime Minister, was a towering figure in both domestic and international politics. A Nobel Peace Prize laureate for his role in resolving the Suez Crisis, Pearson’s legacy is one of diplomacy, social reform, and a profound commitment to multilateralism. His tenure as Prime Minister, from 1963 to 1968, saw the introduction of universal healthcare, the Canada Pension Plan, and the iconic maple leaf flag. Pearson’s government also grappled with the rising tide of Quebec nationalism and laid the groundwork for Canada’s official bilingualism policy. A skilled statesman and negotiator, Pearson left an enduring mark on Canada’s identity and its place in the world.

Want to learn more? Read these 16 interesting Quotes By Lester B. Pearson below:

1. We are all descendants of Adam, and we are all products of racial miscegenation.

2. If a man has an apartment stacked to the ceiling with newspapers, we call him crazy. If a woman has a trailer house full of cats, we call her nuts. But when people pathologically hoard so much cash that they impoverish the entire nation, we put them on the cover of Fortune magazine and pretend that they are role models.

3. And I have lived since – as you have – in a period of cold war, during which we have ensured by our achievements in the science and technology of destruction that a third act in this tragedy of war will result in the peace of extinction.

4. The best defence of peace is not power, but the removal of the causes of war, and international agreements which will put peace on a stronger foundation, than the terror of destruction.

5. The only failures are those who fail to try.

6. We’ll jump off that bridge when we come to it.

7. Of all our dreams today there is none more important – or so hard to realise – than that of peace in the world. May we never lose our faith in it or our resolve to do everything that can be done to convert it one day into reality.

8. Whether we live together in confidence and cohesion; with more faith and pride in ourselves and less self-doubt and hesitation; strong in the conviction that the destiny of Canada is to unite, not divide; sharing in cooperation, not in separation or in conflict; respecting our past and welcoming our future.

9. Under this flag may our youth find new inspiration for loyalty to Canada; for a patriotism based not on any mean or narrow nationalism, but on the deep and equal pride that all Canadians will feel for every part of this good land.

10. Today continuing poverty and distress are a deeper and more important cause of international tensions, of the conditions that can produce war, than previously.

11. As a soldier, I survived World War I when most of my comrades did not.

12. Understanding the nature of conflict leads to peace.

13. Diplomacy is letting someone else have your way.

14. We must keep on trying to solve problems, one by one, stage by stage, if not on the basis of confidence and cooperation, at least on that of mutual toleration and self-interest.

15. The choice, however, is as clear now for nations as it was once for the individual: peace or extinction.

16. Prime ministers require the hide of a rhinoceros, the morals of St. Francis, the patience of Job, the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the leadership of Napoleon, the magnetism of a Beatle and the subtlety of Machiavelli.

17. As we enter our centennial year we are still a young nation, very much in the formative stages. Our national condition is still flexible enough that we can make almost anything we wish of our nation. No other country is in a better position than Canada to go ahead with the evolution of a national purpose devoted to all that is good and noble and excellent in the human spirit.

Conclusion:

Lester B. Pearson’s contributions to Canada remain deeply ingrained in the nation’s fabric. His pursuit of peace, his championing of social welfare programs, and his dedication to national unity have cemented his place as one of Canada’s most influential leaders. Pearson’s vision of a just, compassionate, and internationally engaged Canada continues to inspire and guide the nation today. While his time in office was not without challenges, his accomplishments far outweigh the setbacks. Pearson’s legacy serves as a reminder of the power of diplomacy, the importance of social progress, and the enduring spirit of Canadian unity.