David Hoffman famous quotes

Gorbachev was acutely aware of the [USSR] economic problems, and it was central to all he did. He wanted to change the system in hopes of saving it. In the end he could not.
-- David Hoffman

#Saving #Problem #Economic

Scholars have been arguing for a long time whether the Soviet Union could have been turned into some kind of social democracy. I doubt it myself. I think what Gorbachev didn't quite understand, until it was too late, is that his efforts at change unleashed new, certrifical forces he hadn't counted on. He opened the door a crack and a huge wind blew it open.
-- David Hoffman

#Thinking #Doors #Wind

I find it hard to argue with Reagan's old slogan: Trust, but verify.
-- David Hoffman

#Arguing #Verify #Slogans

Despite his deeply-held ideology, Reagan was willing to talk to Gorbachev. He willing to do business with him. We should realize that engaging with adversaries is often one of our great strengths. As long as we use the engagement to stand up for the things we care about, there is no harm in talking.
-- David Hoffman

#Talking #Long #Use

In fact, the same difficulties faced by Reagan in the 1980-s are still there [in the beginning of 21 century]: how do you hit a bullet with a bullet? The technology is getting better, but it still is focused on one interceptor knocking down one missile. In war, there would be many more challenges, more chaos, more uncertainty.
-- David Hoffman

#War #Technology #Challenges

Nixon tried to wrap the Soviet Union into a web of agreements that would constrain its behavior. What happened is that many people lost faith in that approach, not the least because of how the Soviets handled it.
-- David Hoffman

#Agreement #People #Unions

With the growing recognition of the value of herbs, it is surely time to examine the professional therapeutic use of these herbs. There are profound changes happening in the American culture and herbal medicine, 'green medicine,' is playing an ever-increasing role in people's experience of this transformation.
-- David Hoffman

#Medicine #People #Profound

I have no doubt that aggressively going after wrongdoing can result in real improvement. Fewer wrongdoers in city government means more honest employees; it means better city services; it means more efficient government. And punishing wrongdoing can have a strong ripple effect that deters others from going down the wrong path.
-- David Hoffman

#Strong #Real #Mean

The only problem with getting married is that we can't fornicate anymore.
-- David Hoffman

#Married #Problem #Getting Married

Saving our planet requires you to be ambitious in what you aim, and, equally, in how hard you work to reach your goal.

I mean, the problem is, I think I'm a great writer.

The real problem with all drugs is that they work. Fantastically. They're great, right up until the moment they kill you.

The biggest problem in South Africa is that we have a disrupted timeline. Historically, politically, spiritually, economically, in people's minds, in people's heads.

The problem with a politician’s quote on Facebook is you don’t know whether or not they really said it.

I have a control problem. I hate the feeling of not being in control.

Like putting a name to my problems would solve anything

I just talk a lot, that's the problem.

The corporatist-economic model of society appears to be governing us. Economists, often in the pay of transnationals, are deciding, for us, what democracy is, and will be.

We all knew this. We all knew that it would take more time than any of us want to dig ourselves out of this hole created by this economic crisis.