"We are trying to remake Vietnamese society, a task which certainly cannot be accomplished by force and which probably cannot be accomplished by any means available to outsiders"
- J. William Fulbright
About this Quote
This quote by J. William Fulbright speaks with the problem of remaking a society. He acknowledges that force is not the answer, and that outsiders might not have the means to achieve the task. This suggests that the procedure of remaking a society needs to originate from within, and that it is a challenging and intricate process. It is a suggestion that outsiders should not attempt to impose their own values and beliefs on a society, but rather should work to support the people of that society in their own efforts to produce a much better future. It is also a pointer that the procedure of remaking a society is a long and difficult one, which it requires perseverance and understanding.
"Without culture, and the relative freedom it implies, society, even when perfect, is but a jungle. This is why any authentic creation is a gift to the future"