Boutros Boutros-Ghali

"Since the creation of the United Nations in 1945, over 100 major conflicts around the world have left some 20 million dead."

"Only stupid people dont change their minds."

"There are signs that the system of collective security established in San Francisco nearly 50 years ago [at the founding of the UN] is finally beginning to work as conceived . . . We are on the way to achieving a workable international system."

"While the broad principles of democracy are universal, the fact remains that their application varies considerably … We are at the beginning of the road, at the very beginning. We still have a long way to go."

"I believe it will take time to find a solution to the problem. Thus we must have patience."

"The lesson I learned in Cairo still applies. The only way to deal with bureaucrats is with stealth and sudden violence."