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America is exceptional in combining standard great-power realism with extravagant idealism about the country's redemptive role in creating international order.

You see, idealism detached from action is just a dream. But idealism allied with pragmatism, with rolling up your sleeves and making the world bend a bit, is very exciting. It's very real. It's very strong.

Idealism is no good. Any concrete dedication to an abstract condition results in unpleasant things like wars.

I think now I'm more realistic, but I'm still very much an idealist.

The acceptance of certain realities doesn't preclude idealism. It can lead to certain breakthroughs.

True Americanism is practical idealism. Its aims, instead of being materialistic and mechanical, are idealistic to the point of being Utopian. In this way, the U.S. can provide and express ideals that strike a chord in humans everywhere - a declaration of independence on behalf of all the peoples of the world.

It's time to bury the unreal, failed 'realism' of those who have long thought that dictators brought stability.

I hate that which we have decided to call realism, even though I have been made one of its high priests.

We need realism to deal with reality.