Jimmy Carter, former president of the United States, left a legacy full of principles and a clear focus on human nature, politics and ethics. Throughout his life, he shared profound thoughts on the human condition and the role that leaders must play to foster a more just and equitable society. Here are some of his most representative phrases:
Human nature and leaders
“We tend to exalt ourselves, to highlight other people’s weaknesses and mistakes. I have understood that in every person there is something good and pure and noble, along with the desire for personal fulfillment. Political and religious leaders should seek to provide a society in which these human attributes can be nurtured and accentuated.”
“Why Not the Best?” (1975)
The ideals of government
“Our government can express the highest common ideals of human beings if we hold government to authentic standards of excellence. In this time of introspection and disquiet as we mark the Bicentennial (of America’s independence), we must demand those standards.”
“Why Not the Best?” (1975)
Jimmy Carter’s identity
“I am a Southerner and an American, farmer, engineer, father and husband, Christian, politician and former governor, planner, entrepreneur, nuclear physicist, naval officer, canoeist, and among other things a lover of Bob Dylan songs and Dylan Thomas poetry.”
“Why Not the Best?” (1975)
Ethics and personal self-criticism
“Christ said, ‘I tell you, whoever looks at a woman with lust has committed adultery in his heart.’ I have looked at many women with lust. I have committed adultery in my heart many times. It is something that God recognizes that I will do-and I have done it-and God forgives me for that. But it doesn’t mean I condemn someone who not only looks at a woman with lust but leaves his wife and lives with someone outside of marriage.”
Interview with Playboy, November 1976
These sentences reflect his ethical approach, his humility, and the complexity of his view of the world and his role in it. Carter was not only a political leader, but also a thinker who challenged society to reflect on its values and actions.
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