Our failure to properly deal with Germany and Japan early cost the world dearly later on. We dare not make the same mistake with China.

Meaning of the quote

This quote is saying that when Germany and Japan were becoming powerful, the world didn't deal with them well enough at first. This led to a lot of trouble and suffering later on. The author wants to make sure we don't make the same mistake with China, and that we deal with China in a better way early on.

About Steve Forbes

Steve Forbes, son of longtime Forbes publisher Malcolm Forbes and grandson of the magazine’s founder B.C. Forbes, is an American publishing executive and politician who has served as the editor-in-chief of Forbes and ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 1996 and 2000. He has also held positions on the Board for International Broadcasting.

More about the author

More quotes from Steve Forbes

There is something fundamentally unfair about a government that takes away so much of people’s money, power, and personal control while telling them that life will be better as a result.

Steve Forbes

American businessman and publisher

We must guard against the overreaching hand of big government trying to take away our freedom. And we must always protect the environment in a manner consistent with our values.

Steve Forbes

American businessman and publisher

Our failure to properly deal with Germany and Japan early cost the world dearly later on. We dare not make the same mistake with China.

Steve Forbes

American businessman and publisher

There’s plenty of juice to keep this economy going.

Steve Forbes

American businessman and publisher

And it would be fair. Everyone will pay the same tax and it will eliminate tax cheaters and corporate shenanigans.

Steve Forbes

American businessman and publisher

The phenomenon of home schooling is a wonderful example of the American can-do attitude. Growing numbers of parents have become disenchanted with government-run public schools. Many parents have simply taken matters into their own hands, literally.

Steve Forbes

American businessman and publisher

No more turning a blind eye to Chinese spies in our nuclear labs. No more keeping silent about Chinese slave labor camps.

Steve Forbes

American businessman and publisher

The real cure for what ails our health care system today is less government and more freedom.

Steve Forbes

American businessman and publisher

If a man breaks a pledge, the public ought to know it.

Steve Forbes

American businessman and publisher

What you do as president has consequences.

Steve Forbes

American businessman and publisher

The Chinese government is quickly losing its ideological legitimacy, maintain its rule with force, but cannot draw strength from the ideology of Marx and Mao.

Steve Forbes

American businessman and publisher

The rise of China as a new power is another great challenge for the US. Our failure to properly handle Germany and Japan earlier in the 20th century cost us and the world dearly. We must not make this same mistake with China.

Steve Forbes

American businessman and publisher

Today, the US spends less on defense as a percentage of our economy than we did at any time since he Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. For the world’s only superpower, that is an invitation to very serious trouble.

Steve Forbes

American businessman and publisher

As our federal government has grown too large and too powerful, the real loss has been the freedom of people to govern their own lives and participate fully in the American dream.

Steve Forbes

American businessman and publisher

You don’t change minds in Washington with sweet reason. You do it to the white light of public opinion.

Steve Forbes

American businessman and publisher

A promise made should be a promise kept.

Steve Forbes

American businessman and publisher