Perfectionism, no less than isolationism or imperialism or power politics, may obstruct the paths to international peace. Let us not forget that the retreat to isolationism a quarter of a century ago was started not by a direct attack against international cooperation but against the alleged imperfections of the peace.

Summary

This quote suggests that perfectionism can be a hindrance to achieving international peace, much like isolationism, imperialism, or power politics. It emphasizes that a retreat to isolationism in the past was not instigated by an explicit rejection of international cooperation, but rather by a focus on the perceived flaws of existing peace efforts. The quote implies that a fixation on perfection and the refusal to accept imperfections may impede progress towards peace on a global scale.