“When you combine ignorance and leverage, you get some pretty interesting results.”

"Body Pleasure and the Origins of Violence" (1975)
Context: When high self-needs are combined with the deprivation of physical affection, the result is self-interest and high rates of narcissism. Likewise, exhibitionistic dancing and pornography may be interpreted as a substitute for normal sexual expression.

Source: Meditations in Wall Street (1940), p. 103

Source: The Master and Margarita

Cast a Yellow Shadow (1967)

Issues and Answers (9 March 1980)

2015, State of the Union Address (January 2015)
Context: When we make rash decisions, reacting to the headlines instead of using our heads; when the first response to a challenge is to send in our military -- then we risk getting drawn into unnecessary conflicts, and neglect the broader strategy we need for a safer, more prosperous world. That’s what our enemies want us to do. I believe in a smarter kind of American leadership. We lead best when we combine military power with strong diplomacy; when we leverage our power with coalition building; when we don’t let our fears blind us to the opportunities that this new century presents. That’s exactly what we’re doing right now. And around the globe, it is making a difference. [... ] That’s how America leads -- not with bluster, but with persistent, steady resolve.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc.: An Owner's Manual (1999)
Letters to Shareholders (1957 - 2012)

1910s, The New Nationalism (1910)

Source: The Wise Man's Fear