"Unless we act, events that we Europeans will be unable to influence will overtake us. I believe we Europeans feel far too safe. Europe’s political and economic leadership in the world, which was still unchallenged at the beginning of the century, has long since ceased to exist. Will the dominant cultural influence of Europe be maintained? I think not, unless we defend it and adjust ourselves to new conditions; history has shown that civilisations are all too perishable."
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Anti-fascistsAnti-communistsPoliticians from GermanyAutobiographers from GermanyChancellors of Germany
Original Language: English
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Address on continuing European integration at the Grandes Conférences Catholiques (25 September 1956)
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Konrad_Adenauer
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