UN General Assembly
1966

45. Even though the concept “United Nations” has a certain mystique, a certain intangible supra-national moral strength, and is the symbol of a great hope for a better future, it remains an Assembly of nation States. All those States pursue what they consider to be in their individual national interest. It would perhaps be vain to expect anything else at this stage. But there has so far been little or no inclination on the part of Member States to recognize that their national interest, indeed their greatest national interest, is in fact the strengthening of this Organization. Many are still prepared to act in pursuit of what they consider to be their- immediate aims. They do not even seem to mind if that leads to a weakening of this Organization. But the United Nations is vital to all of us. Without it we shall all go under. Thus its strengthening must be the supreme national interest, and the realization of this in a small way would be the beginning of wisdom for all Member States and could bring about a wondrous change in the prospects for world peace,