Democracy requires an informed citizenry able to question its government.
Richard N. HaassRead
American influence in the world depends on the ability to act with real capacity and set an example that others will want to follow. This all takes resources.
Interpretation
America's global influence relies on its capacity to lead and set a positive example, which requires resources.
The quote emphasizes that the strength and leadership of the United States on the world stage are contingent upon its ability to not only act effectively but also to demonstrate behaviors and actions that other nations would aspire to emulate. This leadership role is inherently tied to the availability of necessary resources, highlighting the interplay between capacity and influence in international relations.
In practice
During a speech on foreign policy, one might mention this quote to highlight the importance of American leadership.
Democracy requires an informed citizenry able to question its government.
There is no getting around the reality that the second Iraq war was a war of choice; had it been carried out differently, it still would have been an expensive choice and almost certainly a bad one.
Nationalism is a tool increasingly used by leaders to bolster their authority, especially amid difficult economic and political conditions.
What countries must do to join the World Trade Organization is precisely what they must do to become productive and democratic: accept the rule of law, reduce corruption, and become open, accountable, and transparent.
Terrorism needs to be de-legitimized in the way that slavery has been. Doing so will make governments and individuals think twice before becoming a party to terrorism; it should also make it less difficult to garner support for international action against those who nevertheless carry it out.
The political world is defined by relationships rather than transactions, and by numerous actors at home and abroad with independent power. Navigating such a world is difficult and precarious.
Because man and woman are the complement of one another, we need woman's thought in national affairs to make a safe and stable government.
Hence the saying: The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; the good general cultivates his resources.
Today, more than ever, citizens demand with good reason that moral and ethical principles be upheld and that exemplariness preside over our public life. And the king, as the head of state, must not only be an example but also a servant to that just and legitimate demand of the citizens.
For most of us, fidelity is faithfulness to an obligation, trust, or duty. For the men and women of the FBI, fidelity also means fidelity to country. It means fidelity to justice and the law, fidelity to the Constitution, fidelity to equality and liberty.
The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion.
Strategy is a commodity, execution is an art.
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