QuoteProject
There may be circumstances in which damaging our relationship with countries over human rights is counterproductive and the benefits to human rights may be very small because of our limited capacity to enforce our stance. That was the dilemma the United States faced after Tiananmen Square.
Zbigniew Brzezinski
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote reflects on the complexity of foreign relations where prioritization of human rights can sometimes lead to counterproductive outcomes.

Zbigniew Brzezinski highlights the intricate balance that must be maintained in foreign policy, particularly regarding human rights issues. He points out that while advocating for human rights is important, there are instances where taking a strong stance could harm diplomatic relations, and the actual improvements in human rights may be minimal due to the limitations of enforcement capabilities. This presents a challenging dilemma for nations like the United States, especially in the context of significant historical events such as the aftermath of Tiananmen Square.

Themes

Human RightsForeign RelationsDiplomacyPoliticsTiananmen Square

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about the ethical implications of foreign policy, this quote can express the complexities involved.

More from Zbigniew Brzezinski

Regret what? That secret operation was an excellent idea. It had the effect of drawing the Russians into the Afghan trap and you want me to regret it? The day that the Soviets officially crossed the border, I wrote to President Carter. We now have the opportunity of giving to the USSR its Vietnam war. Indeed, for almost 10 years, Moscow had to carry on a war unsupportable by the government, a conflict that brought about the demoralization and finally the breakup of the Soviet empire.
Zbigniew BrzezinskiRead
During the twentieth century, men fought on behalf of nationalism. Yet the wars they fought were also engendered by dislocations in world markets and by social revolution stimulated by the coming of the industrial age.
Zbigniew BrzezinskiRead
Constant reference to a 'war on terror' did accomplish one major objective: It stimulated the emergence of a culture of fear.
Zbigniew BrzezinskiRead
Iraq may have been a preview of that, but it's still redeemable if we get out fast. In a war with Iran, we'll get dragged down for 20 or 30 years. The world will condemn us. We will lose our position in the world.
Zbigniew BrzezinskiRead
The congressional role in declaring war is especially important not when the United States is the victim of an attack, but when the United States is planning to wage war abroad.
Zbigniew BrzezinskiRead
War on terrorism defines the central preoccupation of the United States in the world today, and it does reflect in my view a rather narrow and extremist vision of foreign policy of the world's first superpower, of a great democracy, with genuinely idealistic traditions.
Zbigniew BrzezinskiRead

Similar quotes

You can't just have slogans, you can't just have catchy phrases. You have to have an agenda. And I think what the Republican Party has to do, if it's going to incorporate the tea party efforts in it, is to come up with an agenda that the American people can see, touch, and actually believe in, and something they believe in.
Colin PowellRead
Optimism comes less easily today, not because democracy is less vigorous, but because democracy's enemies have refined their instruments of repression.
Ronald ReaganRead
We, the people, are not free. Our democracy is but a name. We vote? What does that mean? It means we choose between Tweedledee and Tweedledum. We elect expensive masters to do our work for us, and then blame them because they work for themselves and for their class.
Helen KellerRead
Political violence is organized violence on the top which creates individual violence at the bottom.
Emma GoldmanRead
In 2008, I spoke out against calling the president a Muslim as if that was a curse. And then in 2012, once again, I was very disturbed about some of the intolerance I was seeing in the party, so I made a statement saying there's a level of intolerance in some parts of the Republican Party. And there was, and I think there still is.
Colin PowellRead
Despotism often presents itself as the repairer of all the ills suffered, the support of just rights, defender of the oppressed, and founder of order.
Alexis De TocquevilleRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.