QuoteProject
We do not create terrorism by fighting the terrorists. We invite terrorism by ignoring them.
George W. Bush
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Ignoring terrorists can lead to greater threats, while fighting them can help alleviate the problem.

George W. Bush's quote emphasizes the importance of actively confronting terrorism rather than adopting a passive stance. He suggests that neglecting the existence and motivations of terrorists can invite more acts of terror, implying that engagement and taking action are necessary to mitigate the risks posed by such ideologies.

Themes

TerrorismActionEngagementIgnoranceThreat

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about national security, one could use this quote to stress the need for active measures against terrorism.

More from George W. Bush

The action we take and the decisions we make in this decade will have consequences far into this century. If America shows weakness and uncertainty, the world will drift toward tragedy. That will not happen on my watch.
George W. BushRead
Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror. The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing, have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness and a quiet, unyielding anger.
George W. BushRead
Freedom itself was attacked this morning by a faceless coward, and freedom will be defended.
George W. BushRead
Use power to help people. For we are given power not to advance our own purposes nor to make a great show in the world, nor a name. There is but one just use of power and it is to serve people.
George W. BushRead
Adoption was such a positive alternative to abortion, a way to save one life and brighten two more: those of the adoptive parents.
George W. BushRead
We are not deceived by their pretenses to piety. We have seen their kind before. They are the heirs of all the murderous ideologies of the 20th century. By sacrificing human life to serve their radical visions - by abandoning every value except the will to power - they follow in the path of fascism, and Nazism, and totalitarianism. And they will follow that path all the way, to where it ends: in history's unmarked grave of discarded lies.
George W. BushRead

Similar quotes

I want to just take a moment to thank the Teabaggers. Thank you so much for helping us pass health care, for resurrecting the Obama presidency. I know they're saying, 'Why are you thanking me? I was so against it, I marched on Washington with tea bags hanging off my Founding Fathers costume, with a gun on my hip and a picture of Obama dressed as Hitler, screaming about his birth certificate.' And America saw that and said, 'I think I'll go with the calm black man.'
Bill MaherRead
Arresting opposition leaders and restricting civil society will not stop people from protesting, but it can create leaderless movements that leave no one with whom the government can mediate a peaceful way forward.
Tom MalinowskiRead
Engaging Iran won't guarantee improved U.S.-Iranian relations or a more stable Gulf region. But not engaging means more of the same.
Samantha PowerRead
Now that the House of Commons is trying to become useful, it does a great deal of harm.
Oscar WildeRead
We mean by 'politics' the people's business - the most important business there is.
Adlai Stevenson IRead
All military regimes use security as the reason why they should remain in power. It's nothing original.
Aung San Suu KyiRead

A little wisdom, now and then

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