---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we allow terrorism to undermine our…"
description: "\"If we allow terrorism to undermine our freedom of action, we could reverse at least part of the palpable gains achieved by postwar globalization. It is..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef7/alan-greenspan-1834_action_if-we-allow-terrorism-to-undermine-our-f_1381124.jpg"
---

#  If we allow terrorism to undermine our freedom of action…

![“If we allow terrorism to undermine our freedom of action, we could reverse at least part of the palpable gains achieved by postwar globalization. It is incumbent upon us not to allow that to happen.” quote by Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef7/alan-greenspan-1834_action_if-we-allow-terrorism-to-undermine-our-f_1381124.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef7/alan-greenspan-1834_action_if-we-allow-terrorism-to-undermine-our-f_1381124.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef7/alan-greenspan-1834_action_if-we-allow-terrorism-to-undermine-our-f_1381124.jpg)

> “If we allow terrorism to undermine our freedom of action, we could reverse at least part of the palpable gains achieved by postwar globalization. It is incumbent upon us not to allow that to happen.”

[Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Terrorism threatens the freedoms gained from post‑war globalization; protecting liberty requires vigilance against fear‑driven policies.

**In simple terms:** Terrorism can erode the freedoms won after WWII.

Key Takeaway

Guard freedoms by resisting fear‑based restrictions.

Themes

security freedom globalization

Mood

cautious determined

Type

political motivational

When to use this quote

- policy making
- public debate
- international relations
- community safety

Key Concepts

politics economics civil liberties

Questions to Reflect On

- What measures protect liberty without compromising security?
- How can societies stay resilient against terror threats?

A Different Perspective

Balancing security and liberty is complex; over‑reaction can stifle progress.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Globalization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/globalization/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism/)

## Related quotes

> [No one wants to trivialise the gigantic challenge of battling terrorism or undermine the sacrifice of our soldiers and policemen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barkha-dutt/no-one-wants-to-trivialise-the-gigantic-challenge-of-battling/)

[Barkha Dutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barkha-dutt/)

> [“Then why should the side effects of your exercise of religious freedom effectively “impose your religion” on those affected—or undermine their own freedom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corvino/then-why-should-the-side-effects-of-your-exercise-of-religious/)

[John Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corvino/)

> [Out of regime change you get chaos. From the chaos you have seen repeatedly the rise of radical Islam. So we get this profession…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/out-of-regime-change-you-get-chaos-from-the-chaos-you-have-seen/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [I stated that I'm a libertarian Republican, which means I believe in a series of issues, such as smaller government, constraint on budget deficits,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/i-stated-that-i-m-a-libertarian-republican-which-means-i-believe-in-a/)

[Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

> [And what terrifies me is that we're entering a phase where if you start to speak about this as something that can be understood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/and-what-terrifies-me-is-that-we-re-entering-a-phase-where-if-you/)

[Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/)

> [Ambition, and Covetousnesse are Passions that are perpetually incumbent, and pressing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/ambition-and-covetousnesse-are-passions-that-are-perpetually/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [I think it is time we learned the lesson of our century: that the progress of the human spirit must keep pace with technological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bernstein/i-think-it-is-time-we-learned-the-lesson-of-our-century-that-the/)

[Leonard Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-bernstein/)

> [Remembering is a noble and necessary act. The call of memory, the call to memory, reaches us from the very dawn of history. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/remembering-is-a-noble-and-necessary-act-the-call-of-memory-the-call/)

[Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/)

> [Hundreds of these companies I've seen since the beginning stages - including Dropbox and Airbnb - one of them has actually been crushed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/hundreds-of-these-companies-i-ve-seen-since-the-beginning-stages/)

[Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/)

> [If a close examination of the evidences of Christianity may be expected of one class of men more than another, it would seem incumbent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-greenleaf/if-a-close-examination-of-the-evidences-of-christianity-may-be/)

[Simon Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-greenleaf/)

> [I think that many citizens understand how our system works, or rather, fails to work, for structural reasons. But who has the capacity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/i-think-that-many-citizens-understand-how-our-system-works-or-rather/)

[Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/)

> [One of the promising indications of a renewal in the Church's missionary consciousness in recent decades, has been the growing desire of many lay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/one-of-the-promising-indications-of-a-renewal-in-the-church-s/)

[Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/)

> [The President? Hmmm, I wonder who that might be? Could it be, perhaps, the sitting two-term incumbent of the same party holding its convention?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fallows/the-president-hmmm-i-wonder-who-that-might-be-could-it-be-perhaps-the/)

[James Fallows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fallows/)

> [In any case, open-seat presidential elections like 2008 just are different in character from incumbent reelects, and I think that's the most important thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/in-any-case-open-seat-presidential-elections-like-2008-just-are/)

[William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/)

> [As the longest serving Independent in the history of the United States Congress, as somebody who came into office by defeating an incumbent Democratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/as-the-longest-serving-independent-in-the-history-of-the-united/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

## More by Alan Greenspan

> [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/)

[Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

> [At the risk of some oversimplification, if the skill composition of our work force meshed fully with the needs of our increasingly complex capital-stock,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/at-the-risk-of-some-oversimplification-if-the-skill-composition-of/)

[Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

> [To succeed, you will soon learn, as I did, the importance of a solid foundation in the basics of education - literacy, both verbal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/to-succeed-you-will-soon-learn-as-i-did-the-importance-of-a-solid/)

[Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

> [I've always argued that this country has benefited immensely from the fact that we draw people from all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/i-ve-always-argued-that-this-country-has-benefited-immensely-from-the/)

[Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

> [I cannot conceive of a politically feasible solution to this problem which will overdo cutting the deficit, where overdoing means harming the economy. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/i-cannot-conceive-of-a-politically-feasible-solution-to-this-problem/)

[Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

> [Before I met Ayn Rand, I was a logical positivist, and accordingly, I didn't believe in absolutes, moral or otherwise. If I couldn't prove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/before-i-met-ayn-rand-i-was-a-logical-positivist-and-accordingly-i/)

[Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

> [ Skilled shortages in America exist because we are shielding our skilled labor force from world competition. \[Visa quotas\] have been substituted for the wage… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/skilled-shortages-in-america-exist-because-we-are-shielding-our/)

[Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

> [A decline in the national housing price level would need to be substantial to trigger a significant rise in foreclosures, because the vast majority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/a-decline-in-the-national-housing-price-level-would-need-to-be/)

[Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

> [Although the outlook is clouded by a number of uncertainties, the central tendencies of the projections .. imply continued good economic performance in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/although-the-outlook-is-clouded-by-a-number-of-uncertainties-the/)

[Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

> [At the outset of the creation of the euro in 1999, it was expected that the southern eurozone economies would behave like those in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/at-the-outset-of-the-creation-of-the-euro-in-1999-it-was-expected/)

[Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

> [We may be in a rapidly evolving international financial system with all the bells and whistles of the so-called new economy. But the old-economy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/we-may-be-in-a-rapidly-evolving-international-financial-system-with/)

[Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

> [The guiding purpose of the government regulator is to prevent rather than to create something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/the-guiding-purpose-of-the-government-regulator-is-to-prevent-rather/)

[Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

> [“government regulation cannot substitute for individual integrity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/government-regulation-cannot-substitute-for-individual-integrity/)

[Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

> [...our market system depends critically on trust-trust in the word of our colleagues and trust in the word of those with whom we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/our-market-system-depends-critically-on-trust-trust-in-the-word-of/)

[Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

> [It's hard to overemphasize how important Ford's deregulation was. True, most of the benefits took years to unfold-rail freight rates, for example hardly budged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/it-s-hard-to-overemphasize-how-important-ford-s-deregulation-was-true/)

[Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

[Explore all 204 Alan Greenspan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

## More Action quotes

> [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/)

[Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/)

> [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/)

[Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/)

> [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/)

[William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/)

> [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/)

[Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/)

> [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/)

[Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/)

> [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/)

[Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/)

> [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/)

[Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/)

> [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/)

[Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/)

> [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

[Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If we allow terrorism to undermine our freedom of action, we could reverse at least part of the palpable gains achieved by postwar globalization. It is incumbent upon us not to allow that to happen.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Alan Greenspan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/if-we-allow-terrorism-to-undermine-our-freedom-of-action-we-could/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Action"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/if-we-allow-terrorism-to-undermine-our-freedom-of-action-we-could/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef7/alan-greenspan-1834_action_if-we-allow-terrorism-to-undermine-our-f_1381124.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef7/alan-greenspan-1834_action_if-we-allow-terrorism-to-undermine-our-f_1381124.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef7/alan-greenspan-1834_action_if-we-allow-terrorism-to-undermine-our-f_1381124.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If we allow terrorism to undermine our freedom of action, we could reverse at least part of the palpable…” — Alan Greenspan",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Alan Greenspan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If we allow terrorism to undermine...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/if-we-allow-terrorism-to-undermine-our-freedom-of-action-we-could/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/if-we-allow-terrorism-to-undermine-our-freedom-of-action-we-could/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
