--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The folly and hubris of the policy makers…" description: "\"The folly and hubris of the policy makers who heedlessly thrust the nation into an ill-defined and open-ended 'global war on terror' without the foggie..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/265/anonymous-1_cost_the-folly-and-hubris-of-the-policy-maker_1171255.jpg" --- # The folly and hubris of the policy makers who heedlessly… ![“The folly and hubris of the policy makers who heedlessly thrust the nation into an ill-defined and open-ended 'global war on terror' without the foggiest notion of what victory would look like, how it would be won, and what it might cost approached standards hitherto achieved only by slightly mad…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/265/anonymous-1_cost_the-folly-and-hubris-of-the-policy-maker_1171255.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/265/anonymous-1_cost_the-folly-and-hubris-of-the-policy-maker_1171255.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/265/anonymous-1_cost_the-folly-and-hubris-of-the-policy-maker_1171255.jpg) > “The folly and hubris of the policy makers who heedlessly thrust the nation into an ill-defined and open-ended 'global war on terror' without the foggiest notion of what victory would look like, how it would be won, and what it might cost approached standards hitherto achieved only by slightly mad German warlords.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Policy decisions made without clear goals lead to endless conflict and hidden costs. **In simple terms:** Unclear goals cause endless war. Key Takeaway Demand clear objectives before action. Themes policy war strategy Mood critical skeptical Type analytical political When to use this quote - government decision making - military intervention - public debate Key Concepts strategic planning risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - What defines victory in such conflicts? - How can accountability be enforced? A Different Perspective Complex issues often lack simple solutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cost/) [Folly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folly/) [Folly Hubris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folly-hubris-3396477/) [German Warlords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/german-warlords-3396478/) [Hubris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hubris/) [Hubris Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hubris-policy-3396479/) [Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Mad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mad/) [Makers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makers/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Notion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notion/) [Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy/) [Policy makers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy-makers/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Terror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terror/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War on terror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-on-terror/) [War Terror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-terror/) [Warlords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warlords/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [ Somewhere in, I think, the back of the mind of some \[education\] policy makers is this idea that if we fine-tune it well enough,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/somewhere-in-i-think-the-back-of-the-mind-of-some-education-policy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I believe the war on terror is the vital discussion of this decade and of our generation, probably. To win the war on terror,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-believe-the-war-on-terror-is-the-vital-discussion-of-this-decade/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Similarly, today, we do not know what will happen as we wage the War on Terror. We do know that we can count on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/similarly-today-we-do-not-know-what-will-happen-as-we-wage-the-war-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You're not as much of a lost cause as she was. I mean, with her, I had to overcome her deep, epic love with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/you-re-not-as-much-of-a-lost-cause-as-she-was-i-mean-with-her-i-had/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Return to Shaoshan I regret the passing, the dying, of the vague dream: my native orchards thirty-two years ago. 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The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/i-returned-to-kabul-after-a-27-year-absence-i-came-away-with-some/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [I guess that when you invade a nation of warlords, you end up having to deal with warlords.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dale-scott/i-guess-that-when-you-invade-a-nation-of-warlords-you-end-up-having/) [Peter Dale Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dale-scott/) > [Leadership is the sum of those qualities of intellect, human understanding, and moral character that enables a person to inspire and control a group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-lejeune/leadership-is-the-sum-of-those-qualities-of-intellect-human/) [John A. Lejeune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-lejeune/) > [In order to assure an adequate national defense, it is necessary - and sufficient - to be in a position in case of war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giulio-douhet/in-order-to-assure-an-adequate-national-defense-it-is-necessary-and/) [Giulio Douhet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giulio-douhet/) > [“History would be boring without conquerors, bloodthirsty warlords and saviors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miltiades-varvounis/history-would-be-boring-without-conquerors-bloodthirsty-warlords-and/) [Miltiades Varvounis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miltiades-varvounis/) > [And if our goal as moral citizens is to make the world a better place, then there is only once choice: to pump as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-levant/and-if-our-goal-as-moral-citizens-is-to-make-the-world-a-better-place/) [Ezra Levant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-levant/) > [A lot of what a military officer does is not just leading troops in combat. It's also doing budgets. It's solving complex problems. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zinke/a-lot-of-what-a-military-officer-does-is-not-just-leading-troops-in/) [Ryan Zinke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zinke/) > [For all the criticism about warlords, it is now likely that Afghanistan will never again be turned over to al Qaeda to train thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-davis-hanson/for-all-the-criticism-about-warlords-it-is-now-likely-that/) [Victor Davis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-davis-hanson/) > [“The truth is that banks are the last feudal kingdoms, their rulers omnipotent, divine warlords. Their key lieutenants are 'ronin' (wandering mercenary samurai) who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satyajit-das/the-truth-is-that-banks-are-the-last-feudal-kingdoms-their-rulers/) [Satyajit Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satyajit-das/) > [Wars--and what is war except crime on a mass scale?--destroy rather than produce. The vandal that destroys a window causes not only the owner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-young/wars-and-what-is-war-except-crime-on-a-mass-scale-destroy-rather-than/) [Adam Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-young/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Cost quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. 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