--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Over many years, the United States has…" description: "\"Over many years, the United States has worked to persuade and compel governments around the world to abide by the rules. By spurning our own rules, we ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05f/anthony-lewis-25023_abide_over-many-years-the-united-states-has-wo_843664.jpg" --- # Over many years, the United States has worked to persuade… ![“Over many years, the United States has worked to persuade and compel governments around the world to abide by the rules. By spurning our own rules, we put that effort at risk.” quote by Anthony Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05f/anthony-lewis-25023_abide_over-many-years-the-united-states-has-wo_843664.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05f/anthony-lewis-25023_abide_over-many-years-the-united-states-has-wo_843664.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05f/anthony-lewis-25023_abide_over-many-years-the-united-states-has-wo_843664.jpg) > “Over many years, the United States has worked to persuade and compel governments around the world to abide by the rules. By spurning our own rules, we put that effort at risk.” [Anthony Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Countries must follow shared rules; abandoning them undermines collective effort. **In simple terms:** Following rules builds trust; breaking them harms cooperation. Key Takeaway Uphold standards to protect collaborative goals. Themes governance trust international relations Mood serious analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - diplomatic negotiations - global treaties - national legislation Key Concepts rule of law collective action policy consistency Questions to Reflect On - How can nations enforce rules without imposing dominance? - What mechanisms ensure accountability? A Different Perspective Political realities may force compromises that appear contradictory. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Around the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/) [Compel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compel/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Governments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governments/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Government intervention is not solving the problems, and in fact the governments around the world that are intervening the most in their economies are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-demille/government-intervention-is-not-solving-the-problems-and-in-fact-the/) [Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) > [Learning from the American experience, governments around the world have developed national innovation policies and programs to accelerate their economic prosperity and to help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hormats/learning-from-the-american-experience-governments-around-the-world/) [Robert Hormats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hormats/) > [What can be done? 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It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-lewis/attacking-the-indecency-of-life-in-much-of-the-southern-hemisphere-is/) [Anthony Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-lewis/) > [I'm a pro-capitalist, middle-of-the-road, tepid centrist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-lewis/i-m-a-pro-capitalist-middle-of-the-road-tepid-centrist/) [Anthony Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-lewis/) > [Faith in reason was the foundation stone of the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-lewis/faith-in-reason-was-the-foundation-stone-of-the-united-states/) [Anthony Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-lewis/) > [The only way to security for Israel and a humane life for Palestinians in their own land is political. 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We showed that in restoring wounded economies abroad after World War II, even those of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-lewis/americans-we-passionately-believe-are-a-humane-people-we-showed-that/) [Anthony Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-lewis/) [Explore all 23 Anthony Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-lewis/) ## More Abide quotes > [If there is an abiding theme in 'The Pursuit of Happiness,' it is the idea that you come into the world already shaped by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-kennedy/if-there-is-an-abiding-theme-in-the-pursuit-of-happiness-it-is-the/) [Douglas Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-kennedy/) > [All that is beautiful shall abide, All that is base shall die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-williams-buchanan/all-that-is-beautiful-shall-abide-all-that-is-base-shall-die/) [Robert Williams Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-williams-buchanan/) > [I cannot abide being bored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/i-cannot-abide-being-bored/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [You're president, if you conclude my judgment is not the right judgment, I abide by that, but I want an opportunity to have an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/you-re-president-if-you-conclude-my-judgment-is-not-the-right/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Abide in peace, banish cares, take no account of all that happens, and you will serve God according to his good pleasure and rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/abide-in-peace-banish-cares-take-no-account-of-all-that-happens-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Hope abides; therefore I abide. Countless frustrations have not cowed me. I am still alive, vibrant with life. The black cloud will disappear, The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/hope-abides-therefore-i-abide-countless-frustrations-have-not-cowed/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [“The simple rule to abide by and become excellent is that “Don’t see what you have achieved yesterday with the same pleasure eyes you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-simple-rule-to-abide-by-and-become-excellent-is-that-don-t-see/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Making improvements to our background check system and cracking down on illegal gun trafficking are common-sense ways to prevent violence without punishing law abiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-heinrich/making-improvements-to-our-background-check-system-and-cracking-down/) [Martin Heinrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-heinrich/) > [Things well fitted abide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/things-well-fitted-abide/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [The owners said that they wanted the salary cap and refused to promise that they would abide by the rules of the just-expired contract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cone/the-owners-said-that-they-wanted-the-salary-cap-and-refused-to/) [David Cone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cone/) > [It matters not to me what I do, or what I suffer, so long as I abide loveingly united to God's will - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-lawrence/it-matters-not-to-me-what-i-do-or-what-i-suffer-so-long-as-i-abide/) [Brother Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-lawrence/) > [At 86, I can easily look back to the last eight decades. Though memory often fails me now, so many images of the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/at-86-i-can-easily-look-back-to-the-last-eight-decades-though-memory/) [F. Sionil Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) > [If we do not abide in prayer, we will abide in temptation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/if-we-do-not-abide-in-prayer-we-will-abide-in-temptation/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [My abiding theme is separations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-rossner/my-abiding-theme-is-separations/) [Judith Rossner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-rossner/) > [Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide; When other helpers fail, and comforts flee, Help of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-francis-lyte/abide-with-me-fast-falls-the-eventide-the-darkness-deepens-lord-with/) [Henry Francis Lyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-francis-lyte/) Browse all 104 Abide quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Over many years, the United States has worked to persuade and compel governments around the world to abide by the rules. 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