---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the main lessons I have learned…"
description: "\"One of the main lessons I have learned during my five years as Secretary-General is that broad partnerships are the key to solving broad challenges. Wh..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/ban-ki-moon-1778_achieve_one-of-the-main-lessons-i-have-learned-d_600352.png"
---

#  One of the main lessons I have learned during my five…

![“One of the main lessons I have learned during my five years as Secretary-General is that broad partnerships are the key to solving broad challenges. When governments, the United Nations, businesses, philanthropies and civil society work hand-in-hand, we can achieve great things.” quote by Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/ban-ki-moon-1778_achieve_one-of-the-main-lessons-i-have-learned-d_600352.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/ban-ki-moon-1778_achieve_one-of-the-main-lessons-i-have-learned-d_600352.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/ban-ki-moon-1778_achieve_one-of-the-main-lessons-i-have-learned-d_600352.png)

> “One of the main lessons I have learned during my five years as Secretary-General is that broad partnerships are the key to solving broad challenges. When governments, the United Nations, businesses, philanthropies and civil society work hand-in-hand, we can achieve great things.”

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

## About This Quote

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

Collaboration across sectors is essential to tackle large‑scale problems effectively.

**In simple terms:** Working together solves big issues.

Key Takeaway

Build diverse partnerships.

Themes

cooperation global challenges multistakeholder leadership sustainability

Mood

optimistic determined

Type

inspirational policy

When to use this quote

- climate policy
- humanitarian aid
- global health initiatives
- development projects

Key Concepts

public‑private partnerships collective action systems thinking

Questions to Reflect On

- How can power imbalances be managed?
- What incentives foster genuine collaboration?

A Different Perspective

Complex coordination can stall progress.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Civil society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-society/) [Great things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-things/) [Hand in hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hand-in-hand/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Partnerships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/partnerships/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [United nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-nations/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/)

## Related quotes

> [One of the main lessons I have learned the last five years as Secretary-General is that the United Nations cannot function properly without the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/one-of-the-main-lessons-i-have-learned-the-last-five-years-as/)

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

> [From the beginning of my time as Secretary-General, I have sought to advance a practical, action-oriented vision of the U.N. as the voice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/from-the-beginning-of-my-time-as-secretary-general-i-have-sought-to/)

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

> [Gender equality and women's empowerment have been a top priority for me from day one as Secretary-General. And I am committed to making sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/gender-equality-and-women-s-empowerment-have-been-a-top-priority-for/)

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

> [Since I became Secretary-General, five years ago, I have seen youth participate at the United Nations as never before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/since-i-became-secretary-general-five-years-ago-i-have-seen-youth/)

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

> [As I prepare for my second term as Secretary-General, I am thinking hard about how we can meet the expectations of the millions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/as-i-prepare-for-my-second-term-as-secretary-general-i-am-thinking/)

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

> [I grew up in war and saw the United Nations help my country to recover and rebuild. That experience was a big part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/i-grew-up-in-war-and-saw-the-united-nations-help-my-country-to/)

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

> [I take very seriously my responsibility as Secretary-General to make sure that the United Nations is doing everything it can to uphold the universal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/i-take-very-seriously-my-responsibility-as-secretary-general-to-make/)

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

> [The threat from cyber criminals and nation states continues to grow. So we need to forge closer partnerships with industry, academia and civil society,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/the-threat-from-cyber-criminals-and-nation-states-continues-to-grow/)

[David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/)

> [Building sustainable cities - and a sustainable future - will need open dialogue among all branches of national, regional and local government. And it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/building-sustainable-cities-and-a-sustainable-future-will-need-open/)

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

> [Women hold up more than half the sky and represent much of the world's unrealized potential. They are the educators. They raise the children.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/women-hold-up-more-than-half-the-sky-and-represent-much-of-the-world/)

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

> [To understand my feelings — and my conception of the role of Secretary General — the nature of my religious and cultural background must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u-thant/to-understand-my-feelings-and-my-conception-of-the-role-of-secretary/)

[U Thant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u-thant/)

> [Indeed, it is a common goal to create a stronger United Nations able to meet the multitude of expectations placed upon it. To that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miroslav-lajcak/indeed-it-is-a-common-goal-to-create-a-stronger-united-nations-able/)

[Miroslav Lajcak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miroslav-lajcak/)

> [I would say I need two things: the first one is to be objective in every statement he could make regarding any conflict around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/i-would-say-i-need-two-things-the-first-one-is-to-be-objective-in/)

[Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/)

> [There is firm support in the Swedish society for the United Nations and, of course, for the Secretary-General Kofi Annan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goran-persson/there-is-firm-support-in-the-swedish-society-for-the-united-nations/)

[Goran Persson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goran-persson/)

> [If the U.N. secretary-general withdraws the inspectors from Baghdad ... this means that the secretary-general has abandoned its own responsibility in maintaining peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naji-sabri/if-the-u-n-secretary-general-withdraws-the-inspectors-from-baghdad/)

[Naji Sabri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naji-sabri/)

## More by Ban Ki-moon

> [Planet Earth is our shared island, let us join forces to protect it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/planet-earth-is-our-shared-island-let-us-join-forces-to-protect-it/)

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

> [My observation is China is thinking more as a global player than regionally, in both politics and economics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/my-observation-is-china-is-thinking-more-as-a-global-player-than/)

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

> [With her courage and determination, Malala has shown what terrorists fear most: a girl with a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/with-her-courage-and-determination-malala-has-shown-what-terrorists/)

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

> [I have been, and will remain, outspoken in my insistence that Israel has a right to live in peace and security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/i-have-been-and-will-remain-outspoken-in-my-insistence-that-israel/)

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

> [Building sustainable cities - and a sustainable future - will need open dialogue among all branches of national, regional and local government. And it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/building-sustainable-cities-and-a-sustainable-future-will-need-open/)

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

> [We must follow the wisdom of the Brundtland Report. We must pursue development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/we-must-follow-the-wisdom-of-the-brundtland-report-we-must-pursue/)

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

> [We have reached a new milestone as a human family. With seven billion of us now inhabiting our planet, it is time to ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/we-have-reached-a-new-milestone-as-a-human-family-with-seven-billion/)

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

> [Grave security concerns can arise as a result of demographic trends, chronic poverty, economic inequality, environmental degradation, pandemic diseases, organized crime, repressive governance and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/grave-security-concerns-can-arise-as-a-result-of-demographic-trends/)

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

> [Some might complain that nuclear disarmament is little more than a dream. But that ignores the very tangible benefits disarmament would bring for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/some-might-complain-that-nuclear-disarmament-is-little-more-than-a/)

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

> [On this International Day for the Abolition of Slavery let us reaffirm the inherent dignity of all men, women and children. And let us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/on-this-international-day-for-the-abolition-of-slavery-let-us/)

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

> [I believe that the topic of chemical weapons is critically important for international peace and security, and I take note of the ongoing debate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/i-believe-that-the-topic-of-chemical-weapons-is-critically-important/)

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

> [Achieving gender equality requires the engagement of women and men, girls and boys. It is everyone's responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/achieving-gender-equality-requires-the-engagement-of-women-and-men/)

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

> [Three decades into this crisis, let us set our sights on achieving the "three zeros" zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/three-decades-into-this-crisis-let-us-set-our-sights-on-achieving-the/)

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

> [Businesses succeed when societies themselves succeed. When countries are affected by violence and the absence of the rule of law, business can and must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/businesses-succeed-when-societies-themselves-succeed-when-countries/)

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

> [New York is one of the greatest cities in the world. It is a fitting host to its many international visitors, who can come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/new-york-is-one-of-the-greatest-cities-in-the-world-it-is-a-fitting/)

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

[Explore all 209 Ban Ki-moon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

## More Achieve 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/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/)

[Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/)

> [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/)

[Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/)

> [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/)

[Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/)

> [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/)

[Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/)

> [I'm a film guy. I love it. When I read the screenplay, I knew that there would be no HD camera that could achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-taylor/i-m-a-film-guy-i-love-it-when-i-read-the-screenplay-i-knew-that-there/)

Deon Taylor

> [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/)

Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera

> [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/)

[Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/)

> [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/)

[Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/)

> [Governments follow their people. A great deal has to do with the vision of the leadership of governments. They have a vision, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khurshid/governments-follow-their-people-a-great-deal-has-to-do-with-the/)

[Salman Khurshid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khurshid/)

> [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power &amp; movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/)

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

> [If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/if-your-only-goal-is-to-become-rich-you-will-never-achieve-it/)

[John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/)

> [To achieve something you've never achieved before, you must become someone you've never been before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubham-joshi/to-achieve-something-you-ve-never-achieved-before-you-must-become/)

[Shubham Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubham-joshi/)

> [I've identified as bisexual since I was a teenager, and if we want to achieve equality for all in our policies, we need more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-hill/i-ve-identified-as-bisexual-since-i-was-a-teenager-and-if-we-want-to/)

[Katie Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-hill/)

Browse all 6,390 Achieve quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "One of the main lessons I have learned during my five years as Secretary-General is that broad partnerships are the key to solving broad challenges. When governments, the United Nations, businesses, philanthropies and civil society work hand-in-hand, we can achieve great things.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ban Ki-moon"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/one-of-the-main-lessons-i-have-learned-during-my-five-years-as/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Achieve"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/one-of-the-main-lessons-i-have-learned-during-my-five-years-as/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/ban-ki-moon-1778_achieve_one-of-the-main-lessons-i-have-learned-d_600352.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/ban-ki-moon-1778_achieve_one-of-the-main-lessons-i-have-learned-d_600352.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/ban-ki-moon-1778_achieve_one-of-the-main-lessons-i-have-learned-d_600352.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“One of the main lessons I have learned during my five years as Secretary-General is that broad partnerships…” — Ban Ki-moon",
                "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": "Ban Ki-moon",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "One of the main lessons I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/one-of-the-main-lessons-i-have-learned-during-my-five-years-as/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/one-of-the-main-lessons-i-have-learned-during-my-five-years-as/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
