Ability Quote by Barack Obama
“The values that we talked about, the values democracy and free speech and international norms and rule of law, respecting the ability of other countries to determine their own destiny and preserve their sovereignty and territorial integrity. Things are not something that we can set aside.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Address to the United Nations General Assembly, 2015
Upholding democratic values, free speech, and international law is essential; sovereignty and self‑determination must be respected.
In simple terms: Respect democracy, free speech, and law; honor other nations’ sovereignty.
Key Takeaway
Defend democratic norms and sovereignty.
Themes
democracy
free speech
sovereignty
international law
norms
Mood
serious
hopeful
Type
political
inspirational
When to use this quote
- diplomacy
- policy making
- international negotiations
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
human rights
rule of law
self‑determination
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we enforce international norms without infringing sovereignty?
- What mechanisms protect free speech globally?
A Different Perspective
Balancing national interests with global norms can be contentious.
![“That is another theme in the book [Dreams from My Father]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we get the black to see through the eyes of the white? Or the citizen to see through the eyes of the immigrant? Or the straight to see through the eyes of the gay? That has…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/00d/barack-obama-17_black_that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams_10185.jpg)
