--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: America has not the option as to whether…" description: "\"“America has not the option as to whether it will or it will not play a great part in the world,” Roosevelt would argue. “It must play a great part. Al..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a4/barack-obama-17_america_america-has-not-the-option-as-to-whether_2522745.jpg" --- # America has not the option as to whether it will or it… ![“America has not the option as to whether it will or it will not play a great part in the world,” Roosevelt would argue. “It must play a great part. All that it can decide is whether it will play that part well or badly.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a4/barack-obama-17_america_america-has-not-the-option-as-to-whether_2522745.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a4/barack-obama-17_america_america-has-not-the-option-as-to-whether_2522745.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a4/barack-obama-17_america_america-has-not-the-option-as-to-whether_2522745.jpg) > ““America has not the option as to whether it will or it will not play a great part in the world,” Roosevelt would argue. “It must play a great part. All that it can decide is whether it will play that part well or badly.”” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. America must actively choose a significant global role and strive to fulfill it responsibly. **In simple terms:** The US must act globally and do it well. Key Takeaway Commit to responsible global leadership. Themes leadership responsibility global affairs national identity Mood determined reflective Type political inspirational When to use this quote - foreign policy planning - international negotiations - national strategy meetings - public discourse - educational curricula Key Concepts political philosophy realism idealism Questions to Reflect On - How can the US balance global duties with internal needs? - What defines “playing a part well”? 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I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More America 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/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! 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