--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But today, just a few years into the…" description: "\"But today, just a few years into the twenty-first century, we already find ourselves in a different and precarious position. As revolutions in communic..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d3/barack-obama-17_barriers_but-today-just-a-few-years-into-the-twen_1374820.jpg" --- # But today, just a few years into the twenty-first century… ![“But today, just a few years into the twenty-first century, we already find ourselves in a different and precarious position. As revolutions in communications and technology have broken down barriers across the world, it has given more power to both our competitors and our enemies.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d3/barack-obama-17_barriers_but-today-just-a-few-years-into-the-twen_1374820.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d3/barack-obama-17_barriers_but-today-just-a-few-years-into-the-twen_1374820.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d3/barack-obama-17_barriers_but-today-just-a-few-years-into-the-twen_1374820.jpg) > “But today, just a few years into the twenty-first century, we already find ourselves in a different and precarious position. As revolutions in communications and technology have broken down barriers across the world, it has given more power to both our competitors and our enemies.” [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. The world is becoming more interconnected, making both allies and adversaries stronger and more capable. **In simple terms:** Global connectivity increases both opportunities and threats. Key Takeaway Recognize and adapt to the changing power dynamics. Themes globalization security technology competition Mood cautious analytical forward‑looking Type policy strategic analytical When to use this quote - business strategy - foreign policy - cybersecurity - diplomacy - risk assessment Key Concepts interdependence strategic risk information flow Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance openness with security? - What safeguards are needed for emerging technologies? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on threats can cause paranoia and hinder cooperation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Barriers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barriers/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Twenties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twenties/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [In this world we are in precarious position, balanced midway between material and spiritual hungers. We find heaven to be a delicate state of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-klemp/in-this-world-we-are-in-precarious-position-balanced-midway-between/) [Harold Klemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-klemp/) > [You can get fixed ideas, and it can get restrictive. So, I try to put myself in a precarious position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merce-cunningham/you-can-get-fixed-ideas-and-it-can-get-restrictive-so-i-try-to-put/) [Merce Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merce-cunningham/) > [Breaking those barriers all over the world was not an easy thing. Yesterday your mouth was shut yeah couldn't make a sound eh boy?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucky-dube/breaking-those-barriers-all-over-the-world-was-not-an-easy-thing/) [Lucky Dube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucky-dube/) > [We're standing on the shoulders of so many people who have already broken down so many barriers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indya-moore/we-re-standing-on-the-shoulders-of-so-many-people-who-have-already/) [Indya Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indya-moore/) > [To get to play a man that has broken walls, that's broken barriers, that's an honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-segarra/to-get-to-play-a-man-that-has-broken-walls-that-s-broken-barriers/) [Josh Segarra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-segarra/) > [“As Chomsky explains, this is part of a wider movement to separate the population into two groups: the “plutonomy” and the “precariat.” The uber-wealthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-mayshark/as-chomsky-explains-this-is-part-of-a-wider-movement-to-separate-the/) [Loren Mayshark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-mayshark/) > [One of my pet peeves is that when people are in their automobiles, I think they're exceptionally rude on the road. I would love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-carmack/one-of-my-pet-peeves-is-that-when-people-are-in-their-automobiles-i/) [Chris Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-carmack/) > [Fans decide what pop culture is. We can define ourselves. Music and the presentation of art nowadays is totally in our control, with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-jane-grace/fans-decide-what-pop-culture-is-we-can-define-ourselves-music-and-the/) [Laura Jane Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-jane-grace/) > [... we have broken down the self-respecting spirit of man with nursery tales and priestly threats, and we dare to assert, that inproportion as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-wright/we-have-broken-down-the-self-respecting-spirit-of-man-with-nursery/) [Frances Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-wright/) > [The most important part of vehicle maintenance is clean windows, so if you are broken down you will enjoy the beauty of the view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-eldon/the-most-important-part-of-vehicle-maintenance-is-clean-windows-so-if/) [Dan Eldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-eldon/) > [And if I know anything at all, it's that a wall is just a wall and nothing more at all. It can be broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assata-shakur/and-if-i-know-anything-at-all-it-s-that-a-wall-is-just-a-wall-and/) [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) > [The constitution has broken down. We have no enemies except the ones we select and direct towards the nearest nuclear bombs. They need an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/the-constitution-has-broken-down-we-have-no-enemies-except-the-ones/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [... life is broken down into these stages: you're born and you don't know how anything works; gradually you find out how everything works;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/life-is-broken-down-into-these-stages-you-re-born-and-you-don-t-know/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [I like paper statements rather than relying on computers. I feel more in control if my account details and transactions are broken down on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-capes/i-like-paper-statements-rather-than-relying-on-computers-i-feel-more/) [Geoff Capes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-capes/) > [We are in a crisis today because the practical consensus between the left and the right, linking economic efficiency with social protection, has broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-glucksmann/we-are-in-a-crisis-today-because-the-practical-consensus-between-the/) Andre Glucksmann ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. 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 Barriers quotes > [Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" said Hermione as they got off the train and joined the crowd thronging toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-aunt-and-uncle-will-be-proud-though-won-t-they-said-hermione-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The gear you can't afford is not the barrier keeping you from success. Gear has very little to do with photography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chase-jarvis/the-gear-you-can-t-afford-is-not-the-barrier-keeping-you-from-success/) [Chase Jarvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chase-jarvis/) > [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/) [Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/) > [The "health, education, and welfare" section of government is another boondoggle. First we manufacture indigent and superfluous people by legal monopolies in land, money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurance-labadie/the-health-education-and-welfare-section-of-government-is-another/) [Laurance Labadie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurance-labadie/) > [Security is a component of everyday life that one spending time in Washington, D.C., gets accustomed to. Metal detectors, police vehicle barriers and heavily-armed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-crapo/security-is-a-component-of-everyday-life-that-one-spending-time-in/) [Mike Crapo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-crapo/) > [The biggest obstacles to our progress exist within our own lives in the form of cowardice and the tendency to give up. Breaking through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/the-biggest-obstacles-to-our-progress-exist-within-our-own-lives-in/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [I feel that there are a few things in the world without cultural barriers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/i-feel-that-there-are-a-few-things-in-the-world-without-cultural/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [English literature is a glorious inheritance which is open to all - there are no barriers, no coupons, and no restrictions. In the English…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/english-literature-is-a-glorious-inheritance-which-is-open-to-all/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Friendship embraces innumerable ends; turn where you will it is ever at your side; no barrier shuts it out; it is never untimely and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/friendship-embraces-innumerable-ends-turn-where-you-will-it-is-ever/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [I've cosponsored legislation to establish a lend-lease program to simplify bureaucratic barriers and allow a speedier transfer of U.S. military equipment to Ukraine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/i-ve-cosponsored-legislation-to-establish-a-lend-lease-program-to/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [Don't be afraid of what you want. This is your time. The barriers are down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/don-t-be-afraid-of-what-you-want-this-is-your-time-the-barriers-are/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [Fear is the single biggest barrier to creativity. Unless we're brave enough to risk looking foolish, we'll inevitably find ourselves sticking to the status…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-linkner/fear-is-the-single-biggest-barrier-to-creativity-unless-we-re-brave/) [Josh Linkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-linkner/) > [He looked at my lips. I suddenly found myself wanting to lick his. 'Yes,' he replied, his eyes going molten. My breath caught in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-macalister/he-looked-at-my-lips-i-suddenly-found-myself-wanting-to-lick-his-yes/) [Katie MacAlister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-macalister/) > [What do you have to surrender? A drop has to dissolve into the ocean to become the ocean. And a drop cannot be greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/what-do-you-have-to-surrender-a-drop-has-to-dissolve-into-the-ocean/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [“One way to generate a precise customer value proposition is to think about the four most common barriers keeping people from getting particular jobs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-w-johnson/one-way-to-generate-a-precise-customer-value-proposition-is-to-think/) [Mark W. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-w-johnson/) [Browse all 1,191 Barriers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barriers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But today, just a few years into the twenty-first century, we already find ourselves in a different and precarious position. 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