--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have hopes that we can see rational…" description: "\"We have hopes that we can see rational American presidents; fair, obey the international law, deal with other countries according to mutual respect, pa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/bashar-al-assad-1027_american-president_we-have-hopes-that-we-can-see-rational-a_277165.jpg" --- # We have hopes that we can see rational American… ![“We have hopes that we can see rational American presidents; fair, obey the international law, deal with other countries according to mutual respect, parity, etc., but we all know that this is only wishful thinking and fantasy.” quote by Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/bashar-al-assad-1027_american-president_we-have-hopes-that-we-can-see-rational-a_277165.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/bashar-al-assad-1027_american-president_we-have-hopes-that-we-can-see-rational-a_277165.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/bashar-al-assad-1027_american-president_we-have-hopes-that-we-can-see-rational-a_277165.jpg) > “We have hopes that we can see rational American presidents; fair, obey the international law, deal with other countries according to mutual respect, parity, etc., but we all know that this is only wishful thinking and fantasy.” [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Idealistic expectations of global leadership clash with harsh political realities, revealing optimism may be unrealistic. **In simple terms:** We hope leaders are fair, but it’s often wishful thinking. Key Takeaway Balance hope with pragmatic analysis. Themes politics idealism realism Mood cautious skeptical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - diplomacy - public opinion Key Concepts international law power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What evidence challenges your political hopes? - How can you stay hopeful without ignoring reality? A Different Perspective Optimism can blind us to necessary caution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American president](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-president/) [American Presidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-presidents/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Deals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deals/) [Etc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/etc/) [Fairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairs/) [Fantasy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy/) [Having hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-hope/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Hopes Rational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hopes-rational-2697740/) [International](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international/) [International law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international-law/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Mutual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutual/) [Mutual respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutual-respect/) [Other countries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/other-countries/) [Parity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parity/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Rational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational/) [Rational American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational-american-1371709/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wishful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wishful/) [Wishful thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wishful-thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I cannot see that any rational American. . . could conceivably try to fulfill the major national purposes of the United States through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lichenstein/i-cannot-see-that-any-rational-american-could-conceivably-try-to/) [Charles Lichenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lichenstein/) > [The zestful but scientific exploration of possibilities and of the techniques for realizing them will make our hopes rational, and will set our ideals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-huxley/the-zestful-but-scientific-exploration-of-possibilities-and-of-the/) [Julian Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-huxley/) > [In fact, American presidents never apologize for what America does in war, because in the American mind, all its wars are defensive, always fought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/in-fact-american-presidents-never-apologize-for-what-america-does-in/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [Successive American presidents have turned a blind eye to piles of evidence that Saudi money is being used to foment holy war against America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/successive-american-presidents-have-turned-a-blind-eye-to-piles-of/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [Few American presidents have been unhappier or lonelier in office than Woodrow Wilson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-lepore/few-american-presidents-have-been-unhappier-or-lonelier-in-office/) [Jill Lepore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-lepore/) > [“Abraham Lincoln is usually regarded as the greatest of all American presidents. When experts rated the presidents on the desire to please others and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/abraham-lincoln-is-usually-regarded-as-the-greatest-of-all-american/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [Few American presidents are held in higher esteem than Thomas Jefferson. Though historians have scrutinized every phase of his long public career and found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/few-american-presidents-are-held-in-higher-esteem-than-thomas/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [Kings and queens are expected to have offspring to carry on the name. There are no such demands on American presidents, but there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beschloss/kings-and-queens-are-expected-to-have-offspring-to-carry-on-the-name/) [Michael Beschloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beschloss/) > [All of the American presidents, certainly all of the notable ones, have been pretty original.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-knowles/all-of-the-american-presidents-certainly-all-of-the-notable-ones-have/) [Michael J. Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-knowles/) > [To give credit to Lincoln for moral progression seems beyond the facts and unnecessary for our appreciation of this arguably greatest of all American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-kaplan/to-give-credit-to-lincoln-for-moral-progression-seems-beyond-the/) [Fred Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-kaplan/) > [Futurism is another American myth: whether Kennedy, Johnson, Reagan or Obama, American presidents all come into office with a new program, and the conviction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/futurism-is-another-american-myth-whether-kennedy-johnson-reagan-or/) [James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/) > [American presidents get to make lots of choices, with one critical exception: what awaits them in the in-box on top of the desk in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/american-presidents-get-to-make-lots-of-choices-with-one-critical/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [“Lessons for Leaders Humor is one of the most effective leadership tools. The ability to use humor skillfully has served American presidents with political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-n-t-perkins/lessons-for-leaders-humor-is-one-of-the-most-effective-leadership/) [Dennis N. T. Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-n-t-perkins/) > [Intelligence has been commoner among American Presidents than high character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-mencken/intelligence-has-been-commoner-among-american-presidents-than-high/) [Henry Louis Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-mencken/) > [When American presidents prepare for foreign wars, they lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/when-american-presidents-prepare-for-foreign-wars-they-lie/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) ## More by Bashar al-Assad > [Lebanon was under Israeli occupation, up to its capital, but we did not consider that a disaster. Why? Because it was very clear that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/lebanon-was-under-israeli-occupation-up-to-its-capital-but-we-did-not/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [I never rejected any responsibility, but that depends on the decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/i-never-rejected-any-responsibility-but-that-depends-on-the-decision/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [If you are going to be a mediator or arbitrator you have to be in the middle between the two sides; you cannot take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/if-you-are-going-to-be-a-mediator-or-arbitrator-you-have-to-be-in-the/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [ The other thing we did as government is to open gates for the civilians to leave that \[ eastern part\] area \[in Aleppo\], and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/the-other-thing-we-did-as-government-is-to-open-gates-for-the/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [ This war \[in Syria\] is going to support Al-Qaeda and the same people that killed Americans in the 11th of September. The second thing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/this-war-in-syria-is-going-to-support-al-qaeda-and-the-same-people/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [Freedom and democracy are nothing but instruments, just like stability. The goal is called progress and growth. Anyone who puts freedom ahead of stability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/freedom-and-democracy-are-nothing-but-instruments-just-like-stability/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [ I will tell \[Barack Obama\] very simply : present what you have as evidence to the public, be transparent. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/i-will-tell-barack-obama-very-simply-present-what-you-have-as/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [ \[Enemies of Syria\] are the enemies of the people and the enemies of God. And the enemies of God will go to hell. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/enemies-of-syria-are-the-enemies-of-the-people-and-the-enemies-of-god/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [The problem is not the occupation, but how people deal with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/the-problem-is-not-the-occupation-but-how-people-deal-with-it/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [The first question that I ask : do I have public support or not. That is the first question that I asked as President.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/the-first-question-that-i-ask-do-i-have-public-support-or-not-that-is/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [The criteria or the paradigm for us is not the West, not the Western paradigm, because the West has its own culture, we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/the-criteria-or-the-paradigm-for-us-is-not-the-west-not-the-western/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [ \[It is important\] to have stability and to have security, which means humanitarian equals fighting terrorists. You cannot talk about humanitarian aid and supporting… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/it-is-important-to-have-stability-and-to-have-security-which-means/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [Iran doesn't have any soldier in Syria, so how could Iran help me ?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/iran-doesn-t-have-any-soldier-in-syria-so-how-could-iran-help-me/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [Conversely, it is correct to say that bringing about peace would be the best way to fight terror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/conversely-it-is-correct-to-say-that-bringing-about-peace-would-be/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [The hope for an American is different from the hope of a Syrian. For me, I should be the hope of the Syrian, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/the-hope-for-an-american-is-different-from-the-hope-of-a-syrian-for/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) [Explore all 306 Bashar al-Assad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) ## More American president quotes > [The American President resembles the commander of a ship at sea. He must have a helm to grasp, a course to steer, a port…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-american-president-resembles-the-commander-of-a-ship-at-sea-he/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [I happen to think that Hillary Clinton is a beacon of hope for younger girls, as was Barack Obama in other inspirational areas. We've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-meneses/i-happen-to-think-that-hillary-clinton-is-a-beacon-of-hope-for/) [Alex Meneses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-meneses/) > [The only thing we have to fear is fear itself-and possibly teh bogey man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-paulsen/the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is-fear-itself-and-possibly-teh-bogey/) [Pat Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-paulsen/) > [The true sovereign is not the American president nor the English king, but the Lord of the Second Advent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-myung-moon/the-true-sovereign-is-not-the-american-president-nor-the-english-king/) [Sun Myung Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-myung-moon/) > [Let's get real: would any American president seriously open up their borders unconditionally to Mexico as the U.K. has done to the whole of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-farage/let-s-get-real-would-any-american-president-seriously-open-up-their/) [Nigel Farage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-farage/) > [It was interesting watching the Afghanistan war review deliberations, this three-month process where Barack Obama did the most thorough foreign policy review ever by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hastings/it-was-interesting-watching-the-afghanistan-war-review-deliberations/) [Michael Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hastings/) > [“When was the last time an American president found it worth his while to write a speech on the importance of art and literature?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viet-thanh-nguyen/when-was-the-last-time-an-american-president-found-it-worth-his-while/) [Viet Thanh Nguyen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viet-thanh-nguyen/) > [To give credit to Lincoln for moral progression seems beyond the facts and unnecessary for our appreciation of this arguably greatest of all American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-kaplan/to-give-credit-to-lincoln-for-moral-progression-seems-beyond-the/) [Fred Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-kaplan/) > [In fact, American presidents never apologize for what America does in war, because in the American mind, all its wars are defensive, always fought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/in-fact-american-presidents-never-apologize-for-what-america-does-in/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [President George W. Bush is the first American president to call openly for two-states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-h-hamilton/president-george-w-bush-is-the-first-american-president-to-call/) [Lee H. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-h-hamilton/) > [On the contrary, I tried on numerous occasions to convince the American president not to go to war. I did what was within my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silvio-berlusconi/on-the-contrary-i-tried-on-numerous-occasions-to-convince-the/) [Silvio Berlusconi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silvio-berlusconi/) > [I have never been more proud of the United States than I am this year. We have elected an African-American president. We have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-stockett/i-have-never-been-more-proud-of-the-united-states-than-i-am-this-year/) [Kathryn Stockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-stockett/) > [I feel like I've always had two selves - the part of me that makes films and the part of me that's political, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-polley/i-feel-like-i-ve-always-had-two-selves-the-part-of-me-that-makes/) [Sarah Polley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-polley/) > [We went into Iraq because Saddam Hussein refused to account for his weapons of mass destruction, consistently violated UN resolutions and in a post-9/11…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-went-into-iraq-because-saddam-hussein-refused-to-account-for-his/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Intelligence has been commoner among American Presidents than high character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-mencken/intelligence-has-been-commoner-among-american-presidents-than-high/) [Henry Louis Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-mencken/) [Browse all 224 American president quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-president/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We have hopes that we can see rational American presidents; fair, obey the international law, deal with other countries according to mutual respect, parity, etc., but we all know that this is only wishful thinking and fantasy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bashar al-Assad" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/we-have-hopes-that-we-can-see-rational-american-presidents-fair-obey/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American president" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/we-have-hopes-that-we-can-see-rational-american-presidents-fair-obey/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/bashar-al-assad-1027_american-president_we-have-hopes-that-we-can-see-rational-a_277165.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/bashar-al-assad-1027_american-president_we-have-hopes-that-we-can-see-rational-a_277165.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/bashar-al-assad-1027_american-president_we-have-hopes-that-we-can-see-rational-a_277165.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We have hopes that we can see rational American presidents; fair, obey the international law, deal with…” — Bashar al-Assad", "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": "Bashar al-Assad", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We have hopes that we can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/we-have-hopes-that-we-can-see-rational-american-presidents-fair-obey/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/we-have-hopes-that-we-can-see-rational-american-presidents-fair-obey/#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 } } ] } ```