--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: History has not looked kindly on us when…" description: "\"History has not looked kindly on us when we've prevented people fleeing violence from seeking refuge in this country.\" — Bill Foster" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aef/bill-foster-8681_country_history-has-not-looked-kindly-on-us-when_422045.png" --- # History has not looked kindly on us when we've prevented… ![“History has not looked kindly on us when we've prevented people fleeing violence from seeking refuge in this country.” quote by Bill Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aef/bill-foster-8681_country_history-has-not-looked-kindly-on-us-when_422045.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aef/bill-foster-8681_country_history-has-not-looked-kindly-on-us-when_422045.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aef/bill-foster-8681_country_history-has-not-looked-kindly-on-us-when_422045.png) > “History has not looked kindly on us when we've prevented people fleeing violence from seeking refuge in this country.” [Bill Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-foster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When we block refugees from escaping violence, history judges us harshly for denying humanitarian aid. **In simple terms:** Refusing refuge harms both refugees and our conscience. Key Takeaway Support safe haven for those fleeing danger. Themes humanitarianism justice history Mood concerned hopeful Type political ethical When to use this quote - immigration law - community outreach - international aid - political debate Key Concepts refugee policy moral responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can we improve refugee integration? - What policies best protect both safety and rights? A Different Perspective Balancing security concerns with compassion is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) ## Related quotes > [Children, presenting at our border, who are fleeing violence, who are fleeing prosecution, who are fleeing terrible situations is not a crisis. We feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-psaki/children-presenting-at-our-border-who-are-fleeing-violence-who-are/) [Jen Psaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-psaki/) > [The greatest nation in the world should not have much to fear from a family, especially children, fleeing violence. More importantly, children fleeing violence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-buttigieg/the-greatest-nation-in-the-world-should-not-have-much-to-fear-from-a/) [Pete Buttigieg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-buttigieg/) > [The most dramatic case is that of the Central Americans. Why are people fleeing Central America? It's because of the atrocities the U.S. committed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-most-dramatic-case-is-that-of-the-central-americans-why-are/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [One of the things people are fleeing when they leave the city is the need either to reject people who are less well educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-riesman/one-of-the-things-people-are-fleeing-when-they-leave-the-city-is-the/) [David Riesman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-riesman/) > [The people who are fleeing Syria, they're the ones who need to run the country there long-term.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-zeldin/the-people-who-are-fleeing-syria-they-re-the-ones-who-need-to-run-the/) [Lee Zeldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-zeldin/) > [Can you really send back people to where they are fleeing from?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maurer/can-you-really-send-back-people-to-where-they-are-fleeing-from/) [Peter Maurer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurer/) > [When you have your own people fleeing their homes it's not because they found a job somewhere else... then you have something to fix…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayib-bukele/when-you-have-your-own-people-fleeing-their-homes-it-s-not-because/) [Nayib Bukele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayib-bukele/) > [We can't deter people fleeing for their lives. They will come. The choice we have is how well we manage their arrival, and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-guterres/we-can-t-deter-people-fleeing-for-their-lives-they-will-come-the/) [Antonio Guterres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-guterres/) > [The world is a total mess. Take a look at what's happening with Aleppo. Take a look what's happening in Mosul. Take a look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-world-is-a-total-mess-take-a-look-at-what-s-happening-with-aleppo/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The impact of climate change, extreme weather events, the reason people are fleeing their homes is quite significant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/the-impact-of-climate-change-extreme-weather-events-the-reason-people/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [dreams must not take the place of actual life, nor constitute themselves a cowardly escape from it, but become rather a sanctuary in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maude-meagher/dreams-must-not-take-the-place-of-actual-life-nor-constitute/) [Maude Meagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maude-meagher/) > [All of us, as humans, as Americans, as people who are lucky enough to be a part of this country's ideals, should care about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-ruhle/all-of-us-as-humans-as-americans-as-people-who-are-lucky-enough-to-be/) [Stephanie Ruhle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-ruhle/) > [“WE ARE We are the lost ones Seeking refuge in dark alleys Told we are not forgotten We are a past generation's hope Asking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/we-are-we-are-the-lost-ones-seeking-refuge-in-dark-alleys-told-we-are/) [José N. 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