--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Saudi Arabia will have to decide its own…" description: "\"Saudi Arabia will have to decide its own path, and I don't know if it will decide a path like any other nation in the region or if it will design somet..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/colin-powell-691_arabia_saudi-arabia-will-have-to-decide-its-own_1047928.jpg" --- # Saudi Arabia will have to decide its own path, and I don't… ![“Saudi Arabia will have to decide its own path, and I don't know if it will decide a path like any other nation in the region or if it will design something that is unique to Saudi Arabia.” quote by Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/colin-powell-691_arabia_saudi-arabia-will-have-to-decide-its-own_1047928.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/colin-powell-691_arabia_saudi-arabia-will-have-to-decide-its-own_1047928.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/colin-powell-691_arabia_saudi-arabia-will-have-to-decide-its-own_1047928.jpg) > “Saudi Arabia will have to decide its own path, and I don't know if it will decide a path like any other nation in the region or if it will design something that is unique to Saudi Arabia.” [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Saudi Arabia must choose a path, either following regional norms or forging a unique national direction. **In simple terms:** Saudi Arabia faces a choice between conformity and uniqueness. Key Takeaway Define a distinct national identity. Themes politics national identity strategy regionalism Mood thoughtful strategic Type policy analysis When to use this quote - government planning - foreign policy - economic development - cultural reform Key Concepts sovereignty policy making geopolitics Questions to Reflect On - What unique strengths can Saudi Arabia leverage? - How might regional peers react? A Different Perspective Balancing tradition with innovation can be politically risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arabia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arabia/) [Arabia Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arabia-decide-2488679/) [Decide Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decide-path-945051/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Regions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regions/) [Saudi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saudi/) [Saudi arabia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saudi-arabia/) [Saudis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saudis/) [Unique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unique/) [Unique Saudi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unique-saudi-2488680/) ## Related quotes > [ I think we can make a contribution to their \[Saudi Arabia\] thinking as they decide how they should deal with the economic and social… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/i-think-we-can-make-a-contribution-to-their-saudi-arabia-thinking-as/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [I think our initiative with respect to education and economic development can work in Saudi Arabia and it is up to the Saudis to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/i-think-our-initiative-with-respect-to-education-and-economic/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [We are not shrinking from talking to Saudis or anyone else in the region, but it is up to each nation in the region…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-are-not-shrinking-from-talking-to-saudis-or-anyone-else-in-the/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [ We are not dictating. We are not telling them \[Saudi Arabia\] how they should do it or who they should look like. We are… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-are-not-dictating-we-are-not-telling-them-saudi-arabia-how-they/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Asking Saudi Arabia and Iran to work together, when they can't stand each other and are engaged in a proxy battle right at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/asking-saudi-arabia-and-iran-to-work-together-when-they-can-t-stand/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [ 15 of the 19 \[September 11th\] hijackers were from Saudi Arabia. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/15-of-the-19-september-11th-hijackers-were-from-saudi-arabia/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [I'm very careful not to isolate Israel on this but to make this part of a transformed foreign policy where we apply the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/i-m-very-careful-not-to-isolate-israel-on-this-but-to-make-this-part/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [Saudi Arabia has lost one of its dutiful sons, a leader among the most dear of its leaders and men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosni-mubarak/saudi-arabia-has-lost-one-of-its-dutiful-sons-a-leader-among-the-most/) [Hosni Mubarak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosni-mubarak/) > [The efficient use of energy is as much an issue for Saudi Arabia, with its huge natural resources, as it is for all countries.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-al-naimi/the-efficient-use-of-energy-is-as-much-an-issue-for-saudi-arabia-with/) [Ali al-Naimi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-al-naimi/) > [India is the Saudi Arabia of human resources for the 21st century. The power that we used to get from oil in 20th century,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-gandhi/india-is-the-saudi-arabia-of-human-resources-for-the-21st-century-the/) [Rahul Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-gandhi/) > [Why is it that the U.S. has to take refugees? Why doesn't Saudi Arabia take more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-t-flynn/why-is-it-that-the-u-s-has-to-take-refugees-why-doesn-t-saudi-arabia/) [Michael T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-t-flynn/) > [Making Saudi Arabia a world judge on women's rights and religious freedom would be like naming a pyromaniac as the town fire chief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillel-neuer/making-saudi-arabia-a-world-judge-on-women-s-rights-and-religious/) [Hillel Neuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillel-neuer/) > [Over the last few years they have done a superb job in their fight against al-Qaida. As you may recall, our embassy in Jedda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/over-the-last-few-years-they-have-done-a-superb-job-in-their-fight/) [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) > [I lived in Saudi Arabia in the late 1970s. It was, for a Westerner, pretty idyllic. There were the religious police; there were the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lacey/i-lived-in-saudi-arabia-in-the-late-1970s-it-was-for-a-westerner/) [Robert Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lacey/) > [In Saudi Arabia, among other countries, Muslims are not free to convert to Christianity, and Christians are not free to practice their faith. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-warraq/in-saudi-arabia-among-other-countries-muslims-are-not-free-to-convert/) [Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/) ## More by Colin Powell > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Effective leaders are made, not born. They learn from trial and error, and from experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/effective-leaders-are-made-not-born-they-learn-from-trial-and-error/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Decision-making is lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/decision-making-is-lonely/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [The purposes of the United States should not be doubted. The Security Council resolutions will be enforced - the just demands of peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-purposes-of-the-united-states-should-not-be-doubted-the-security/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [I always like to take my time and examine the two candidates, see not only the two candidates but the policies they will bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/i-always-like-to-take-my-time-and-examine-the-two-candidates-see-not/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [We can seldom get our children to do what we tell them, but they almost never fail to imitate us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-can-seldom-get-our-children-to-do-what-we-tell-them-but-they/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [With respect to where we are now, we have a voluntary army. And if we ever go back to conscription I hope that at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/with-respect-to-where-we-are-now-we-have-a-voluntary-army-and-if-we/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Politics is not bean bags. It's serious, tough stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/politics-is-not-bean-bags-it-s-serious-tough-stuff/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [There are no secrets to success: don't waste time looking for them, success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/there-are-no-secrets-to-success-don-t-waste-time-looking-for-them/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [So like any football or basketball coach, you always always believe you're going to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/so-like-any-football-or-basketball-coach-you-always-always-believe/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [We hope that more assistance will be available to the nations of the region, to include Egypt, on the three pillars that I discussed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-hope-that-more-assistance-will-be-available-to-the-nations-of-the/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [One of the most worrisome things that emerges from the thick intelligence file we have on Iraq's biological weapons is the existence of mobile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/one-of-the-most-worrisome-things-that-emerges-from-the-thick/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Pissing people off doesn't mean you're doing the right things, but doing the right things will almost inevitably piss people off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/pissing-people-off-doesn-t-mean-you-re-doing-the-right-things-but/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-less-you-associate-with-some-people-the-more-your-life-will/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Be careful what you choose: You may get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/be-careful-what-you-choose-you-may-get-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) [Explore all 408 Colin Powell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) ## More Arabia quotes > [There is nothing in the desert and no man needs nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david/there-is-nothing-in-the-desert-and-no-man-needs-nothing/) [David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david/) > [You know, in Saudi Arabia, you're innocent until proven Jewish. Female. Guilty! They're guilty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/you-know-in-saudi-arabia-you-re-innocent-until-proven-jewish-female/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [America is the Saudi Arabia of coal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/america-is-the-saudi-arabia-of-coal/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [In Saudi Arabia, among other countries, Muslims are not free to convert to Christianity, and Christians are not free to practice their faith. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-warraq/in-saudi-arabia-among-other-countries-muslims-are-not-free-to-convert/) [Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/) > [Hillary Clinton has decided to line up with John McCain in pushing to suspend the federal excise tax on gasoline, 18.4 cents a gallon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/hillary-clinton-has-decided-to-line-up-with-john-mccain-in-pushing-to/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [“When you fear nothing, you have nothing to fear”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-f-chandler/when-you-fear-nothing-you-have-nothing-to-fear/) [S.F. Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-f-chandler/) > [We're defending Saudi Arabia? And with all of the money they have, we're defending them, and they're not paying? All you have to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-re-defending-saudi-arabia-and-with-all-of-the-money-they-have-we/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Our president's latest energy initiative was to go to Saudi Arabia and beg King Abdullah to give us a little relief on gasoline prices.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/our-president-s-latest-energy-initiative-was-to-go-to-saudi-arabia/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Like so many Boomers, I saw 'Lawrence of Arabia' in 1962 when it was first released and when we were young teenagers. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-doria-russell/like-so-many-boomers-i-saw-lawrence-of-arabia-in-1962-when-it-was/) [Mary Doria Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-doria-russell/) > [The Treasury Department would use the interest from these securities to hire U.S. companies to build Saudi Arabia - new cities, new infrastructure -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/the-treasury-department-would-use-the-interest-from-these-securities/) [John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/) > [They chose me for Lawrence of Arabia because I spoke English, had black hair, black eyes and a moustache. It was all luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-sharif/they-chose-me-for-lawrence-of-arabia-because-i-spoke-english-had/) [Omar Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-sharif/) > [Avatar is a watershed movie. We'll always refer to Lawrence of Arabia in the same way. 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