---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well, there's been plenty of ultimatums…"
description: "\"Well, there's been plenty of ultimatums, and one thing that we better be very clear is that we can't continue to have the kind of defiance of the Unite..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/condoleezza-rice-807_clear_well-there-s-been-plenty-of-ultimatums-a_1700884.jpg"
---

#  Well, there's been plenty of ultimatums, and one thing…

![“Well, there's been plenty of ultimatums, and one thing that we better be very clear is that we can't continue to have the kind of defiance of the United Nations, the defiance of the international community that we've had.” quote by Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/condoleezza-rice-807_clear_well-there-s-been-plenty-of-ultimatums-a_1700884.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/condoleezza-rice-807_clear_well-there-s-been-plenty-of-ultimatums-a_1700884.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/condoleezza-rice-807_clear_well-there-s-been-plenty-of-ultimatums-a_1700884.jpg)

> “Well, there's been plenty of ultimatums, and one thing that we better be very clear is that we can't continue to have the kind of defiance of the United Nations, the defiance of the international community that we've had.”

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker warns that defying the United Nations and international community erodes global order and must cease for cooperative progress.

**In simple terms:** Defying the UN harms global cooperation.

Key Takeaway

Respect international norms.

Themes

diplomacy global governance law cooperation

Mood

serious urgent

Type

political strategic

When to use this quote

- UN negotiations
- peace talks
- trade agreements
- climate accords

Key Concepts

international law sovereignty multilateralism

Questions to Reflect On

- How can nations balance sovereignty with cooperation?
- What mechanisms enforce compliance?

A Different Perspective

National interests may conflict with global consensus.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Defiance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defiance/) [International community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international-community/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Ultimatums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimatums/) [United nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-nations/)

## Related quotes

> [When my husband gives me this ultimatum, "You either stop singing, or you move out," then it became very clear that what I needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-marie/when-my-husband-gives-me-this-ultimatum-you-either-stop-singing-or/)

[Rene Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-marie/)

> [Relationships are negotiated and if you deal with ultimatums and authority all the time, then you're not going to get anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mcgraw/relationships-are-negotiated-and-if-you-deal-with-ultimatums-and/)

[Phil McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mcgraw/)

> [“I drive my husband crazy because I don’t browse books—I buy books. And he’s always giving me these ultimatums like, ‘If you don’t finish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-dallas-howard/i-drive-my-husband-crazy-because-i-don-t-browse-books-i-buy-books-and/)

[Bryce Dallas Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-dallas-howard/)

> [The weather today is partly angry, leading to resignation and ultimatums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/the-weather-today-is-partly-angry-leading-to-resignation-and/)

[Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/)

> [If you are negotiating you must do so in a spirit of reconciliation, not from the point of view of issuing ultimatums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/if-you-are-negotiating-you-must-do-so-in-a-spirit-of-reconciliation/)

[Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/)

> [There are no ultimatums for Renault other than we want to improve as quickly as we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-horner/there-are-no-ultimatums-for-renault-other-than-we-want-to-improve-as/)

[Christian Horner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-horner/)

> [I do not deal with threats and ultimatums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-lapid/i-do-not-deal-with-threats-and-ultimatums/)

[Yair Lapid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-lapid/)

> [“61 ULTIMATUMS Great Alamance Camp May 16th 1771 To the People now Assembled in Arms, who Style themselves Regulators In Answer to your Petition,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/61-ultimatums-great-alamance-camp-may-16th-1771-to-the-people-now/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [Never accept ultimatums, conventional wisdom, or absolutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/never-accept-ultimatums-conventional-wisdom-or-absolutes/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

> [When a nation issues ultimatums, it leaves no room for compromise and ensures that war will continue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/when-a-nation-issues-ultimatums-it-leaves-no-room-for-compromise-and/)

[Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/)

> [“Ultimatums have negative connotations for many because they’re often used by bullies and abusers, who tend to be comfortable pushing their partners’ backs against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/ultimatums-have-negative-connotations-for-many-because-they-re-often/)

[Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/)

> [It's pretty irrefutable that you can help yourself. I just don't believe in ultimatums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher/it-s-pretty-irrefutable-that-you-can-help-yourself-i-just-don-t/)

Christopher

> [“Me and ultimatums? Yeah, we don’t mix. Give me two options and tell me I need to pick between them and I’ll find a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callie-hart/me-and-ultimatums-yeah-we-don-t-mix-give-me-two-options-and-tell-me-i/)

[Callie Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/callie-hart/)

> [Let me let you in on a little secret. There is no such thing as an international community. There are self-maximizing, self-interested states that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/let-me-let-you-in-on-a-little-secret-there-is-no-such-thing-as-an/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [We can't afford to let the international community and the world lose faith in the diplomatic track.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/we-can-t-afford-to-let-the-international-community-and-the-world-lose/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

## More by Condoleezza Rice

> [The Iranian people have a proud past. They merit a great future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/the-iranian-people-have-a-proud-past-they-merit-a-great-future/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [It has been hard to muster the resources to support fledgling democracies and to intervene on behalf of the most desperate. The AIDS orphans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/it-has-been-hard-to-muster-the-resources-to-support-fledgling/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [We can't live true to our set of values unless American educational system is strong. I really believe that if we don't get that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/we-can-t-live-true-to-our-set-of-values-unless-american-educational/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [I remember at the time of 9/11 that there were women who went out of their way to escort Muslim women to grocery stores…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-remember-at-the-time-of-9-11-that-there-were-women-who-went-out-of/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [The first step for a leader is to be right with yourself. Integrity is the basis of leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/the-first-step-for-a-leader-is-to-be-right-with-yourself-integrity-is/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [A lot is being done to bring additional protective measures, particularly the critical infrastructure locations around the United States, ... There is a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/a-lot-is-being-done-to-bring-additional-protective-measures/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [You cannot be on one hand dedicated to peace and on the other dedicated to violence. Those two things are irreconcilable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/you-cannot-be-on-one-hand-dedicated-to-peace-and-on-the-other/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [I'm not personally fearful, but I look out, and there are a number of things that concern me, and I'm hopeful that we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-m-not-personally-fearful-but-i-look-out-and-there-are-a-number-of/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [ \[I'm\] very fortunate and blessed person who still has a lot of living to do. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-m-very-fortunate-and-blessed-person-who-still-has-a-lot-of-living/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [Football is like war. It's about taking territory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/football-is-like-war-it-s-about-taking-territory/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [I think there are plenty of men out there who are capable and accomplished in their own realm. You don't have to be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-think-there-are-plenty-of-men-out-there-who-are-capable-and/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [I've always said as a political scientist that "culture" is what we use when we can't explain things. I think it's more about accessibility.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-ve-always-said-as-a-political-scientist-that-culture-is-what-we-use/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [I believed Afghanistan was always going to be hard. It's the fifth poorest country in the world. And when you fly over it, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-believed-afghanistan-was-always-going-to-be-hard-it-s-the-fifth/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [I'm very glad my mother didn't let me quit piano lessons at age 10. She said I wasn't old enough or good enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-m-very-glad-my-mother-didn-t-let-me-quit-piano-lessons-at-age-10/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [The idea the president of the United States was warned that Al-Qaeda was going to attack the United States and did nothing about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/the-idea-the-president-of-the-united-states-was-warned-that-al-qaeda/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

[Explore all 365 Condoleezza Rice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

## More Clear quotes

> [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

> [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/)

[Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/)

[Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/)

> [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/)

[Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/)

> [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/)

[Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/)

> [Clear moments are so short. There is much more darkness. More ocean than terra firma. More shadow than form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/clear-moments-are-so-short-there-is-much-more-darkness-more-ocean/)

[Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/)

> [I try to listen to all music with an open head, a clear head, try not to say just because I don't know it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ghostface-killah/i-try-to-listen-to-all-music-with-an-open-head-a-clear-head-try-not/)

[Ghostface Killah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ghostface-killah/)

> [God's Word does provide life lessons to teach us how to live. And it gives us beautiful poetry that gives voice to our human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rothschild/god-s-word-does-provide-life-lessons-to-teach-us-how-to-live-and-it/)

[Jennifer Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rothschild/)

> [ We have no clear ideas of the agency of \[demonic\] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of-demonic-spirits-nor-is-it/)

[John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/)

> [I've always made it clear that I do not believe that global government is either necessary or feasible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/i-ve-always-made-it-clear-that-i-do-not-believe-that-global/)

[Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/)

> [The moment it begins to question itself, the mind becomes so clear that it starts working with itself rather than with the body's identification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/the-moment-it-begins-to-question-itself-the-mind-becomes-so-clear/)

[Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/)

> [Alec Wilkinson is a spare, clear, and lucid writer who works in stylistic simplicity with material that is not simple at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-matthiessen/alec-wilkinson-is-a-spare-clear-and-lucid-writer-who-works-in/)

[Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/)

> [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/)

[James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/)

Browse all 7,410 Clear quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Well, there's been plenty of ultimatums, and one thing that we better be very clear is that we can't continue to have the kind of defiance of the United Nations, the defiance of the international community that we've had.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Condoleezza Rice"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/well-there-s-been-plenty-of-ultimatums-and-one-thing-that-we-better/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Clear"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/well-there-s-been-plenty-of-ultimatums-and-one-thing-that-we-better/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/condoleezza-rice-807_clear_well-there-s-been-plenty-of-ultimatums-a_1700884.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/condoleezza-rice-807_clear_well-there-s-been-plenty-of-ultimatums-a_1700884.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/condoleezza-rice-807_clear_well-there-s-been-plenty-of-ultimatums-a_1700884.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Well, there's been plenty of ultimatums, and one thing that we better be very clear is that we can't…” — Condoleezza Rice",
                "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": "Condoleezza Rice",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Well, there's been plenty of ultimatums,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/well-there-s-been-plenty-of-ultimatums-and-one-thing-that-we-better/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/well-there-s-been-plenty-of-ultimatums-and-one-thing-that-we-better/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
