--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing in the constitutions of Western…" description: "\"Nothing in the constitutions of Western states requires them to get involved in every foreign conflict.\" — Daniel Pipes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b17/daniel-pipes-25773_conflict_nothing-in-the-constitutions-of-western_1082782.png" --- # Nothing in the constitutions of Western states requires… ![“Nothing in the constitutions of Western states requires them to get involved in every foreign conflict.” quote by Daniel Pipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b17/daniel-pipes-25773_conflict_nothing-in-the-constitutions-of-western_1082782.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b17/daniel-pipes-25773_conflict_nothing-in-the-constitutions-of-western_1082782.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b17/daniel-pipes-25773_conflict_nothing-in-the-constitutions-of-western_1082782.png) > “Nothing in the constitutions of Western states requires them to get involved in every foreign conflict.” [Daniel Pipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pipes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement argues that Western constitutions do not obligate involvement in all foreign wars, implying limited legal duty. **In simple terms:** Western laws don’t force involvement in every foreign conflict. Key Takeaway Assess legal obligations before foreign interventions. Themes law foreign policy sovereignty Mood analytical neutral Type political legal When to use this quote - policy debates - parliamentary votes - humanitarian crises Key Concepts constitutional limits international law military engagement Questions to Reflect On - Should moral duty override legal limits? - How do constitutions shape foreign policy? A Different Perspective Legal interpretation varies by country. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Constitutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitutions/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western/) ## Related quotes > [Western States keep playing with, and around, Russia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aslan-maskhadov/western-states-keep-playing-with-and-around-russia/) [Aslan Maskhadov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aslan-maskhadov/) > [Some Western states have collaborative water agreements with Indian tribes - Washington state, for instance, monitors a number of its rivers to protect spawning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-c-mann/some-western-states-have-collaborative-water-agreements-with-indian/) [Charles C. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-c-mann/) > [Afghanistan would have been difficult enough without Iraq. Iraq made it impossible. The argument that had we just focused on Afghanistan we'd now be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hastings/afghanistan-would-have-been-difficult-enough-without-iraq-iraq-made/) [Michael Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hastings/) > [So, this is my plea to all Western editors and producers: Display the Muhammad cartoon daily, until the Islamists become accustomed to the fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pipes/so-this-is-my-plea-to-all-western-editors-and-producers-display-the/) [Daniel Pipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pipes/) > [Constitutions should consist only of general provisions; the reason is that they must necessarily be permanent, and that they cannot calculate for the possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/constitutions-should-consist-only-of-general-provisions-the-reason-is/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [We have staked the whole future of our new nation, not upon the power of government; far from it. We have staked the future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/we-have-staked-the-whole-future-of-our-new-nation-not-upon-the-power/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [“Constitutions become the ultimate tyranny,” Paul said. “They’re organized power on such a scale as to be overwhelming. The constitution is social power mobilized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/constitutions-become-the-ultimate-tyranny-paul-said-they-re-organized/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [There are loads of countries that have nice written constitutions like ours. But there aren't loads of countries where they're followed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/there-are-loads-of-countries-that-have-nice-written-constitutions/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [Government has no right to make itself a party in any debates respecting the principles or mode of forming or of changing, constitutions. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/government-has-no-right-to-make-itself-a-party-in-any-debates/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“Modern national constitutions usually contain references to international law.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/modern-national-constitutions-usually-contain-references-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [State constitutions typically provide that the state first has to service its debt, then make it pension payments, and then pay for services. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-fama/state-constitutions-typically-provide-that-the-state-first-has-to/) [Eugene Fama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-fama/) > [All constitutions, those of the States no less than that of the nation, are designed, and must be interpreted and administered so as to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/all-constitutions-those-of-the-states-no-less-than-that-of-the-nation/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [We may form free constitutions, but our vices will destroy them; we may enact laws, but they will not protect us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyman-beecher/we-may-form-free-constitutions-but-our-vices-will-destroy-them-we-may/) [Lyman Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyman-beecher/) > [The Emancipation Proclamation is predicated upon the idea that the President may so annul the constitutions and laws of sovereign states, overthrow their domestic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melville-fuller/the-emancipation-proclamation-is-predicated-upon-the-idea-that-the/) [Melville Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melville-fuller/) > [The EU Constitution is something new in human history. Though it is not as eloquent as the French and U.S. constitutions, it is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/the-eu-constitution-is-something-new-in-human-history-though-it-is/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) ## More by Daniel Pipes > [Diplomacy in general does not resolve conflicts. Wars end not due to peace processes, but due to one side giving up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pipes/diplomacy-in-general-does-not-resolve-conflicts-wars-end-not-due-to/) [Daniel Pipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pipes/) > [You can't just read the Koran to understand Muslim life. You have to look at history, at personalities, at economics, and so on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pipes/you-can-t-just-read-the-koran-to-understand-muslim-life-you-have-to/) [Daniel Pipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pipes/) > [So, this is my plea to all Western editors and producers: Display the Muhammad cartoon daily, until the Islamists become accustomed to the fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pipes/so-this-is-my-plea-to-all-western-editors-and-producers-display-the/) [Daniel Pipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pipes/) > [It’s a mistake to blame Islam, a religion 14 centuries old, for the evil that should be ascribed to militant Islam, a totalitarian ideology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pipes/it-s-a-mistake-to-blame-islam-a-religion-14-centuries-old-for-the/) [Daniel Pipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pipes/) > [In the long term, the United States could greatly benefit Islam by uniquely freeing the religion from government constraints and permitting it to evolve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pipes/in-the-long-term-the-united-states-could-greatly-benefit-islam-by/) [Daniel Pipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pipes/) > [Integrationists are delighted to live in a democratic country where the rule of law prevails, whereas chauvinists wish to import the customs of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pipes/integrationists-are-delighted-to-live-in-a-democratic-country-where/) [Daniel Pipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pipes/) > [To me, every fundamentalist Muslim, no matter how peaceable in his own behavior, is part of a murderous movement and is thus, in some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pipes/to-me-every-fundamentalist-muslim-no-matter-how-peaceable-in-his-own/) [Daniel Pipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pipes/) > [Again and again, when Westerners are perceived as denigrating Muhammad, the Koran, or Islam, Islamists demonstrate, riot or kill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pipes/again-and-again-when-westerners-are-perceived-as-denigrating-muhammad/) [Daniel Pipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pipes/) > [My career divides in two: before and after 9/11. In the first part I was trying to show that Islam is relevant to political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pipes/my-career-divides-in-two-before-and-after-9-11-in-the-first-part-i/) [Daniel Pipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pipes/) > [The Koran is a not 'a product of Muhammad or even of Arabia,' but a collection of earlier Judeo-Christian liturgical materials stitched together to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pipes/the-koran-is-a-not-a-product-of-muhammad-or-even-of-arabia-but-a/) [Daniel Pipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pipes/) > [Ultimately, there is no compromise. Westerners will either retain their civilization, including the right to insult and blaspheme, or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pipes/ultimately-there-is-no-compromise-westerners-will-either-retain-their/) [Daniel Pipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pipes/) > [Anti-Islamist Muslims - who wish to live modern lives, unencumbered by burqas, fatwas and violent visions of jihad - are on the defensive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pipes/anti-islamist-muslims-who-wish-to-live-modern-lives-unencumbered-by/) [Daniel Pipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pipes/) > [All immigrants bring exotic customs and attitudes, but Muslim customs are more troublesome than most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pipes/all-immigrants-bring-exotic-customs-and-attitudes-but-muslim-customs/) [Daniel Pipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pipes/) > [The Jewish connection to Jerusalem is an ancient and powerful one. Judaism made Jerusalem a holy city over three thousand years ago and through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pipes/the-jewish-connection-to-jerusalem-is-an-ancient-and-powerful-one/) [Daniel Pipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pipes/) > [The Palestinians are a miserable people...and they deserve to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pipes/the-palestinians-are-a-miserable-people-and-they-deserve-to-be/) [Daniel Pipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pipes/) [Explore all 22 Daniel Pipes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pipes/) ## More Conflict quotes > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. 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People there are overflowing with energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-have-lived-in-countries-that-were-coming-out-of-conflict-ireland/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [Africa, being the major target of colonial plunder, therefore becomes a major source of conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-horne/africa-being-the-major-target-of-colonial-plunder-therefore-becomes-a/) [Gerald Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-horne/) > [All drama is conflict. Without conflict, there is no action. Without action, there is no character. Without character, there is no story. And without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd-field/all-drama-is-conflict-without-conflict-there-is-no-action-without/) [Syd Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd-field/) > [The irrepressible conflict propounded by abolitionism has produced now its legitimate fruits - disunion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-irrepressible-conflict-propounded-by-abolitionism-has-produced/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“These are all good things, I said. But no one knows where your country is or who you are. You don't have a familiar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/these-are-all-good-things-i-said-but-no-one-knows-where-your-country/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [I understand the formula that producers hire directors and directors are hired to direct and actors are hired to act. I don't have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-trejo/i-understand-the-formula-that-producers-hire-directors-and-directors/) [Danny Trejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-trejo/) > [“While there is battle and hatred men have eyes for nothing save the fact that the enemy is the cause of all the troubles;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-butterfield/while-there-is-battle-and-hatred-men-have-eyes-for-nothing-save-the/) [Herbert Butterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-butterfield/) > [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [All men have an instinct for conflict: at least, all healthy men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/all-men-have-an-instinct-for-conflict-at-least-all-healthy-men/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [I didnt like the Survivor shows because of the mean-spirited aspect, and women certainly were part of whatever conflict they would create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-lawrence/i-didnt-like-the-survivor-shows-because-of-the-mean-spirited-aspect/) [Sharon Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-lawrence/) > [“How we traverse the space between us when conflict arises has a profound effect on the health and longevity of our relationships.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/how-we-traverse-the-space-between-us-when-conflict-arises-has-a/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) [Browse all 3,969 Conflict quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nothing in the constitutions of Western states requires them to get involved in every foreign conflict.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Daniel Pipes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pipes/nothing-in-the-constitutions-of-western-states-requires-them-to-get/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conflict" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pipes/nothing-in-the-constitutions-of-western-states-requires-them-to-get/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b17/daniel-pipes-25773_conflict_nothing-in-the-constitutions-of-western_1082782.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b17/daniel-pipes-25773_conflict_nothing-in-the-constitutions-of-western_1082782.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b17/daniel-pipes-25773_conflict_nothing-in-the-constitutions-of-western_1082782.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nothing in the constitutions of Western states requires them to get involved in every foreign conflict.” — Daniel Pipes", "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": "Daniel Pipes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pipes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Nothing in the constitutions of Western...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pipes/nothing-in-the-constitutions-of-western-states-requires-them-to-get/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pipes/nothing-in-the-constitutions-of-western-states-requires-them-to-get/#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 } } ] } ```