---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think we are all disgusted by the way…"
description: "\"I think we are all disgusted by the way George W. Bush's administration has allowed honesty and candor to seep into the genteel world of international ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/david-brooks-644_administration_i-think-we-are-all-disgusted-by-the-way_1182472.png"
---

#  I think we are all disgusted by the way George W. Bush's…

![“I think we are all disgusted by the way George W. Bush's administration has allowed honesty and candor to seep into the genteel world of international affairs.” quote by David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/david-brooks-644_administration_i-think-we-are-all-disgusted-by-the-way_1182472.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/david-brooks-644_administration_i-think-we-are-all-disgusted-by-the-way_1182472.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/david-brooks-644_administration_i-think-we-are-all-disgusted-by-the-way_1182472.png)

> “I think we are all disgusted by the way George W. Bush's administration has allowed honesty and candor to seep into the genteel world of international affairs.”

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

## About This Quote

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

Critique of political culture that suppresses honesty in foreign policy.

**In simple terms:** Honesty is rare in international affairs.

Key Takeaway

Encourage transparent dialogue.

Themes

politics honesty foreign policy

Mood

critical analytical

Type

opinion political

When to use this quote

- diplomacy
- government communication
- public discourse

Key Concepts

ethics media criticism

Questions to Reflect On

- Why is candor discouraged?
- What are the risks of openness?

A Different Perspective

Honesty can be weaponized or ignored.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) [Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) [Bush administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bush-administration/) [Candor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candor/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [International affairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international-affairs/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [“The writer's voice, the honesty and candor that is present in that voice, is what must be written upon the page.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmond-rostand/the-writer-s-voice-the-honesty-and-candor-that-is-present-in-that/)

[Edmond Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmond-rostand/)

> [I am disgusted at the way May has been speaking. The EU nationals living in the UK came here legally and they have protected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-farage/i-am-disgusted-at-the-way-may-has-been-speaking-the-eu-nationals/)

[Nigel Farage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-farage/)

> [“He disgusted them the way a fat spider that you can't bring yourslef to crush in your own hand disgusts you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-s-skind/he-disgusted-them-the-way-a-fat-spider-that-you-can-t-bring-yourslef/)

[Patrick Süskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-s-skind/)

> [Quite generally, international affairs have more than a slight resemblance to the Mafia. The Godfather does not take it lightly when he is crossed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/quite-generally-international-affairs-have-more-than-a-slight/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Peace in international affairs: a period of cheating between periods of fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/peace-in-international-affairs-a-period-of-cheating-between-periods/)

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

> [“Briefly stated, the Gell-Mann Amnesia effect is as follows. You open the newspaper to an article on some subject you know well. In Murray's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/briefly-stated-the-gell-mann-amnesia-effect-is-as-follows-you-open/)

[Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/)

> [Iranians embraced my approach to domestic and international affairs because they saw it as long overdue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-rouhani/iranians-embraced-my-approach-to-domestic-and-international-affairs/)

[Hassan Rouhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-rouhani/)

> [Science is the search for the truth--it is not a game in which one tries to beat his opponent, to do harm to others.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/science-is-the-search-for-the-truth-it-is-not-a-game-in-which-one/)

[Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/)

> [The Americans are poor haters in international affairs because of their innate feeling of superiority over all foreigners. An American's hatred for a fellow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-americans-are-poor-haters-in-international-affairs-because-of/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [Bill Clinton is a man who thinks international affairs means dating a girl from out of town.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/bill-clinton-is-a-man-who-thinks-international-affairs-means-dating-a/)

[Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/)

> [I'm grateful that the FTC is viewed as a leader internationally and all credit goes to our terrific staff at the office of international…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lina-khan/i-m-grateful-that-the-ftc-is-viewed-as-a-leader-internationally-and/)

[Lina Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lina-khan/)

> [The Russian people, at least the ones I know, have pride in being a Russian. And, therefore, they want to be taken seriously in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-russian-people-at-least-the-ones-i-know-have-pride-in-being-a/)

[Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/)

> [International affairs is very much run like the mafia. The godfather does not accept disobedience, even from a small storekeeper who doesn't pay his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/international-affairs-is-very-much-run-like-the-mafia-the-godfather/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [In any case, you read with exasperation or amusement the multiple errors in a story-and then turn the page to national or international affairs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/in-any-case-you-read-with-exasperation-or-amusement-the-multiple/)

[Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/)

> [There are nearly 200 countries and a population of over 6 billion in today's world. International affairs should be addressed by all countries through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-peng/there-are-nearly-200-countries-and-a-population-of-over-6-billion-in/)

[Li Peng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-peng/)

## More by David Brooks

> [The brain is not the mind. It is probably impossible to look at a map of brain activity and predict or even understand the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/the-brain-is-not-the-mind-it-is-probably-impossible-to-look-at-a-map/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [When you're running for president, you're a guest in the living room for four years. And if people don't think you're going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/when-you-re-running-for-president-you-re-a-guest-in-the-living-room/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [“I’ve come to think that flourishing consists of putting yourself in situations in which you lose self-consciousness and become fused with other people, experiences,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-ve-come-to-think-that-flourishing-consists-of-putting-yourself-in/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [We have rapidly increasing technology, which is making life very good for people who are good at using words, and not so good for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/we-have-rapidly-increasing-technology-which-is-making-life-very-good/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [I think Barack Obama's foreign policy will be regarded more failure than success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-think-barack-obama-s-foreign-policy-will-be-regarded-more-failure/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [If you know that most processing is below the level of awareness, you learn the value of sleep. You're brain is working on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/if-you-know-that-most-processing-is-below-the-level-of-awareness-you/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [Trade has suddenly become massively unpopular. I think that's massively unjust. I think free trade has been wonderful for America on balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/trade-has-suddenly-become-massively-unpopular-i-think-that-s/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [Politics is based on social identity, and so, again, there is going to be differences between rural and urban and between left and right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/politics-is-based-on-social-identity-and-so-again-there-is-going-to/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [Pain now is better than pain deferred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/pain-now-is-better-than-pain-deferred/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [It’s worth noting that you can devote your life to community service and be a total schmuck. You can spend your life on Wall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/it-s-worth-noting-that-you-can-devote-your-life-to-community-service/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [If it feels all right for you, it's probably OK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/if-it-feels-all-right-for-you-it-s-probably-ok/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [I do think Donald Trump is a fundamentally unstabilizing force and that the people who swore to uphold the Constitution are going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-do-think-donald-trump-is-a-fundamentally-unstabilizing-force-and/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [Tim Kaine has been obviously a governor. He's been a senator. He's one of the smartest rising stars in the Democratic Party. He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/tim-kaine-has-been-obviously-a-governor-he-s-been-a-senator-he-s-one/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [“Women, in general, are less visually aroused than men, a trait that has nearly cut the market for pornography in half.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/women-in-general-are-less-visually-aroused-than-men-a-trait-that-has/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [I wasn't born with a tie or with Mark Shields stapled to my left hip. I have another life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-wasn-t-born-with-a-tie-or-with-mark-shields-stapled-to-my-left-hip/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

[Explore all 431 David Brooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

## More Administration quotes

> [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [If you want to serve in a Trump administration, you're going to serve this country, not yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-spicer/if-you-want-to-serve-in-a-trump-administration-you-re-going-to-serve/)

[Sean Spicer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-spicer/)

> [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. He's taken on a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/listen-i-have-a-great-affection-and-respect-for-joe-biden-i-think-he/)

[David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/)

> [I don't believe anyone that I know in the administration ever said that Iraq had nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/i-don-t-believe-anyone-that-i-know-in-the-administration-ever-said/)

[Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/)

> [What was unique about me being in City Hall during the Giuliani Administration, I was the only one who wasn't an attorney. I may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/what-was-unique-about-me-being-in-city-hall-during-the-giuliani/)

[Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/)

> [The Trump administration launched the cruise missile strikes in Syria, an act of war, without a U.N. resolution or Congressional authorization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-trump-administration-launched-the-cruise-missile-strikes-in-syria/)

[Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/)

> [The only way I'll ever run a marathon is if I'm involved in the administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/the-only-way-i-ll-ever-run-a-marathon-is-if-i-m-involved-in-the/)

[Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/)

> [Obama spent the first two years of his administration practicing political unilateral disarmament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/obama-spent-the-first-two-years-of-his-administration-practicing/)

[Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/)

> [The actions of the University in my case make it abundantly clear that the Administration's rhetoric about Harvard's desire to attract and retain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-geller/the-actions-of-the-university-in-my-case-make-it-abundantly-clear/)

[Margaret Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-geller/)

> [In mid-May, the House of Representatives approved the full amount of money that the Veterans Administration said was needed for next year - plus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-hastings/in-mid-may-the-house-of-representatives-approved-the-full-amount-of/)

[Doc Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-hastings/)

> [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. The Eisenhower administration believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-1953-the-united-states-played-a-significant-role-in-orchestrating/)

[Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/)

> [The administration of George W. Bush, emboldened by the Sept. 11 attacks and the backing of a Republican Congress, has sought to further extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-administration-of-george-w-bush-emboldened-by-the-sept-11-attacks/)

[Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/)

> [When we criticize in Iran the actions of the government, the fundamentalists say that we and the Bush Administration are in the same camp.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/when-we-criticize-in-iran-the-actions-of-the-government-the/)

[Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/)

> [We will finally complete the biometric entry-exit visa tracking system, which we need desperately. For years Congress has required biometric entry-exit visa tracking systems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-will-finally-complete-the-biometric-entry-exit-visa-tracking/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

[Browse all 1,855 Administration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think we are all disgusted by the way George W. Bush's administration has allowed honesty and candor to seep into the genteel world of international affairs.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David Brooks"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-think-we-are-all-disgusted-by-the-way-george-w-bush-s/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Administration"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-think-we-are-all-disgusted-by-the-way-george-w-bush-s/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/david-brooks-644_administration_i-think-we-are-all-disgusted-by-the-way_1182472.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/david-brooks-644_administration_i-think-we-are-all-disgusted-by-the-way_1182472.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/david-brooks-644_administration_i-think-we-are-all-disgusted-by-the-way_1182472.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think we are all disgusted by the way George W. Bush's administration has allowed honesty and candor to…” — David Brooks",
                "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": "David Brooks",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think we are all disgusted...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-think-we-are-all-disgusted-by-the-way-george-w-bush-s/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-think-we-are-all-disgusted-by-the-way-george-w-bush-s/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
