---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Yes, America must do the right thing, but…"
description: "\"Yes, America must do the right thing, but to provide moral leadership, America must do it in the right way, too.\" — David Cameron"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/david-cameron-1858_america_yes-america-must-do-the-right-thing-but_657539.png"
---

#  Yes, America must do the right thing, but to provide moral…

![“Yes, America must do the right thing, but to provide moral leadership, America must do it in the right way, too.” quote by David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/david-cameron-1858_america_yes-america-must-do-the-right-thing-but_657539.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/david-cameron-1858_america_yes-america-must-do-the-right-thing-but_657539.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/david-cameron-1858_america_yes-america-must-do-the-right-thing-but_657539.png)

> “Yes, America must do the right thing, but to provide moral leadership, America must do it in the right way, too.”

[David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/)

## About This Quote

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

Moral leadership requires both correct intent and proper execution.

**In simple terms:** Leadership needs right motives and methods.

Key Takeaway

Align means with means.

Themes

leadership ethics policy

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

political inspirational

When to use this quote

- government reforms
- international aid
- corporate governance

Key Concepts

moral authority strategic execution public trust

Questions to Reflect On

- What defines the “right way” in policy?
- How do you balance ethics and practicality?

A Different Perspective

Good intentions alone may fail without effective strategy.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-leadership/) [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) [Right way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-way/)

## Related quotes

> [The Court's great power is its ability to educate, to provide moral leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/the-court-s-great-power-is-its-ability-to-educate-to-provide-moral/)

[William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/)

> [I think it's fairly easy to provide a moral defense of capitalism. It has been - over the last 200 years - the underlying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/i-think-it-s-fairly-easy-to-provide-a-moral-defense-of-capitalism-it/)

[John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/)

> [“Does the kind of thinking that permits assisted suicide provide a moral basis for protecting the preciousness of human life or does it fail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-j-dyck/does-the-kind-of-thinking-that-permits-assisted-suicide-provide-a/)

[Arthur J. Dyck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-j-dyck/)

> [The truths of the Judaic-Christian tradition, are infinitely precious, not only, as I believe, because they are true, but also because they provide the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/the-truths-of-the-judaic-christian-tradition-are-infinitely-precious/)

[Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/)

> [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [We have an opportunity to have real leadership. America's going to have that kind of leadership and continue to promote principles of peace to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/we-have-an-opportunity-to-have-real-leadership-america-s-going-to/)

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

> [“We have a crisis of leadership in America because our overwhelming power and wealth, earned under earlier generations of leaders, made us complacent, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-deresiewicz/we-have-a-crisis-of-leadership-in-america-because-our-overwhelming/)

[William Deresiewicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-deresiewicz/)

> [You have to give people a reason to believe that, under your leadership, America will be better. Rick Santorum has done that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-dewine/you-have-to-give-people-a-reason-to-believe-that-under-your/)

[Mike DeWine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-dewine/)

> [Bad leadership is like a flat tire. It's very hard to go anywhere until you change it. Let's put new leadership in America!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bad-leadership-is-like-a-flat-tire-it-s-very-hard-to-go-anywhere/)

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

> [Under Mr. Trump's leadership, America continues to lead the free world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/under-mr-trump-s-leadership-america-continues-to-lead-the-free-world/)

[Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/)

> [I think America right now is looking for somebody who appeals to every faction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-eckhart/i-think-america-right-now-is-looking-for-somebody-who-appeals-to/)

[Aaron Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-eckhart/)

> [If you're a Christian, Jew or Muslim, you're equally an American. That's the great thing about America, is the right to worship the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-you-re-a-christian-jew-or-muslim-you-re-equally-an-american-that-s/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [I think that's the beauty of living in America, right? We all get our own opinion, and no one opinion is absolute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-stills/i-think-that-s-the-beauty-of-living-in-america-right-we-all-get-our/)

[Kenny Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-stills/)

> [If America has the right to target Osama bin Laden, or terrorists, of course Israel has the right to defend itself from terrorism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/if-america-has-the-right-to-target-osama-bin-laden-or-terrorists-of/)

[Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/)

> [America has a right to be a leader. This leadership should be realized through partnership, not domination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-gorbachev/america-has-a-right-to-be-a-leader-this-leadership-should-be-realized/)

[Mikhail Gorbachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-gorbachev/)

## More by David Cameron

> [Humanitarian goods and people must flow in both directions. Gaza cannot and must not be allowed to remain a prison camp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/humanitarian-goods-and-people-must-flow-in-both-directions-gaza/)

[David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/)

> [I think it true that, you know, sometimes things start to change even before a government changes and, actually, I think you can begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-think-it-true-that-you-know-sometimes-things-start-to-change-even/)

[David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/)

> [Normally when people say they haven't decided, they're being polite but they're definitely not voting for you. I think it's different this time. People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/normally-when-people-say-they-haven-t-decided-they-re-being-polite/)

[David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/)

> [There is not, in my view, a single European demos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/there-is-not-in-my-view-a-single-european-demos/)

[David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/)

> [Conservatives believe in the ties that bind us. Society is stronger when we make vows to each other and we support each other. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/conservatives-believe-in-the-ties-that-bind-us-society-is-stronger/)

[David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/)

> [The murders in Paris are sickening, we stand with the French people in the fight against terror and defending the freedom of the press.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/the-murders-in-paris-are-sickening-we-stand-with-the-french-people-in/)

[David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/)

> [I have a very clear view, which is that if you disagree with the policies of Israel, fine, say so, but that is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-have-a-very-clear-view-which-is-that-if-you-disagree-with-the/)

[David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/)

> [As far as I am concerned this referendum should settle the matter. I believe it will one way or another be decisive. Britain will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/as-far-as-i-am-concerned-this-referendum-should-settle-the-matter-i/)

[David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/)

> [We will reflect the country we aspire to govern, and the sound of modern Britain's is a complex harmony, not a male voice choir.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/we-will-reflect-the-country-we-aspire-to-govern-and-the-sound-of/)

[David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/)

> [I've said I'll stand for a full second term, but I think after that it will be time for new leadership. Terms are like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-ve-said-i-ll-stand-for-a-full-second-term-but-i-think-after-that-it/)

[David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/)

> [Simply asking the British people to carry on accepting a European settlement over which they have had little choice is a path to ensuring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/simply-asking-the-british-people-to-carry-on-accepting-a-european/)

[David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/)

> [All those countries who keep their aid promises should be proud of what they've done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/all-those-countries-who-keep-their-aid-promises-should-be-proud-of/)

[David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/)

> [Easter is all about remembering the importance of change, responsibility, and doing the right thing for the good of our children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/easter-is-all-about-remembering-the-importance-of-change/)

[David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/)

> [I like democracy. I like to be able to throw out my political leaders when they get things wrong, and we don't get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-like-democracy-i-like-to-be-able-to-throw-out-my-political-leaders/)

[David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/)

> [The EU must be able to act with the speed and flexibility of a network, not the cumbersome rigidity of a bloc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/the-eu-must-be-able-to-act-with-the-speed-and-flexibility-of-a/)

[David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/)

[Explore all 203 David Cameron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/)

## More America quotes

> [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/)

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

> [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/)

[Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/)

> [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/)

[Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/)

> [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/)

[Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/)

> [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/)

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

> [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/)

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

> [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> [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/)

> [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/)

[Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/)

> [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/)

[Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/)

> [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/)

[Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/)

> [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/)

[Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/)

[Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Yes, America must do the right thing, but to provide moral leadership, America must do it in the right way, too.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David Cameron"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/yes-america-must-do-the-right-thing-but-to-provide-moral-leadership/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "America"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/yes-america-must-do-the-right-thing-but-to-provide-moral-leadership/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/david-cameron-1858_america_yes-america-must-do-the-right-thing-but_657539.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/david-cameron-1858_america_yes-america-must-do-the-right-thing-but_657539.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/david-cameron-1858_america_yes-america-must-do-the-right-thing-but_657539.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Yes, America must do the right thing, but to provide moral leadership, America must do it in the right way…” — David Cameron",
                "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 Cameron",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Yes, America must do the right...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/yes-america-must-do-the-right-thing-but-to-provide-moral-leadership/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/yes-america-must-do-the-right-thing-but-to-provide-moral-leadership/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
