--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Instead, the terrorists see just what…" description: "\"Instead, the terrorists see just what they were hoping for, our unity gone, our resolve shaken, our leaders distracted. In short, they see weakness and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cde/dick-cheney-1810_distracted_instead-the-terrorists-see-just-what-the_3060999.jpg" --- # Instead, the terrorists see just what they were hoping… ![“Instead, the terrorists see just what they were hoping for, our unity gone, our resolve shaken, our leaders distracted. In short, they see weakness and opportunity.” quote by Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cde/dick-cheney-1810_distracted_instead-the-terrorists-see-just-what-the_3060999.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cde/dick-cheney-1810_distracted_instead-the-terrorists-see-just-what-the_3060999.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cde/dick-cheney-1810_distracted_instead-the-terrorists-see-just-what-the_3060999.jpg) > “Instead, the terrorists see just what they were hoping for, our unity gone, our resolve shaken, our leaders distracted. In short, they see weakness and opportunity.” [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Terrorists view societal division and leadership distraction as opportunities to exploit weakness. **In simple terms:** Division invites exploitation. Key Takeaway Promote unity and strong leadership. Themes security politics unity Mood defensive strategic Type political security When to use this quote - elections - public rallies - media coverage Key Concepts terrorism studies political strategy Questions to Reflect On - How can societies maintain unity under threat? - What leadership traits deter terrorism? A Different Perspective Unity can be superficial without addressing root causes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Distracted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distracted/) [Gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gone/) [Instead Terrorists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instead-terrorists-2104052/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leaders Distracted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders-distracted-5134729/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Resolve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resolve/) [Shaken Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shaken-leaders-5134728/) [Terrorist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorist/) [Terrorists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorists/) [Terrorists Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorists-just-961024/) [Unity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unity/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) ## Related quotes > [It seems an obvious thing to say, but you should not imagine that we Pakistanis are all potential terrorists, just as we should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/it-seems-an-obvious-thing-to-say-but-you-should-not-imagine-that-we/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [I think the terrorists are just idiots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-madden/i-think-the-terrorists-are-just-idiots/) [Joel Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-madden/) > [“The media called us ruthless terrorists. We're not. We're just fighting for what's right. Being born a nought shouldn't automatically slam shut myriad doors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malorie-blackman/the-media-called-us-ruthless-terrorists-we-re-not-we-re-just-fighting/) [Malorie Blackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malorie-blackman/) > [This was a different form of French resistance in Paris on this day, all of these people coming together and sending out pictures like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberley-strassel/this-was-a-different-form-of-french-resistance-in-paris-on-this-day/) [Kimberley Strassel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberley-strassel/) > [I was with top CEOs in 2009, and they were clearly shaken. Top leaders of Wall Street and elsewhere, shaken. The ones at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/i-was-with-top-ceos-in-2009-and-they-were-clearly-shaken-top-leaders/) [Shiv Nadar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/) > [To bring the worst of the worst terrorists inside the United States would be cause for great danger and regret in the years to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/to-bring-the-worst-of-the-worst-terrorists-inside-the-united-states/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [We are opinionated society. We're very happy to spout forth our own views; we're not good about listening. We have to listen to other's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/we-are-opinionated-society-we-re-very-happy-to-spout-forth-our-own/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [The important thing here to understand is that the people that are at Guantanamo are bad people. I mean, these are terrorists for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/the-important-thing-here-to-understand-is-that-the-people-that-are-at/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [The relevance for 9/11 is that what 9/11 marked was the beginning of a struggle in which the terrorists come at us and strike…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/the-relevance-for-9-11-is-that-what-9-11-marked-was-the-beginning-of/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I think there's - the assumption seems to predominate on the other side that the reason there's been problems in the world is because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-think-there-s-the-assumption-seems-to-predominate-on-the-other-side/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [“A distracted mind cannot build a disciplined life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glody-kikonga/a-distracted-mind-cannot-build-a-disciplined-life/) [Glody Kikonga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glody-kikonga/) > [We are going to die, as is everyone we adore - I hate this! But the question is, how do we live as women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/we-are-going-to-die-as-is-everyone-we-adore-i-hate-this-but-the/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“You’ve so distracted me, your absence fans my love. Don’t ask how. Then you come near. “Do not…” I say, and “Do not…,” you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/you-ve-so-distracted-me-your-absence-fans-my-love-don-t-ask-how-then/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [One reason why my memory decays is that I have three cats, all so loving and insistent that they play cat's-cradle with every train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/one-reason-why-my-memory-decays-is-that-i-have-three-cats-all-so/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [Life is Too Short to be Distracted by the Opinions of Others.. Live it the way you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/life-is-too-short-to-be-distracted-by-the-opinions-of-others-live-it/) [Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/) ## More by Dick Cheney > [A little tough talk in the midst of a campaign or as part of a presidential debate cannot obscure a record of 30 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/a-little-tough-talk-in-the-midst-of-a-campaign-or-as-part-of-a/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Senator Kerry says he sees two Americas. It makes the whole thing mutual - America sees two John Kerrys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/senator-kerry-says-he-sees-two-americas-it-makes-the-whole-thing/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I am a deficit hawk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-am-a-deficit-hawk/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [We know he's been absolutely devoted to trying to acquire nuclear weapons, and we believe he has, in fact, reconstituted nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/we-know-he-s-been-absolutely-devoted-to-trying-to-acquire-nuclear/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I think the decision that's been made with respect to allowing gays to serve openly in the military is a good one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-think-the-decision-that-s-been-made-with-respect-to-allowing-gays/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [ \[In response to the question "Do you think that you underestimated the insurgency's strength?"\] I think so. I guess if I look back on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/in-response-to-the-question-do-you-think-that-you-underestimated-the/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Let us rid ourselves of the fiction that low oil prices are somehow good for the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/let-us-rid-ourselves-of-the-fiction-that-low-oil-prices-are-somehow/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I think we need to significantly reduce the regulatory burden on the private sector. The Obama administration is doing the opposite. They're loading on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-think-we-need-to-significantly-reduce-the-regulatory-burden-on-the/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I'm often asked why I left politics and went to Halliburton and I explain that I reached the point where I was mean-spirited, short-tempered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-m-often-asked-why-i-left-politics-and-went-to-halliburton-and-i/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I do find that the mainstream media oftentimes is what I would consider off base or has a bias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-do-find-that-the-mainstream-media-oftentimes-is-what-i-would/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I'm one of those people who believes that part of the greatness of the United States is our private sector. It's what we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-m-one-of-those-people-who-believes-that-part-of-the-greatness-of/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I believe that we were not as effective in the second term dealing with this issue of nuclear none proliferation as we had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-believe-that-we-were-not-as-effective-in-the-second-term-dealing/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Sarah Palin is an attractive candidate, but based on her background, she only was governor for what, two years. I don't think she passed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/sarah-palin-is-an-attractive-candidate-but-based-on-her-background/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [My own belief is that the way we grow the economy, create jobs, create wealth is in the private sector. The government doesn't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/my-own-belief-is-that-the-way-we-grow-the-economy-create-jobs-create/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [From our perspective, trying to deal with this continuing campaign of terror, if you will, the war on terror that we're engaged in, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/from-our-perspective-trying-to-deal-with-this-continuing-campaign-of/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) [Explore all 207 Dick Cheney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) ## More Distracted quotes > [Life is Too Short to be Distracted by the Opinions of Others.. Live it the way you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/life-is-too-short-to-be-distracted-by-the-opinions-of-others-live-it/) [Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/) > [One reason why my memory decays is that I have three cats, all so loving and insistent that they play cat's-cradle with every train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/one-reason-why-my-memory-decays-is-that-i-have-three-cats-all-so/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [“You’ve so distracted me, your absence fans my love. Don’t ask how. Then you come near. “Do not…” I say, and “Do not…,” you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/you-ve-so-distracted-me-your-absence-fans-my-love-don-t-ask-how-then/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [We are going to die, as is everyone we adore - I hate this! But the question is, how do we live as women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/we-are-going-to-die-as-is-everyone-we-adore-i-hate-this-but-the/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“A distracted mind cannot build a disciplined life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glody-kikonga/a-distracted-mind-cannot-build-a-disciplined-life/) [Glody Kikonga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glody-kikonga/) > [He was distracted by a giggle, and turned to see a rare sight: a girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/he-was-distracted-by-a-giggle-and-turned-to-see-a-rare-sight-a-girl/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [One should not be too distracted by definitions. Ideas transcend definitions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/one-should-not-be-too-distracted-by-definitions-ideas-transcend/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I would make a genuinely terrible guide. I can't remember things. I would get half way through telling a story or explaining something and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/i-would-make-a-genuinely-terrible-guide-i-can-t-remember-things-i/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [We are distracted from our greatness because are greatness is what scares us. Right where you are…God is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/we-are-distracted-from-our-greatness-because-are-greatness-is-what/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [The more you focus on yourself, the more distracted you will be from the proper path. The more you know Him and commune with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-more-you-focus-on-yourself-the-more-distracted-you-will-be-from/) [John Macarthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [One of the things we've seen here is how easy it is for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to get distracted from dealing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/one-of-the-things-we-ve-seen-here-is-how-easy-it-is-for-barack-obama/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [You cannot control your own population by force, but it can be distracted by consumption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/you-cannot-control-your-own-population-by-force-but-it-can-be/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“She thinks I am easily distracted when I drive. 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