--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [The UN should remain in New York]…" description: "\"[The UN should remain in New York] because every country needs a cesspool. And the UN is always interesting as a theater of the absurd.\" — Ed Koch" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/562/ed-koch-7928_absurd_the-un-should-remain-in-new-york-because_1060454.jpg" --- # \[The UN should remain in New York\] because every country… ![“[The UN should remain in New York] because every country needs a cesspool. And the UN is always interesting as a theater of the absurd.” quote by Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/562/ed-koch-7928_absurd_the-un-should-remain-in-new-york-because_1060454.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/562/ed-koch-7928_absurd_the-un-should-remain-in-new-york-because_1060454.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/562/ed-koch-7928_absurd_the-un-should-remain-in-new-york-because_1060454.jpg) > “\[The UN should remain in New York\] because every country needs a cesspool. And the UN is always interesting as a theater of the absurd.” [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The UN is seen as a flawed institution, often absurd, yet essential for global governance. **In simple terms:** UN is flawed but needed. Key Takeaway Recognize its limits while engaging. Themes politics global governance skepticism Mood critical analytical Type political satirical When to use this quote - diplomacy - policy reform - global crises - media commentary Key Concepts Institutional critique international relations Questions to Reflect On - Is the UN more absurd than useful? - How can reforms improve its effectiveness? A Different Perspective Complex bureaucracy hinders action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurd/) [Cesspool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cesspool/) [Cesspool Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cesspool-interesting-2585703/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Needs Cesspool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs-cesspool-2585704/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Theater Absurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater-absurd-1574269/) [United nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-nations/) ## Related quotes > [Look at 'Batman' - that was theater of the absurd, as is 'Family Guy.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/look-at-batman-that-was-theater-of-the-absurd-as-is-family-guy/) [Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/) > [I spent a lot of time in college studying theater of the absurd and Beckett and Genet, and then I spent a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-gilpin/i-spent-a-lot-of-time-in-college-studying-theater-of-the-absurd-and/) [Betty Gilpin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-gilpin/) > [“The theater of the absurd represented a contrast to realistic theater. Its aim was to show the lack of meaning in life in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jostein-gaarder/the-theater-of-the-absurd-represented-a-contrast-to-realistic-theater/) [Jostein Gaarder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jostein-gaarder/) > [Last House offended a lot of people. The results in the theaters, even in Boston, reminded me a bit of things from when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-craven/last-house-offended-a-lot-of-people-the-results-in-the-theaters-even/) [Wes Craven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-craven/) > [We live in a time which has created the art of the absurd. It is our art. It contains happenings, Pop art, camp, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/we-live-in-a-time-which-has-created-the-art-of-the-absurd-it-is-our/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [One thing I'm a big fan of is the theater of the absurd. That's what I come from, that's what I love to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shannon/one-thing-i-m-a-big-fan-of-is-the-theater-of-the-absurd-that-s-what-i/) [Michael Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shannon/) > [It's a wonderful thing to be able to make fun of yourself and to do it in a way that sort of preserves your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/it-s-a-wonderful-thing-to-be-able-to-make-fun-of-yourself-and-to-do/) [Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/) > [Theater is such an absurd thing. It should be made fun of. But it's also produced some of the most beautiful things in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-gordon/theater-is-such-an-absurd-thing-it-should-be-made-fun-of-but-it-s/) [Molly Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-gordon/) > [“Long before the Theater of the Absurd, Woolrich discovered that an incomprehensible universe is best reflected in an incomprehensible story. ("Introduction")”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-m-nevins/long-before-the-theater-of-the-absurd-woolrich-discovered-that-an/) [Francis M. Nevins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-m-nevins/) > [To let politics become a cesspool, and then avoid it because it is a cesspool, is a double crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-crosby/to-let-politics-become-a-cesspool-and-then-avoid-it-because-it-is-a/) [Howard Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-crosby/) > [The Internet is fast becoming a cesspool where false information thrives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schmidt/the-internet-is-fast-becoming-a-cesspool-where-false-information/) [Eric Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schmidt/) > [“. . . Maybe even if we're not always so glad to be here it's our task to immerse ourselves anyway: wade straight through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/maybe-even-if-we-re-not-always-so-glad-to-be-here-it-s-our-task-to/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [I know the activists I deal with, we sort of try and check each other to make sure that we haven't gone native, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-norquist/i-know-the-activists-i-deal-with-we-sort-of-try-and-check-each-other/) [Grover Norquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-norquist/) > [I think we have such a political cesspool in America right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-t-flynn/i-think-we-have-such-a-political-cesspool-in-america-right-now/) [Michael T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-t-flynn/) > [Over all, many of society's values are a cesspool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/over-all-many-of-society-s-values-are-a-cesspool/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ed Koch > [I love being the mayor. I want to be the mayor forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/i-love-being-the-mayor-i-want-to-be-the-mayor-forever/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [I have a social life. But I don't discuss it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/i-have-a-social-life-but-i-don-t-discuss-it/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [The Chinese describe themselves as political refugees. Many base that claim on China's strict population laws, which allow them to have only one child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/the-chinese-describe-themselves-as-political-refugees-many-base-that/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [Citizens, thank you for all your birthday wishes. I am 88 years old today and still lucky to live in the greatest city in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/citizens-thank-you-for-all-your-birthday-wishes-i-am-88-years-old/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [The person who is bent on killing you will follow you wherever you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/the-person-who-is-bent-on-killing-you-will-follow-you-wherever-you-are/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [I injured myself politically when I took on Jesse Jackson' in the 1988 presidential campaign. I was too strident. I didn't recognize the emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/i-injured-myself-politically-when-i-took-on-jesse-jackson-in-the-1988/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [Don't tell me this is a difficult problem. If it weren't difficult, it wouldn't be a problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/don-t-tell-me-this-is-a-difficult-problem-if-it-weren-t-difficult-it/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [I'm just a simple Jewish boy from the Bronx.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/i-m-just-a-simple-jewish-boy-from-the-bronx/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [...what about the millions of poor in this country who desperately need assistance and services to help bring them out of poverty? Shall they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/what-about-the-millions-of-poor-in-this-country-who-desperately-need/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [I never doubted that I would be a good mayor. I never did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/i-never-doubted-that-i-would-be-a-good-mayor-i-never-did/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [It is not possible to remake the world. You can fix parts, but you can't remake the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/it-is-not-possible-to-remake-the-world-you-can-fix-parts-but-you-can/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [“The city is the size of a country, but has been operated like a candy store.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/the-city-is-the-size-of-a-country-but-has-been-operated-like-a-candy/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [When I came in, the city was on the edge of bankruptcy. I'm proud of what I did. I built the foundation that mayors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/when-i-came-in-the-city-was-on-the-edge-of-bankruptcy-i-m-proud-of/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [The fireworks begin today. Each diploma is a lighted match. Each one of you is a fuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/the-fireworks-begin-today-each-diploma-is-a-lighted-match-each-one-of/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [Life is indeed precious, and I believe the death penalty helps affirm this fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/life-is-indeed-precious-and-i-believe-the-death-penalty-helps-affirm/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) [Explore all 85 Ed Koch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) ## More Absurd quotes > [“It seem absurd to me that they don't know, haven't felt any change or tremor, even as my life has been completely turned upside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/it-seem-absurd-to-me-that-they-don-t-know-haven-t-felt-any-change-or/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [When a person’s tongue is extensively wrong, it is absurd, no less than unscriptural, to say that their heart is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/when-a-person-s-tongue-is-extensively-wrong-it-is-absurd-no-less-than/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [It is human nature to think wisely and to act in an absurd fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/it-is-human-nature-to-think-wisely-and-to-act-in-an-absurd-fashion/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [It is a dangerous and fateful presumption, besides the absurd temerity that it implies, to disdain what we do not comprehend. For after you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-dangerous-and-fateful-presumption-besides-the-absurd-temerity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I thought to myself: if it’s true that every person has a star in the sky, mine must be distant, dim, and absurd. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadegh-hedayat/i-thought-to-myself-if-it-s-true-that-every-person-has-a-star-in-the/) [Sadegh Hedayat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadegh-hedayat/) > [If, indeed, a firearm were more dangerous to its possessors than to potential aggressors, would it not make sense for the government to arm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/if-indeed-a-firearm-were-more-dangerous-to-its-possessors-than-to/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [“You were torturing a cat," she says. "With a freaking prod." "A prod I built myself in metal shop," he says. "But of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/you-were-torturing-a-cat-she-says-with-a-freaking-prod-a-prod-i-built/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [I have never heard enough classical music to be able to enjoy it; & the simple truth is, I detest it. Not mildly, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-never-heard-enough-classical-music-to-be-able-to-enjoy-it-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [To deprecate human reason by saying that none of us is or can be omniscient is absurd, for it takes an impossible standard as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/to-deprecate-human-reason-by-saying-that-none-of-us-is-or-can-be/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [“Rachel got up and did this happy little shuffle, like she was some cheerful farmer chick who'd just stepped outside to find the hick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/rachel-got-up-and-did-this-happy-little-shuffle-like-she-was-some/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [The absurd duty, too often inculcated, of obeying a parent only on account of his being a parent, shackles the mind, and prepares it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/the-absurd-duty-too-often-inculcated-of-obeying-a-parent-only-on/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [The workman of today works every day in his life at the same tasks, and this fate is no less absurd. 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But solitude also produces perverseness, the disproportianate, the absurd and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/solitude-produces-originality-bold-and-astonishing-beauty-poetry-but/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) [Browse all 1,644 Absurd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurd/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[The UN should remain in New York] because every country needs a cesspool. 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