--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For decades, the Arab states have seemed…" description: "\"For decades, the Arab states have seemed exceptions to the laws of politics and human nature. While liberty expanded in many parts of the globe, these ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/elliott-abrams-1577_accompanied_for-decades-the-arab-states-have-seemed_818077.jpg" --- # For decades, the Arab states have seemed exceptions to the… ![“For decades, the Arab states have seemed exceptions to the laws of politics and human nature. While liberty expanded in many parts of the globe, these nations were left behind, their 'freedom deficit' signaling the political underdevelopment that accompanied many other economic and social maladies.” quote by Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/elliott-abrams-1577_accompanied_for-decades-the-arab-states-have-seemed_818077.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/elliott-abrams-1577_accompanied_for-decades-the-arab-states-have-seemed_818077.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/elliott-abrams-1577_accompanied_for-decades-the-arab-states-have-seemed_818077.jpg) > “For decades, the Arab states have seemed exceptions to the laws of politics and human nature. While liberty expanded in many parts of the globe, these nations were left behind, their 'freedom deficit' signaling the political underdevelopment that accompanied many other economic and social maladies.” [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It argues that Arab states lag behind global political development, creating a "freedom deficit" linked to broader underdevelopment. **In simple terms:** Arab nations are behind in liberty and development. Key Takeaway Address structural reforms to close freedom gaps. Themes politics development freedom inequality Mood analytical critical Type political academic When to use this quote - policy analysis - academic research - international aid Key Concepts democracy political economy Questions to Reflect On - What factors contribute to the "freedom deficit"? - How can external actors responsibly support reform? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex regional histories. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accompanied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accompanied/) [Arab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arab/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Globe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/globe/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [Left behind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-behind/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Underdevelopment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underdevelopment/) ## Related quotes > [Arab states continue to send the Palestinians gifts of extravagant rhetoric and countless Arab League resolutions - but not much cash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/arab-states-continue-to-send-the-palestinians-gifts-of-extravagant/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [“The Revolution, after discovering that it had confused the knife with the assassin, turned sugar, which had been responsible for underdevelopment, into an instrument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-hughes-galeano/the-revolution-after-discovering-that-it-had-confused-the-knife-with/) [Eduardo Hughes Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-hughes-galeano/) > [“The general economic growth of the quarter of a century that followed World War II not surprisingly created many illusions. In the West, people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-amin/the-general-economic-growth-of-the-quarter-of-a-century-that-followed/) Samir Amin > [Underdevelopment is a lack of maintenance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucero-isaac/underdevelopment-is-a-lack-of-maintenance/) [Lucero Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucero-isaac/) > [“In a way, underdevelopment is a paradox. Many parts of the world that are naturally rich are actually poor and parts that are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-rodney/in-a-way-underdevelopment-is-a-paradox-many-parts-of-the-world-that/) [Walter Rodney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-rodney/) > [The goals of development are always and everywhere stated in terms of consumer value packages standardized around the North Atlantic-and therefore always and everywhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-illich/the-goals-of-development-are-always-and-everywhere-stated-in-terms-of/) [Ivan Illich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-illich/) > [When a country is at war or in economic depression, underdevelopment or tightened security, it sets an affective tone or mood, which seeps through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kode9/when-a-country-is-at-war-or-in-economic-depression-underdevelopment/) [Kode9](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kode9/) > [“The South African state created a dual economy, preventing 80 percent of the population from taking part in skilled occupations, commercial farming, and entrepreneurship.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/the-south-african-state-created-a-dual-economy-preventing-80-percent/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [The mediocrity with which Africa has been ruled is responsible for its underdevelopment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raila-odinga/the-mediocrity-with-which-africa-has-been-ruled-is-responsible-for/) [Raila Odinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raila-odinga/) > [Conservatism is the perfect antidote to underdevelopment. Its commitment to individual responsibility, education, hard work, personal initiative, traditional family values and free markets is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-steele/conservatism-is-the-perfect-antidote-to-underdevelopment-its/) [Shelby Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-steele/) > [Side by side with the miseries of underdevelopment...we find ourselves up against a form of superdevelopment, equally inadmissable. This superdevelopment consists in an excessive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/side-by-side-with-the-miseries-of-underdevelopment-we-find-ourselves/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [“We do not have to look for diseases to explain why some people are not able to experience the full flowering of their potential.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/we-do-not-have-to-look-for-diseases-to-explain-why-some-people-are/) [Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [The only good thing I can say about the deal with Iran is that it brought the Arab states and Israel closer together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-netanyahu/the-only-good-thing-i-can-say-about-the-deal-with-iran-is-that-it/) [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-netanyahu/) > [I cannot conceive of Israel withdrawing if Arab states do not recognize Israel, within secure borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/i-cannot-conceive-of-israel-withdrawing-if-arab-states-do-not/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [“The Zionists accepted the partition plan. The AHC and the Arab states rejected any proposal to share the land and vowed to drown the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-stern/the-zionists-accepted-the-partition-plan-the-ahc-and-the-arab-states/) [Sol Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-stern/) ## More by Elliott Abrams > [President Obama has never summarized the Obama Doctrine with such clarity, but here is what it would look like: 'I will undertake any military…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/president-obama-has-never-summarized-the-obama-doctrine-with-such/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [The story of the Jews in the Bible is replete with incidents of their ingratitude to God for His gifts to them: incidents that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/the-story-of-the-jews-in-the-bible-is-replete-with-incidents-of-their/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [History may someday record that the Arab awakening that began with the Arab revolt of 1916 against the Ottomans ended about a century later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/history-may-someday-record-that-the-arab-awakening-that-began-with/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [From its earliest days in the nineteenth century, and until the Holocaust, the Orthodox rabbinate in eastern Europe was not enthusiastic about the Zionist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/from-its-earliest-days-in-the-nineteenth-century-and-until-the/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [The Pope is not a political figure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/the-pope-is-not-a-political-figure/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [Israel and the Palestinians had been at the table together for decades until the Obama/Mitchell/Rahm Emanuel decision to demand a total end to Israeli…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/israel-and-the-palestinians-had-been-at-the-table-together-for/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [Pundits are used to analyzing the gap between what our ideals suggest and what our security interests require.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/pundits-are-used-to-analyzing-the-gap-between-what-our-ideals-suggest/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [The Egyptian military and the government of Israel have long had a common interest in maintaining order and fighting terrorism in Sinai.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/the-egyptian-military-and-the-government-of-israel-have-long-had-a/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [In 2007, early in the improbable presidential candidacy of Barack Obama, the young first-term senator began a series of foreign-policy speeches that seemed too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/in-2007-early-in-the-improbable-presidential-candidacy-of-barack/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [Terrorists that kill Americans don't get released.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/terrorists-that-kill-americans-don-t-get-released/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [Refusing to lift sanctions and adopting tougher rhetoric toward Iran would not be partisan issues. Plenty of Democrats think that those actions are both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/refusing-to-lift-sanctions-and-adopting-tougher-rhetoric-toward-iran/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [At the height of the Cold War, when Ronald Reagan was president, the Soviets and their allies and satellites did not shirk human rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/at-the-height-of-the-cold-war-when-ronald-reagan-was-president-the/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [I personally would not talk to a Jew for Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/i-personally-would-not-talk-to-a-jew-for-jesus/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [When freedom of the press is threatened, the United States should be leading efforts to protect it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/when-freedom-of-the-press-is-threatened-the-united-states-should-be/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [Israel bombed the Syrian nuclear reactor in 2007. What the Syrians did in response, nothing. Israel has killed a number of terrorist leaders in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/israel-bombed-the-syrian-nuclear-reactor-in-2007-what-the-syrians-did/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) [Explore all 226 Elliott Abrams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) ## More Accompanied quotes > [Genius is always accompanied by enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/genius-is-always-accompanied-by-enthusiasm/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [Conversion is an enlarging, a deepening, and a broadening of the undergirding base of testimony. It is the result of revelation from God, accompanied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/conversion-is-an-enlarging-a-deepening-and-a-broadening-of-the/) [David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/) > [Arrogance is ever accompanied by folly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/arrogance-is-ever-accompanied-by-folly/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [The first audition I ever went on, I was accompanied by my mother at the instruction of my father. 'You have to learn how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-lee/the-first-audition-i-ever-went-on-i-was-accompanied-by-my-mother-at/) Michele Lee > [Before I compose a piece, I walk around it several times, accompanied by myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-satie/before-i-compose-a-piece-i-walk-around-it-several-times-accompanied/) [Erik Satie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-satie/) > [Estimates are that at least 70 per cent of all stars are accompanied by planets, and since the latter can occur in systems rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/estimates-are-that-at-least-70-per-cent-of-all-stars-are-accompanied/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [“They are never alone that are accompanied by noble thoughts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-sydney/they-are-never-alone-that-are-accompanied-by-noble-thoughts/) philipp sydney > [Why are people afraid of ghosts? 'Ooh, no, I wouldn't want to see one! I'd be too scared' - accompanied by a tremolo of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cavett/why-are-people-afraid-of-ghosts-ooh-no-i-wouldn-t-want-to-see-one-i-d/) [Dick Cavett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cavett/) > [There are many causes why a people politically ignorant cannot be roused to action. Perfect political ignorance must be accompanied by indifference to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-robbins-curtis/there-are-many-causes-why-a-people-politically-ignorant-cannot-be/) [Benjamin Robbins Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-robbins-curtis/) > [They are never alone that are accompanied with noble thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-are-never-alone-that-are-accompanied-with-noble-thoughts/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [First of all, I don't like to speak about austerity. I'd prefer to speak of fiscal discipline. Fiscal discipline, in the end, amounts to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-monti/first-of-all-i-don-t-like-to-speak-about-austerity-i-d-prefer-to/) [Mario Monti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-monti/) > [So that godly sorrow may be discerned by this train of graces wherewith it is accompanied, that worldly sorrow wants, at least in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hooker/so-that-godly-sorrow-may-be-discerned-by-this-train-of-graces/) [Thomas Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hooker/) > [Remember, until the 1970s, the spread of democracy has always been accompanied by the decline of inequality. The more democratic our societies have been,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-krastev/remember-until-the-1970s-the-spread-of-democracy-has-always-been/) [Ivan Krastev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-krastev/) > [Imagination tends to be truly useful if accompanied by the power of mental control - if the worlds in one's head can be purposefully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/imagination-tends-to-be-truly-useful-if-accompanied-by-the-power-of/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) > [Even if you're alone always believe I'm there with you because I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonor/even-if-you-re-alone-always-believe-i-m-there-with-you-because-i-am/) [Leonor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonor/) [Browse all 33 Accompanied quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accompanied/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For decades, the Arab states have seemed exceptions to the laws of politics and human nature. While liberty expanded in many parts of the globe, these nations were left behind, their 'freedom deficit' signaling the political underdevelopment that accompanied many other economic and social maladies.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elliott Abrams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/for-decades-the-arab-states-have-seemed-exceptions-to-the-laws-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accompanied" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/for-decades-the-arab-states-have-seemed-exceptions-to-the-laws-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/elliott-abrams-1577_accompanied_for-decades-the-arab-states-have-seemed_818077.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/elliott-abrams-1577_accompanied_for-decades-the-arab-states-have-seemed_818077.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/elliott-abrams-1577_accompanied_for-decades-the-arab-states-have-seemed_818077.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For decades, the Arab states have seemed exceptions to the laws of politics and human nature. While liberty…” — Elliott Abrams", "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": "Elliott Abrams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "For decades, the Arab states have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/for-decades-the-arab-states-have-seemed-exceptions-to-the-laws-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/for-decades-the-arab-states-have-seemed-exceptions-to-the-laws-of/#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 } } ] } ```