--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Over time it's going to be important for…" description: "\"Over time it's going to be important for nations to know they will be held accountable for inactivity. You're either with us or against us in the fight..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae6/george-w-bush-64_fighting_over-time-it-s-going-to-be-important-for_1407891.jpg" --- # Over time it's going to be important for nations to know… ![“Over time it's going to be important for nations to know they will be held accountable for inactivity. You're either with us or against us in the fight against terror.” quote by George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae6/george-w-bush-64_fighting_over-time-it-s-going-to-be-important-for_1407891.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae6/george-w-bush-64_fighting_over-time-it-s-going-to-be-important-for_1407891.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae6/george-w-bush-64_fighting_over-time-it-s-going-to-be-important-for_1407891.jpg) > “Over time it's going to be important for nations to know they will be held accountable for inactivity. You're either with us or against us in the fight against terror.” [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Nations must act against terrorism; inaction leads to accountability, forcing a clear choice between support and opposition. **In simple terms:** Countries must fight terror or be blamed for doing nothing. Key Takeaway Take a firm stance against terror. Themes security accountability terrorism politics Mood serious determined Type political strategic When to use this quote - policy drafting - diplomatic negotiations - military planning - public statements Key Concepts deterrence international law collective responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What are the risks of framing security as us vs. them? - How can nations balance accountability with cooperation? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on binary choices can ignore nuanced solutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accountable Inactivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountable-inactivity-4952788/) [Fight Terror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight-terror-452683/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Inactivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inactivity/) [Inactivity Fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inactivity-fight-4952789/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Nations Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations-know-1199882/) [Terror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terror/) [Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I must recall with gratitude those 178 Jewish women and men who participated in the Estonian War of Independence. Both of our nations know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kersti-kaljulaid/i-must-recall-with-gratitude-those-178-jewish-women-and-men-who/) [Kersti Kaljulaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kersti-kaljulaid/) > [“We do not actually know other nations; we only know our judgements.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/we-do-not-actually-know-other-nations-we-only-know-our-judgements/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [You are either with us or you are against us in the fight against terror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/you-are-either-with-us-or-you-are-against-us-in-the-fight-against/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Mr. Trump wants citizens of other nations to know that there is a legal process that needs to be followed, and that that process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-schlapp/mr-trump-wants-citizens-of-other-nations-to-know-that-there-is-a/) [Mercedes Schlapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-schlapp/) > [We'll fight terror like there's no peace, and make peace like there's no terror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yitzhak-rabin/we-ll-fight-terror-like-there-s-no-peace-and-make-peace-like-there-s/) [Yitzhak Rabin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yitzhak-rabin/) > [Abu Mazen has got to do only one thing: to fight terror. That's what he needs to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-olmert/abu-mazen-has-got-to-do-only-one-thing-to-fight-terror-that-s-what-he/) [Ehud Olmert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-olmert/) > [No references to the need to fight terror can be an argument for restricting human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/no-references-to-the-need-to-fight-terror-can-be-an-argument-for/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [An alliance of civilisations can be our most powerful weapon in the fight against terror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federica-mogherini/an-alliance-of-civilisations-can-be-our-most-powerful-weapon-in-the/) [Federica Mogherini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federica-mogherini/) > [We have to fight terror in one voice, rising above politics. That is when the common people will feel secure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/we-have-to-fight-terror-in-one-voice-rising-above-politics-that-is/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Conversely, it is correct to say that bringing about peace would be the best way to fight terror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/conversely-it-is-correct-to-say-that-bringing-about-peace-would-be/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [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/) > [It's never right to fight terror with terror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-never-right-to-fight-terror-with-terror/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [President Obama deserves credit for building what you call the largest coalition to fight terror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/president-obama-deserves-credit-for-building-what-you-call-the/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [We're gonna promote freedom. Usher in democratic values and ideals. And fight terror-loving terrorists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/we-re-gonna-promote-freedom-usher-in-democratic-values-and-ideals-and/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [So get this. On 9/11, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump's hometown was attacked by the worst terrorist attack in the history of the United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kaine/so-get-this-on-9-11-hillary-clinton-and-donald-trump-s-hometown-was/) [Tim Kaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kaine/) ## More by George W. Bush > [Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/throughout-our-history-the-words-of-the-declaration-have-inspired/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I recognize I am essentially a failed human being in the sense that I can't possibly live up to the expectations of an Almighty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-recognize-i-am-essentially-a-failed-human-being-in-the-sense-that-i/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [We will make sure our troops have all that is necessary to complete their missions. That's why I went to the Congress last September…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-will-make-sure-our-troops-have-all-that-is-necessary-to-complete/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [You can fool some of the people all the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/you-can-fool-some-of-the-people-all-the-time-and-those-are-the-ones/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [If you take all the food aid, America is by far the most generous country. If you take the direct aid, we're very generous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-you-take-all-the-food-aid-america-is-by-far-the-most-generous/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The tyrant has fallen, and Iraq is free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-tyrant-has-fallen-and-iraq-is-free/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“One of our energy strategies is to increase the CAFE standards to 35 miles per hour..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/one-of-our-energy-strategies-is-to-increase-the-cafe-standards-to-35/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [There's a lot that I want to accomplish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/there-s-a-lot-that-i-want-to-accomplish/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [If he's - the inference is that somehow he thinks slavery is a - is a noble institution I would - I would strongly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-he-s-the-inference-is-that-somehow-he-thinks-slavery-is-a-is-a/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [My answer is bring 'em on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/my-answer-is-bring-em-on/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [On 9-11, we discovered that we cannot escape from the world. To me personally, this was a life-changing experience, and I realized, as did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/on-9-11-we-discovered-that-we-cannot-escape-from-the-world-to-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [As Americans, we want peace - we work and sacrifice for peace. But there can be no peace if our security depends on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/as-americans-we-want-peace-we-work-and-sacrifice-for-peace-but-there/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I couldn't imagine somebody like Osama bin Laden understanding the joy of Chanukah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-couldn-t-imagine-somebody-like-osama-bin-laden-understanding-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) [Explore all 1,717 George W. Bush quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) ## More Fighting quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [“I bet she thought she was getting into a fight with a vanilla wafer on roller skates but little did she know she was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-portes/i-bet-she-thought-she-was-getting-into-a-fight-with-a-vanilla-wafer/) [Andrea Portes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-portes/) > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [We could form a government of national unity fighting corruption. The ordinary Afghan is sick and tired of it, because it's she or he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/we-could-form-a-government-of-national-unity-fighting-corruption-the/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [You have to fight gravity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-wine/you-have-to-fight-gravity/) [Sherwin Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-wine/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [Women rule the world. It's not really worth fighting because they know what they're doing. Ask Napoleon. Ask Adam. Ask Richard Burton or Richie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bon-jovi/women-rule-the-world-it-s-not-really-worth-fighting-because-they-know/) [Jon Bon Jovi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bon-jovi/) > [Well, He had known what love was-a sharp pang, a fierce experience, in the midst of whose flames he was struggling! but, through that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/well-he-had-known-what-love-was-a-sharp-pang-a-fierce-experience-in/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [It is sort of interesting that in our society this days we are very quick to apply the term 'war' to places where thare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-schneier/it-is-sort-of-interesting-that-in-our-society-this-days-we-are-very/) [Bruce Schneier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-schneier/) > [Someone else who liked what I did might turn around and say, "She's reworking and rethinking everything. She could just be making blankets now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/someone-else-who-liked-what-i-did-might-turn-around-and-say-she-s/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [The devil has been defeated, stop trying to defeat him. What we have left is the fight of faith, and it's a good fight!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-oyakhilome/the-devil-has-been-defeated-stop-trying-to-defeat-him-what-we-have/) [Chris Oyakhilome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-oyakhilome/) > [There comes a time when you're losing a fight that it just doesn't make sense to keep on fighting. It's not that you're being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paul-curtis/there-comes-a-time-when-you-re-losing-a-fight-that-it-just-doesn-t/) [Christopher Paul Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paul-curtis/) [Browse all 13,685 Fighting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Over time it's going to be important for nations to know they will be held accountable for inactivity. You're either with us or against us in the fight against terror.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George W. Bush" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/over-time-it-s-going-to-be-important-for-nations-to-know-they-will-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fighting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/over-time-it-s-going-to-be-important-for-nations-to-know-they-will-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae6/george-w-bush-64_fighting_over-time-it-s-going-to-be-important-for_1407891.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae6/george-w-bush-64_fighting_over-time-it-s-going-to-be-important-for_1407891.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae6/george-w-bush-64_fighting_over-time-it-s-going-to-be-important-for_1407891.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Over time it's going to be important for nations to know they will be held accountable for inactivity…” — George W. Bush", "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": "George W. Bush", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Over time it's going to be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/over-time-it-s-going-to-be-important-for-nations-to-know-they-will-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/over-time-it-s-going-to-be-important-for-nations-to-know-they-will-be/#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 } } ] } ```