--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't do what I'm doing to fight…" description: "\"“I don't do what I'm doing to fight terror. ... I do it because I care about kids. Fighting terror is maybe seventh or eighth on my list of priorities...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/315/greg-mortenson-7579_because-i-care_i-don-t-do-what-i-m-doing-to-fight-terro_1563410.jpg" --- # I don't do what I'm doing to fight terror. ... I do it… ![“I don't do what I'm doing to fight terror. ... I do it because I care about kids. Fighting terror is maybe seventh or eighth on my list of priorities. But working over there, I've learned a few things. I've learned that terror doesn't happen because some group of people somewhere like Pakistan or…” quote by Greg Mortenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/315/greg-mortenson-7579_because-i-care_i-don-t-do-what-i-m-doing-to-fight-terro_1563410.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/315/greg-mortenson-7579_because-i-care_i-don-t-do-what-i-m-doing-to-fight-terro_1563410.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/315/greg-mortenson-7579_because-i-care_i-don-t-do-what-i-m-doing-to-fight-terro_1563410.jpg) > ““I don't do what I'm doing to fight terror. ... I do it because I care about kids. Fighting terror is maybe seventh or eighth on my list of priorities. But working over there, I've learned a few things. I've learned that terror doesn't happen because some group of people somewhere like Pakistan or Afghanistan simply decide to hate us. It happens because children aren't being offered a bright enough future that they have a reason to choose life over death.”” [Greg Mortenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mortenson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that terrorism stems from lack of hope for children, not inherent hatred, urging investment in youth futures. **In simple terms:** Kids need hope to avoid violence. Key Takeaway Invest in education and opportunity for children. Themes peace education terrorism hope Mood empathetic reflective Type inspirational advocacy When to use this quote - community programs - school building - youth mentorship - policy reform Key Concepts social development conflict prevention human capital Questions to Reflect On - How can societies create brighter futures for at‑risk youth? - What barriers exist to providing education in conflict zones? A Different Perspective Addressing root causes is complex and requires long‑term commitment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Choose life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-life/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [I've learned that terror doesn't happen because some group of people somewhere like Pakistan or Afghanistan simply decide to hate us. It happens because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mortenson/i-ve-learned-that-terror-doesn-t-happen-because-some-group-of-people/) [Greg Mortenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mortenson/) > [ “Terror doesn't happen because some group of people somewhere . . . simply decide to hate \[others\]. It happens because children aren't being offered… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mortenson/terror-doesn-t-happen-because-some-group-of-people-somewhere-simply/) [Greg Mortenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mortenson/) > [By the way, although the subtitle of the book "Three Cups of Tea" is "fighting terror, one school at a time", that was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mortenson/by-the-way-although-the-subtitle-of-the-book-three-cups-of-tea-is/) [Greg Mortenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mortenson/) > [We come into this world naked, covered in our own blood, screaming in terror - and it doesn't have to stop there if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/we-come-into-this-world-naked-covered-in-our-own-blood-screaming-in/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [Terror is terror is terror, and it doesn't matter what nationality that terror belongs to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reuven-rivlin/terror-is-terror-is-terror-and-it-doesn-t-matter-what-nationality/) [Reuven Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reuven-rivlin/) > [Eventually, understanding the motivations of the terrorists and dealing with the injustices that pervade our society, and repairing the institutions of justice, particularly the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prashant-bhushan/eventually-understanding-the-motivations-of-the-terrorists-and/) [Prashant Bhushan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prashant-bhushan/) > [Today, the government of a free Afghanistan is fighting terror, Pakistan is capturing terrorist leaders, Saudi Arabia is making raids and arrests, Libya is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/today-the-government-of-a-free-afghanistan-is-fighting-terror/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The United States needs to be far clearer: we cannot and will not support any government where Hamas has a real influence and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/the-united-states-needs-to-be-far-clearer-we-cannot-and-will-not/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [We all want peace. Unfortunately, there are times when peace must be defended by fighting terror and tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-all-want-peace-unfortunately-there-are-times-when-peace-must-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is not going to be any pass for Palestinian leadership in fighting terror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/there-is-not-going-to-be-any-pass-for-palestinian-leadership-in/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [In fighting terror, you cannot let it interfere with the normal life of civilians in Israel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yitzhak-rabin/in-fighting-terror-you-cannot-let-it-interfere-with-the-normal-life/) [Yitzhak Rabin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yitzhak-rabin/) > [The risk of a terrorist victory is greater when in fighting terror, democracy betrays its own essence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-luis-rodriguez-zapatero/the-risk-of-a-terrorist-victory-is-greater-when-in-fighting-terror/) [Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-luis-rodriguez-zapatero/) > [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/) ## More by Greg Mortenson > [Our greatest ally in the Pakistan region of turmoil is the moderate Muslim majority, who we must reach out to and embrace if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mortenson/our-greatest-ally-in-the-pakistan-region-of-turmoil-is-the-moderate/) [Greg Mortenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mortenson/) > [“People who live in the last places-the people who are most neglected and least valued by the larger world- often represent the best of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mortenson/people-who-live-in-the-last-places-the-people-who-are-most-neglected/) [Greg Mortenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mortenson/) > [If you teach a boy, you educate an individual; but if you teach a girl, you educate a community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mortenson/if-you-teach-a-boy-you-educate-an-individual-but-if-you-teach-a-girl/) [Greg Mortenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mortenson/) > [You can hand out condoms, drop bombs, build roads, or put in electricity, but until the girls are educated a society won’t change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mortenson/you-can-hand-out-condoms-drop-bombs-build-roads-or-put-in-electricity/) [Greg Mortenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mortenson/) > [“I don't want to teach Pakistani's children to think like Americans...I just want them to have a balanced, non-extremist education”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mortenson/i-don-t-want-to-teach-pakistani-s-children-to-think-like-americans-i/) [Greg Mortenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mortenson/) > [I've learned that terror doesn't happen because some group of people somewhere like Pakistan or Afghanistan simply decide to hate us. It happens because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mortenson/i-ve-learned-that-terror-doesn-t-happen-because-some-group-of-people/) [Greg Mortenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mortenson/) > [“Abdul brushed the dirt from the American's forehead, where it had been pressed to the cool ground. "Not Pakistan man," he said. "But if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mortenson/abdul-brushed-the-dirt-from-the-american-s-forehead-where-it-had-been/) [Greg Mortenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mortenson/) > [When your kids accomplish something it means much more than anything you've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mortenson/when-your-kids-accomplish-something-it-means-much-more-than-anything/) [Greg Mortenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mortenson/) > [If you look at the 9/11 highjackers, certainly they were educated, some even had university degrees, but nobody really checked their mothers, who were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mortenson/if-you-look-at-the-9-11-highjackers-certainly-they-were-educated-some/) [Greg Mortenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mortenson/) > [One thing that I noticed is having met some former Taliban is even they, as children, grew up being indoctrinated. They grew up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mortenson/one-thing-that-i-noticed-is-having-met-some-former-taliban-is-even/) [Greg Mortenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mortenson/) > [“Osama, baah!" Bashir roared. "Osama is not a product of Pakistan or Afghanistan. He is a creation of America. Thanks to America, Osama is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mortenson/osama-baah-bashir-roared-osama-is-not-a-product-of-pakistan-or/) [Greg Mortenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mortenson/) > [ “We shall pursue our dreams “until \[we\] reach\[…\] it. Or fail\[…\] trying. ” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mortenson/we-shall-pursue-our-dreams-until-we-reach-it-or-fail-trying/) [Greg Mortenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mortenson/) > [“What we are trying to do may be just a drop in the ocean, but the ocean would be less because of that missing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mortenson/what-we-are-trying-to-do-may-be-just-a-drop-in-the-ocean-but-the/) [Greg Mortenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mortenson/) > [. . . hope resides in the future, while perspective and wisdom are almost always found by looking to the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mortenson/hope-resides-in-the-future-while-perspective-and-wisdom-are-almost/) [Greg Mortenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mortenson/) > [It is my vision that we all will dedicate the next decade to achieve universal literacy and education for all children, especially for girls.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mortenson/it-is-my-vision-that-we-all-will-dedicate-the-next-decade-to-achieve/) [Greg Mortenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mortenson/) [Explore all 89 Greg Mortenson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mortenson/) ## More Because i care quotes > [“I worry about you. Not just about your safety. I worry when you’re stressed. I worry when you’re unhappy.” His words leveled her world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-a-bardan/i-worry-about-you-not-just-about-your-safety-i-worry-when-you-re/) Amber A. Bardan > [I want to make myself and the crowd happy by way of something different, and that makes things difficult. I'm never playing something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiesto/i-want-to-make-myself-and-the-crowd-happy-by-way-of-something/) [Tiesto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiesto/) > [“I could have lost you today. My partner, my lover. Someone tried to kill you. Again. 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But because I care about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-cry-because-i-care-not-because-i-m-weak-not-because-i-m-a-girl-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I fight against racism and bigotry because I care about the people who are experiencing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/i-fight-against-racism-and-bigotry-because-i-care-about-the-people/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [“I'm a conservative but not because I care very much about the marginal tax rates of the richest Americans, rather I'm a market-oriented localist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-sasse/i-m-a-conservative-but-not-because-i-care-very-much-about-the/) [Ben Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-sasse/) > [“Yeah, okay, I might’ve overreacted, but it’s just because I care about you. 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