--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the American people are very…" description: "\"I think the American people are very smart in understanding our country is very trustworthy with nuclear weapons. We've had them from the beginning. Bu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ad/haley-barbour-31649_american-people_i-think-the-american-people-are-very-sma_170328.png" --- # I think the American people are very smart in… ![“I think the American people are very smart in understanding our country is very trustworthy with nuclear weapons. We've had them from the beginning. But they have also been critical for keeping the world more at peace than it would have been if it hadn't been for the American nuclear umbrella.” quote by Haley Barbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ad/haley-barbour-31649_american-people_i-think-the-american-people-are-very-sma_170328.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ad/haley-barbour-31649_american-people_i-think-the-american-people-are-very-sma_170328.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ad/haley-barbour-31649_american-people_i-think-the-american-people-are-very-sma_170328.png) > “I think the American people are very smart in understanding our country is very trustworthy with nuclear weapons. We've had them from the beginning. But they have also been critical for keeping the world more at peace than it would have been if it hadn't been for the American nuclear umbrella.” [Haley Barbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-barbour/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker claims Americans trust nuclear weapons and view the US nuclear arsenal as a stabilizing force for global peace. **In simple terms:** Americans trust nuclear weapons and see them as keeping peace. Key Takeaway Recognize the perceived security role of nuclear deterrence. Themes security trust peace deterrence politics Mood cautious reflective Type political analytical When to use this quote - policy debates - international relations - public opinion Key Concepts nuclear strategy public perception global stability Questions to Reflect On - How does nuclear deterrence affect global stability? - What are the moral implications of relying on nuclear weapons? A Different Perspective Critics argue nuclear arms increase risk of escalation and accidents. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Nuclear weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-weapons/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Trustworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trustworthy/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Cars let us out of the barn and, while they were at it, destroyed the American nuclear family. As anyone who has had an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/cars-let-us-out-of-the-barn-and-while-they-were-at-it-destroyed-the/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [American nuclear reactors are well into middle age. The median age of an operating reactor in the U.S. is 34 years, placing start-up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/american-nuclear-reactors-are-well-into-middle-age-the-median-age-of/) [Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/) > [American nuclear weapons would almost certainly start being removed from Britain within 12 months of a Labour government gaining power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-kinnock/american-nuclear-weapons-would-almost-certainly-start-being-removed/) [Neil Kinnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-kinnock/) > [Are there many Tims in America? I don't know if I can think of many American Tims.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/are-there-many-tims-in-america-i-don-t-know-if-i-can-think-of-many/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [I think there is an American attitude that is very hard to break which is "We're great. Who wouldn't want to be like us?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hooman-majd/i-think-there-is-an-american-attitude-that-is-very-hard-to-break/) [Hooman Majd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hooman-majd/) > [I actually think if the American people understood what was going on instead of just being told tidbits by this administration, they would actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-actually-think-if-the-american-people-understood-what-was-going-on/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [I don't think of myself as either American or Australian really, I'm a true hybrid. It's a good thing for me because both of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-gibson/i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-either-american-or-australian-really-i-m-a/) [Mel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-gibson/) > [I don't think the American people, if you look historically, elect angry candidates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/i-don-t-think-the-american-people-if-you-look-historically-elect/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [I think the American people have a generous instinct. They understand that we're a nation of immigrants. But if those folks are going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-the-american-people-have-a-generous-instinct-they-understand/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“I think the American People are well aware at this point that both people parties are working with large financial and corporate interests to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-ratigan/i-think-the-american-people-are-well-aware-at-this-point-that-both/) [Dylan Ratigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-ratigan/) > [I've said many a time that I think the Un-American Activities Committee in the House of Representatives was the most un-American thing in America!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/i-ve-said-many-a-time-that-i-think-the-un-american-activities/) [Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/) > [The American people recognize that their careers or their kids' careers are going to have to be more dynamic. That they might not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-american-people-recognize-that-their-careers-or-their-kids/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I think American industry has lost perspective about their products.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russel-honore/i-think-american-industry-has-lost-perspective-about-their-products/) [Russel Honore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russel-honore/) > [“When you think of love you think as an American. You must think like a Russian. It is a more expansive view.' 'Americans havea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/when-you-think-of-love-you-think-as-an-american-you-must-think-like-a/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [I think the American people, with some justification, think that most politicians live in la-la land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kennedy/i-think-the-american-people-with-some-justification-think-that-most/) [John Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kennedy/) ## More by Haley Barbour > [There's no recovery on Main Street, I can tell you that for sure. And in a re - in an economy like this, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-barbour/there-s-no-recovery-on-main-street-i-can-tell-you-that-for-sure-and/) [Haley Barbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-barbour/) > [I have a record as governor. I have a record of cutting spending. And I talked yesterday not only about we ought to cut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-barbour/i-have-a-record-as-governor-i-have-a-record-of-cutting-spending-and-i/) [Haley Barbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-barbour/) > [I'm a lobbyist and had a career lobbying. The guy who gets elected or the lady who gets elected president of the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-barbour/i-m-a-lobbyist-and-had-a-career-lobbying-the-guy-who-gets-elected-or/) [Haley Barbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-barbour/) > [My daddy died when I was two years old. My mother raised my two older brothers and me. And we couldn't have had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-barbour/my-daddy-died-when-i-was-two-years-old-my-mother-raised-my-two-older/) [Haley Barbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-barbour/) > [The Obama administration and the Democratic Congress have taken the biggest lurch to the left in policy in American history. There've been no -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-barbour/the-obama-administration-and-the-democratic-congress-have-taken-the/) [Haley Barbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-barbour/) > [I would just have a different policy than what he has espoused... We need to recognize we are not going to deport 12 million…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-barbour/i-would-just-have-a-different-policy-than-what-he-has-espoused-we/) [Haley Barbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-barbour/) > [When I became governor, spending actually increased 28 percent my first term. Revenue increased 42 percent my first term without raising anybody's taxes. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-barbour/when-i-became-governor-spending-actually-increased-28-percent-my/) [Haley Barbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-barbour/) > [There have been more than 30,000 oil wells drilled in the Gulf of Mexico in the last 50 years. This is the first time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-barbour/there-have-been-more-than-30-000-oil-wells-drilled-in-the-gulf-of/) [Haley Barbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-barbour/) > [Most Americans are more concerned about the economy and job creation. And they can't understand why the Obama administration or the Democrat majority in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-barbour/most-americans-are-more-concerned-about-the-economy-and-job-creation/) [Haley Barbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-barbour/) > [In politics, purity is the enemy of victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-barbour/in-politics-purity-is-the-enemy-of-victory/) [Haley Barbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-barbour/) > [Big business has no party and never shall have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-barbour/big-business-has-no-party-and-never-shall-have/) [Haley Barbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-barbour/) > [ After \[Donald\] Trump has won in New Hampshire and South Carolina, Republicans are crazy and are about to blow the White House if we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-barbour/after-donald-trump-has-won-in-new-hampshire-and-south-carolina/) [Haley Barbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-barbour/) > [I'm floored that the House leadership would turn its back on job creation for Mississippians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-barbour/i-m-floored-that-the-house-leadership-would-turn-its-back-on-job/) [Haley Barbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-barbour/) > [The decision is 'trust fund' versus 'no more Medicaid' - and that shouldn't be a tough decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-barbour/the-decision-is-trust-fund-versus-no-more-medicaid-and-that-shouldn-t/) [Haley Barbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-barbour/) > [We know that acid rain has had no significant environmental effect on trees or forests in the United States... It is based on popular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-barbour/we-know-that-acid-rain-has-had-no-significant-environmental-effect-on/) [Haley Barbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-barbour/) [Explore all 16 Haley Barbour quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-barbour/) ## More American people quotes > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-as-much-as-government-can-do-and-must-do-it-is-ultimately-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Given a choice between two bald political candidates, the American people will vote for the less bald of the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-gold/given-a-choice-between-two-bald-political-candidates-the-american/) Victor Gold > [When the American people saw the LA riots and crowds of Blacks cheering O.J. Simpson (who was acquitted by the almost all Black jury),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duke/when-the-american-people-saw-the-la-riots-and-crowds-of-blacks/) [David Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duke/) > [In any event, it is one thing to assert, then or now, that the Iraq war was ill-advised. It is quite another to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-silberman/in-any-event-it-is-one-thing-to-assert-then-or-now-that-the-iraq-war/) [Laurence Silberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-silberman/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [I don't know a politician who enjoys fundraising. The system is such that the American people have lost faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-don-t-know-a-politician-who-enjoys-fundraising-the-system-is-such/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Probably the greatest single obstacle to the progress and happiness of the American people lies in the willingness of so many men to invest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/probably-the-greatest-single-obstacle-to-the-progress-and-happiness/) [John D. 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D. Hayworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-hayworth/) > [Hillary Clinton truly is sincere, but she has to connect more with the American people in terms of what she believes in and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/hillary-clinton-truly-is-sincere-but-she-has-to-connect-more-with-the/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [The American people are incredibly generous and even playful when you open yourself up and feed the media beast until it goes away satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krystal-ball/the-american-people-are-incredibly-generous-and-even-playful-when-you/) [Krystal Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krystal-ball/) [Browse all 2,233 American people quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think the American people are very smart in understanding our country is very trustworthy with nuclear weapons. 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