--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have to hand it to America. It has…" description: "\"You have to hand it to America. It has exercised a quite clinical manipulation of power worldwide while masquerading as a force for universal good.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce7/harold-pinter-3125_america_you-have-to-hand-it-to-america-it-has-ex_2538797.png" --- # You have to hand it to America. It has exercised a quite… ![“You have to hand it to America. It has exercised a quite clinical manipulation of power worldwide while masquerading as a force for universal good.” quote by Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce7/harold-pinter-3125_america_you-have-to-hand-it-to-america-it-has-ex_2538797.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce7/harold-pinter-3125_america_you-have-to-hand-it-to-america-it-has-ex_2538797.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce7/harold-pinter-3125_america_you-have-to-hand-it-to-america-it-has-ex_2538797.png) > “You have to hand it to America. It has exercised a quite clinical manipulation of power worldwide while masquerading as a force for universal good.” [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critiques America's global power as manipulative, hidden behind moral rhetoric. **In simple terms:** America uses power under the guise of good. Key Takeaway Question hidden agendas in power. Themes politics power imperialism ethics globalization Mood critical analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - international policy analysis - activism - media critique Key Concepts political theory history media studies Questions to Reflect On - How does power shape moral narratives? - What responsibility do citizens have? A Different Perspective Overgeneralization may ignore positive actions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America Exercised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-exercised-1413673/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hand/) [Hand America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hand-america-1413675/) [Manipulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manipulation/) [Manipulation Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manipulation-power-1413674/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Power Worldwide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-worldwide-328519/) [Universal Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universal-good-1413676/) ## Related quotes > [American power worldwide is at its historic zenith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/american-power-worldwide-is-at-its-historic-zenith/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Differences of power are always manifested in asymmetrical access. The President of the United States has access to almost everybody for almost anything he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-frye/differences-of-power-are-always-manifested-in-asymmetrical-access-the/) [Marilyn Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-frye/) > [To love the public, to study universal good, and to promote the interest of the whole world, as far as lies within our power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ashley-cooper-7th-earl-of-shaftesbury/to-love-the-public-to-study-universal-good-and-to-promote-the/) [Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ashley-cooper-7th-earl-of-shaftesbury/) > [Culturally, I think 'All in the Family' was universal enough to have good timing at any time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/culturally-i-think-all-in-the-family-was-universal-enough-to-have/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [The ultimate notion of right is that which tends to the universal good; and when one's acting in a certain manner has this tendency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-hutcheson/the-ultimate-notion-of-right-is-that-which-tends-to-the-universal/) [Francis Hutcheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-hutcheson/) > [A Universal Good should reflect the reality of the individual benefits that are collected under its name, not the other way around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feyerabend/a-universal-good-should-reflect-the-reality-of-the-individual/) [Paul Feyerabend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feyerabend/) > [I am particularly horrified by the use of propaganda and the manipulation of the truth and the revision of history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-particularly-horrified-by-the-use-of-propaganda-and-the/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Exploitation and manipulation produce boredom and triviality; they cripple man, and all factors that make man into a psychic cripple turn him also into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/exploitation-and-manipulation-produce-boredom-and-triviality-they/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Con men look for human frailty to exploit. This is most often greed. Trump found a different vice: anger. The emotional are always the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-meyer/con-men-look-for-human-frailty-to-exploit-this-is-most-often-greed/) [Pamela Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-meyer/) > [The casting couch exists in every business where there is power dynamics and manipulation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tisca-chopra/the-casting-couch-exists-in-every-business-where-there-is-power/) [Tisca Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tisca-chopra/) > [“The fact that I can get away with something is the very reason why I shouldn’t do it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-fact-that-i-can-get-away-with-something-is-the-very-reason-why-i/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“Manipulating or controlling others through the use of one's illness or suffering,for example,was-and remains-extremely effective for people who find they cannot be direct in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/manipulating-or-controlling-others-through-the-use-of-one-s-illness/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [“The people who would like to manipulate and use you won't tell you your blind spots. They may plan to continue using them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assegid-habtewold/the-people-who-would-like-to-manipulate-and-use-you-won-t-tell-you/) [Assegid Habtewold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assegid-habtewold/) > [I think that storytelling and creation are very close to what the center of what magic is about. I think not just for me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/i-think-that-storytelling-and-creation-are-very-close-to-what-the/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) ## More by Harold Pinter > [I also found being called Sir rather silly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/i-also-found-being-called-sir-rather-silly/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [I saw Len Hutton in his prime, Another time, another time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/i-saw-len-hutton-in-his-prime-another-time-another-time/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [Nothing is more sterile or lamentable than the man content to live within himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/nothing-is-more-sterile-or-lamentable-than-the-man-content-to-live/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [“ I know the place I know the place. It is true. Everything we do Corrects the space Between death and me And you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/i-know-the-place-i-know-the-place-it-is-true-everything-we-do/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [“DEELEY: Myself I was a student then, juggling with my future, wondering should I bejasus saddle myself with a slip of a girl not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/deeley-myself-i-was-a-student-then-juggling-with-my-future-wondering/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [I've never been able to understand what they mean by 'Pinteresque,'. I'm sure it's indefinable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/i-ve-never-been-able-to-understand-what-they-mean-by-pinteresque-i-m/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [A character on stage who can present no convincing argument or information as to his past experience, his present behaviour or his aspirations, nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/a-character-on-stage-who-can-present-no-convincing-argument-or/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [I'll tell you what I really think about politicians. The other night I watched some politicians on television talking about Vietnam. I wanted very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/i-ll-tell-you-what-i-really-think-about-politicians-the-other-night-i/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [Be careful how you talk about God. He's the only God we have. If you let him go he won't come back. He won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/be-careful-how-you-talk-about-god-he-s-the-only-god-we-have-if-you/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [I hate brandy...it stinks of modern literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/i-hate-brandy-it-stinks-of-modern-literature/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [“What sound was that? I turn away, into the shaking room. What was that sound that came in on the dark? What is this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/what-sound-was-that-i-turn-away-into-the-shaking-room-what-was-that/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [There are no hard distinctions between what is real and what is unreal, nor between what is true and what is false. A thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/there-are-no-hard-distinctions-between-what-is-real-and-what-is/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [Truth in drama is forever elusive. You never quite find it, but the search for it is compulsive. The search is clearly what drives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/truth-in-drama-is-forever-elusive-you-never-quite-find-it-but-the/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [Most of the press is in league with government, or with the status quo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/most-of-the-press-is-in-league-with-government-or-with-the-status-quo/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [Iraq is just a symbol of the attitude of western democracies to the rest of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/iraq-is-just-a-symbol-of-the-attitude-of-western-democracies-to-the/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) [Explore all 138 Harold Pinter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [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/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You have to hand it to America. 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