--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Now we have a whole series of problems…" description: "\"Now we have a whole series of problems - energy, environment, proliferation - which go beyond the nation. And we also know that a conflict between majo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/henry-a-kissinger-1068_catastrophe_now-we-have-a-whole-series-of-problems-e_478521.jpg" --- # Now we have a whole series of problems - energy… ![“Now we have a whole series of problems - energy, environment, proliferation - which go beyond the nation. And we also know that a conflict between major powers would be a catastrophe for which there is no compensation in anything you can gain.” quote by Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/henry-a-kissinger-1068_catastrophe_now-we-have-a-whole-series-of-problems-e_478521.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/henry-a-kissinger-1068_catastrophe_now-we-have-a-whole-series-of-problems-e_478521.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/henry-a-kissinger-1068_catastrophe_now-we-have-a-whole-series-of-problems-e_478521.jpg) > “Now we have a whole series of problems - energy, environment, proliferation - which go beyond the nation. And we also know that a conflict between major powers would be a catastrophe for which there is no compensation in anything you can gain.” [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Global challenges like energy, environment, and proliferation exceed national borders; major‑power conflict would be disastrous with no real gain. **In simple terms:** World problems are transnational and war among great powers is catastrophic. Key Takeaway Prioritize cooperation over competition. Themes global security environment energy proliferation Mood concerned serious Type political analytical When to use this quote - policy negotiations - international summits - climate accords - energy planning Key Concepts geopolitics risk management Questions to Reflect On - How can nations build trust on shared threats? - What mechanisms prevent escalation? A Different Perspective Even cooperation can be hindered by national interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Catastrophe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catastrophe/) [Compensation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compensation/) [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Proliferation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proliferation/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Worry will never solve tomorrow's problems. It will only take energy away from today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/worry-will-never-solve-tomorrow-s-problems-it-will-only-take-energy/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [The pretense in disputed elections is that the great conflict is between the two major parties. The reality is that there is a much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/the-pretense-in-disputed-elections-is-that-the-great-conflict-is/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [I believe it is still true that conflicts among major powers usually stem from geopolitical rivalries but rarely from economic competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kagan/i-believe-it-is-still-true-that-conflicts-among-major-powers-usually/) [Robert Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kagan/) > [ It \[a new world order\] needs only that the governments of Britain, the United States, France, Germany, and Russia should get together in order… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-g-wells/it-a-new-world-order-needs-only-that-the-governments-of-britain-the/) [H. G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-g-wells/) > [Because there is no world government to protect states from one another, major powers are acutely sensitive to threats - especially near their borders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/because-there-is-no-world-government-to-protect-states-from-one/) [John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/) > [World's major powers, including China and Russia, don't want to 'finance' American military adventures anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-keiser/world-s-major-powers-including-china-and-russia-don-t-want-to-finance/) [Max Keiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-keiser/) > [Indeed, China may never acquire the geo-political influence and reach that Great Britain enjoyed in the 19th century and the United States of America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjaya-baru/indeed-china-may-never-acquire-the-geo-political-influence-and-reach/) [Sanjaya Baru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjaya-baru/) > [“In fact, as of May 15, 1984, the major powers of the world had remained at peace with one another for the longest stretch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/in-fact-as-of-may-15-1984-the-major-powers-of-the-world-had-remained/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [Rogue states never turn out to be quite the pariahs they are deemed. They are only able to cause, or at least threaten to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/rogue-states-never-turn-out-to-be-quite-the-pariahs-they-are-deemed/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [The thing that I focus on because I don't think it gets enough attention is that among the world's major powers, there is still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/the-thing-that-i-focus-on-because-i-don-t-think-it-gets-enough/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [We've been in a period of relative stability and cooperation since the end of the Cold War among the world's major powers, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/we-ve-been-in-a-period-of-relative-stability-and-cooperation-since/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [If the six-nation forums dealing with Iran and North Korea suffer comparable failures, the consequence will be a world of unchecked proliferation, not controlled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/if-the-six-nation-forums-dealing-with-iran-and-north-korea-suffer/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [I believe that there is a whole set of issues in the world - environment, proliferation, energy, cyberspace - that can only be dealt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-believe-that-there-is-a-whole-set-of-issues-in-the-world/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [I come to this debate, Mr. Speaker, as one at the end of 10 years in office on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/i-come-to-this-debate-mr-speaker-as-one-at-the-end-of-10-years-in/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [The proliferation of right-to-carry laws throughout the states has drawn plaintive complaints from the criminal element. They feel that it makes their profession too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/the-proliferation-of-right-to-carry-laws-throughout-the-states-has/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) ## More by Henry A. Kissinger > [90% of politicians give the other 10% a bad name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/90-of-politicians-give-the-other-10-a-bad-name/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [I believe it is a mistake to isolate arms control from other areas of policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-believe-it-is-a-mistake-to-isolate-arms-control-from-other-areas-of/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [ Before the Freedom of Information Act, I used to say at meetings "The illegal we do immediately. The unconstitutional takes a little longer." \[...\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/before-the-freedom-of-information-act-i-used-to-say-at-meetings-the/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [The convictions that leaders have formed before reaching high office are the intellectual capital they will consume as long as they continue in office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-convictions-that-leaders-have-formed-before-reaching-high-office/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Nothing is more urgent than a serious, dare I say compassionate, debate as to where we are going at home and abroad. Technicians cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/nothing-is-more-urgent-than-a-serious-dare-i-say-compassionate-debate/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Jews were segregated from 1933 on. We could only play against other Jewish teams. This wasn't just social segregation; this was the beginning of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/jews-were-segregated-from-1933-on-we-could-only-play-against-other/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [The Russian people, at least the ones I know, have pride in being a Russian. And, therefore, they want to be taken seriously in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-russian-people-at-least-the-ones-i-know-have-pride-in-being-a/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [There are only two reasons to sit in the back row of an airplane: Either you have diarrhea, or you're anxious to meet people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/there-are-only-two-reasons-to-sit-in-the-back-row-of-an-airplane/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [John Paul II was one of the greatest men of the last century. Perhaps the greatest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/john-paul-ii-was-one-of-the-greatest-men-of-the-last-century-perhaps/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Does anyone have any questions for my answers?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/does-anyone-have-any-questions-for-my-answers/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Taiwan will probably not declare independence. The question isn't independence. The issue is whether Taiwan will declare itself as a sovereign separate state. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/taiwan-will-probably-not-declare-independence-the-question-isn-t/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [China is a country with a record of continuous self-government going back 4,000 years, the only society that has achieved this. One must start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/china-is-a-country-with-a-record-of-continuous-self-government-going/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [With proper tactics, nuclear war need not be as destructive as it appears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/with-proper-tactics-nuclear-war-need-not-be-as-destructive-as-it/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [I think a resumption of the Cold War would be a historic tragedy. If a conflict is avoidable, on a basis reflecting morality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-think-a-resumption-of-the-cold-war-would-be-a-historic-tragedy-if-a/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [University politics make me long for the simplicity of the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/university-politics-make-me-long-for-the-simplicity-of-the-middle-east/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) [Explore all 298 Henry A. Kissinger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) ## More Catastrophe quotes > [Many individuals spend a considerable portion of their lifetimes in terror of one imagined catastrophe or another. The classic is that your immortal soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/many-individuals-spend-a-considerable-portion-of-their-lifetimes-in/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [I was asked the other day if I would be interested in the Nobel Prize, but I think that for me it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/i-was-asked-the-other-day-if-i-would-be-interested-in-the-nobel-prize/) [Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [“..the sense of a catastrophe perpetually invoked and avoided creates a rapture in whose depths horror and pleasure coincide...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-leiris/the-sense-of-a-catastrophe-perpetually-invoked-and-avoided-creates-a/) [Michel Leiris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-leiris/) > [To you, the people of Flint, I say, as I have before, I am sorry and I will fix it. No citizen of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-snyder/to-you-the-people-of-flint-i-say-as-i-have-before-i-am-sorry-and-i/) [Rick Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-snyder/) > [Dark influences from the American past congregate among us still. If we are a democracy, what are we to make of the palpable elements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-bloom/dark-influences-from-the-american-past-congregate-among-us-still-if/) [Harold Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-bloom/) > [It's the hardest thing on earth to like yourself, and then when you do, it's a catastrophe. I mean, the people I know who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-nichols/it-s-the-hardest-thing-on-earth-to-like-yourself-and-then-when-you-do/) [Mike Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-nichols/) > [We are upsetting the atmosphere upon which all life depends. In the late 80s when I began to take climate change seriously, we referred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/we-are-upsetting-the-atmosphere-upon-which-all-life-depends-in-the/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [“War is catastrophe. It breaks families in irretrievable pieces. But those who are gone are not necessarily lost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruta-sepetys/war-is-catastrophe-it-breaks-families-in-irretrievable-pieces-but/) [Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/) > [The biggest catastrophes that we've witnessed rarely come from information that is secret or hidden. It comes from information that is freely available and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-heffernan/the-biggest-catastrophes-that-we-ve-witnessed-rarely-come-from/) [Margaret Heffernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-heffernan/) > [All the parties of capitalist society, all its moralists and all its sycophants will perish beneath the debris of the impending catastrophe. The only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/all-the-parties-of-capitalist-society-all-its-moralists-and-all-its/) [Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/) > [When the regime changed in Japan, the Japanese changed; Russians too can change, as long as the conditions for it are present once again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-voinovich/when-the-regime-changed-in-japan-the-japanese-changed-russians-too/) [Vladimir Voinovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-voinovich/) > [And in the racial climate of this country today, it is anybody's guess which of the 'extremes' in approach to the black man's problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/and-in-the-racial-climate-of-this-country-today-it-is-anybody-s-guess/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“But I guess it never is what you worry over that comes to pass in the end. The real catastrophes are always different -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/but-i-guess-it-never-is-what-you-worry-over-that-comes-to-pass-in-the/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [“How someone wants to explain catastrophe isn't important--that's what I know now. When shit happens, it doesn't really matter what asshole is responsible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-lacey/how-someone-wants-to-explain-catastrophe-isn-t-important-that-s-what/) [Catherine Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-lacey/) > [The Author of nature has not given laws to the universe, which, like the institutions of men, carry in themselves the elements of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-playfair/the-author-of-nature-has-not-given-laws-to-the-universe-which-like/) [John Playfair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-playfair/) [Browse all 656 Catastrophe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catastrophe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Now we have a whole series of problems - energy, environment, proliferation - which go beyond the nation. 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