--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is a general sense of guarded…" description: "\"There is a general sense of guarded optimism. There have been too many false dawns over the last 60 years. There have been more tears than smiles, but ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aca/jack-straw-32241_abba_there-is-a-general-sense-of-guarded-opti_3066670.png" --- # There is a general sense of guarded optimism. There have… ![“There is a general sense of guarded optimism. There have been too many false dawns over the last 60 years. There have been more tears than smiles, but I sense there is a commitment from Abbas and Sharon, a new determination to make a reality of the goal of two states living side by side.” quote by Jack Straw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aca/jack-straw-32241_abba_there-is-a-general-sense-of-guarded-opti_3066670.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aca/jack-straw-32241_abba_there-is-a-general-sense-of-guarded-opti_3066670.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aca/jack-straw-32241_abba_there-is-a-general-sense-of-guarded-opti_3066670.png) > “There is a general sense of guarded optimism. There have been too many false dawns over the last 60 years. There have been more tears than smiles, but I sense there is a commitment from Abbas and Sharon, a new determination to make a reality of the goal of two states living side by side.” [Jack Straw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-straw/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Optimism tempered by past disappointments, urging renewed commitment to a two‑state solution. **In simple terms:** Hopeful but cautious about peace. Key Takeaway Support constructive dialogue. Themes optimism politics peacebuilding Mood hopeful serious Type political inspirational When to use this quote - diplomatic talks - public policy - community activism Key Concepts Historical skepticism conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - What concrete steps can sustain optimism? - How to balance hope with realism? A Different Perspective Optimism may underestimate entrenched obstacles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commitment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) [Dawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dawn/) [Determination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determination/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Optimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimism/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Side by side](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/side-by-side/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) ## Related quotes > [Optimism is not only a false but also a pernicious doctrine, for it presents life as a desirable state and man's happiness as its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/optimism-is-not-only-a-false-but-also-a-pernicious-doctrine-for-it/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [Survival should be the number one goal, states can have all sorts of goals that are deeply immoral or unethical. But that doesn't mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/survival-should-be-the-number-one-goal-states-can-have-all-sorts-of/) [John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/) > [For most of human history, the main goal of states has been to conquer land and to achieve glory for their rulers, usually at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/for-most-of-human-history-the-main-goal-of-states-has-been-to-conquer/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [The ultimate goal is two states for two people: Israel as a Jewish state and the homeland for the Jewish people and the State…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-ultimate-goal-is-two-states-for-two-people-israel-as-a-jewish/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The fact that lately some circles, not less powerful by their small size, have been actively promoting certain theories, as dangerous as they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-garcia-robles/the-fact-that-lately-some-circles-not-less-powerful-by-their-small/) Alfonso Garcia Robles > [I believe in God - not in a Catholic God; there is no Catholic God. There is God, and I believe in Jesus Christ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-believe-in-god-not-in-a-catholic-god-there-is-no-catholic-god-there/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Abba and me, we were the 70s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demis-roussos/abba-and-me-we-were-the-70s/) [Demis Roussos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demis-roussos/) > [I grew up on Queen, ABBA and at the same time, Nityasree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vidya-vox/i-grew-up-on-queen-abba-and-at-the-same-time-nityasree/) [Vidya Vox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vidya-vox/) > [I was so tired once 'Abba' was over and just wanted to be calm and with my children. I married, was in 'Abba,' had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnetha-faltskog/i-was-so-tired-once-abba-was-over-and-just-wanted-to-be-calm-and-with/) [Agnetha Faltskog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnetha-faltskog/) > [“You seem so far away though you are standing near. You made me feel alive, but something died I fear. I really tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bj-rn-ulvaeus/you-seem-so-far-away-though-you-are-standing-near-you-made-me-feel/) [Björn Ulvaeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bj-rn-ulvaeus/) > [I love Donna Summer, and I love ABBA. I love late '70s disco. I love the Bee Gees. I just love that period of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hawkins/i-love-donna-summer-and-i-love-abba-i-love-late-70s-disco-i-love-the/) [Taylor Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hawkins/) > [ There's no reason - not yet, anyway - to believe \[Bob\] Dylan himself endorses such an attitude; or that he would think of himself… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bennun/there-s-no-reason-not-yet-anyway-to-believe-bob-dylan-himself/) [David Bennun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bennun/) > [The cumulative weight of all mortal sins--past, present, and future--pressed upon that perfect, sinless, and sensitive Soul! All our infirmities and sicknesses were somehow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-cumulative-weight-of-all-mortal-sins-past-present-and-future/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Meryl's Donna embodied the spirit of ABBA and 'Mamma Mia!' in the first film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/meryl-s-donna-embodied-the-spirit-of-abba-and-mamma-mia-in-the-first/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [Someone once bought me loads of clothes from a charity shop - and sent them to me in a black bin liner. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-shaw/someone-once-bought-me-loads-of-clothes-from-a-charity-shop-and-sent/) [Suzanne Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-shaw/) ## More by Jack Straw > [If the situation in Zimbabwe continues to deteriorate, Britain will argue for Zimbabwe's suspension from the Commonwealth at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-straw/if-the-situation-in-zimbabwe-continues-to-deteriorate-britain-will/) [Jack Straw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-straw/) > [The English as a race are not worth saving!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-straw/the-english-as-a-race-are-not-worth-saving/) [Jack Straw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-straw/) > [He was a hateful terrorist who will be missed by all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-straw/he-was-a-hateful-terrorist-who-will-be-missed-by-all/) [Jack Straw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-straw/) > [It's extraordinary what children put up with. I happened to see two of my uncles put my father up against the wall of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-straw/it-s-extraordinary-what-children-put-up-with-i-happened-to-see-two-of/) [Jack Straw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-straw/) > [Holocaust Memorial Day is intended as an inclusive commemoration of all the individuals and communities who suffered as a result of the Holocaust -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-straw/holocaust-memorial-day-is-intended-as-an-inclusive-commemoration-of/) [Jack Straw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-straw/) > [The English are potentially very aggressive, very violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-straw/the-english-are-potentially-very-aggressive-very-violent/) [Jack Straw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-straw/) > [Saddam's removal is necessary to eradicate the threat from his weapons of mass destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-straw/saddam-s-removal-is-necessary-to-eradicate-the-threat-from-his/) [Jack Straw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-straw/) > [No negotiation is ever possible if you have to negotiate not only with the people in the room but also with some other committee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-straw/no-negotiation-is-ever-possible-if-you-have-to-negotiate-not-only/) [Jack Straw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-straw/) > [What people have got to remember is that Sept. 11 happened in 2001 and not in 2003. It was planned under the presidency of Bill Clinton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-straw/what-people-have-got-to-remember-is-that-sept-11-happened-in-2001-and/) [Jack Straw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-straw/) > [Our eventual aim is simply stated - that there should be no safe haven for terrorists anywhere in the world. We say to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-straw/our-eventual-aim-is-simply-stated-that-there-should-be-no-safe-haven/) [Jack Straw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-straw/) > [There has to be some certainty about who the leader is before the summer break.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-straw/there-has-to-be-some-certainty-about-who-the-leader-is-before-the/) [Jack Straw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-straw/) > [While the Taliban connives with foreign terrorists, the Afghan people suffer from poverty, drought and hunger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-straw/while-the-taliban-connives-with-foreign-terrorists-the-afghan-people/) [Jack Straw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-straw/) > [...to continue to be one of the world centres for scientific research, we have to stand up and be counted in support of researchers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-straw/to-continue-to-be-one-of-the-world-centres-for-scientific-research-we/) [Jack Straw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-straw/) > [There were five children in my family, and arguing was how we used to entertain ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-straw/there-were-five-children-in-my-family-and-arguing-was-how-we-used-to/) [Jack Straw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-straw/) [Explore all 15 Jack Straw quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-straw/) ## More Abba quotes > [Someone once bought me loads of clothes from a charity shop - and sent them to me in a black bin liner. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-shaw/someone-once-bought-me-loads-of-clothes-from-a-charity-shop-and-sent/) [Suzanne Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-shaw/) > [Meryl's Donna embodied the spirit of ABBA and 'Mamma Mia!' in the first film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ol-parker/meryl-s-donna-embodied-the-spirit-of-abba-and-mamma-mia-in-the-first/) [Ol Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ol-parker/) > [The cumulative weight of all mortal sins--past, present, and future--pressed upon that perfect, sinless, and sensitive Soul! All our infirmities and sicknesses were somehow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-cumulative-weight-of-all-mortal-sins-past-present-and-future/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [ There's no reason - not yet, anyway - to believe \[Bob\] Dylan himself endorses such an attitude; or that he would think of himself… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bennun/there-s-no-reason-not-yet-anyway-to-believe-bob-dylan-himself/) [David Bennun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bennun/) > [I love Donna Summer, and I love ABBA. I love late '70s disco. I love the Bee Gees. I just love that period of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hawkins/i-love-donna-summer-and-i-love-abba-i-love-late-70s-disco-i-love-the/) [Taylor Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hawkins/) > [“You seem so far away though you are standing near. You made me feel alive, but something died I fear. I really tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bj-rn-ulvaeus/you-seem-so-far-away-though-you-are-standing-near-you-made-me-feel/) [Björn Ulvaeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bj-rn-ulvaeus/) > [I was so tired once 'Abba' was over and just wanted to be calm and with my children. I married, was in 'Abba,' had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnetha-faltskog/i-was-so-tired-once-abba-was-over-and-just-wanted-to-be-calm-and-with/) [Agnetha Faltskog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnetha-faltskog/) > [I grew up on Queen, ABBA and at the same time, Nityasree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vidya-vox/i-grew-up-on-queen-abba-and-at-the-same-time-nityasree/) [Vidya Vox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vidya-vox/) > [Abba and me, we were the 70s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demis-roussos/abba-and-me-we-were-the-70s/) [Demis Roussos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demis-roussos/) > [I believe in God - not in a Catholic God; there is no Catholic God. There is God, and I believe in Jesus Christ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-believe-in-god-not-in-a-catholic-god-there-is-no-catholic-god-there/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [It's important in our talks with Abbas to hear how women are represented in peace negotiations, how Palestine views the position of women and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-wallstrom/it-s-important-in-our-talks-with-abbas-to-hear-how-women-are/) [Margot Wallstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-wallstrom/) > [I promise you, ABBA will never reform - I couldn't bear the stress of disappointing everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bj-rn-ulvaeus/i-promise-you-abba-will-never-reform-i-couldn-t-bear-the-stress-of/) [Bjorn Ulvaeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bj-rn-ulvaeus/) > [The most important thing is that you honor that musical integrity, whether you make music that sounds like ABBA or you make music that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/the-most-important-thing-is-that-you-honor-that-musical-integrity/) [Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/) > [Abba's last tour was a success but awful for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnetha-faltskog/abba-s-last-tour-was-a-success-but-awful-for-me/) [Agnetha Faltskog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnetha-faltskog/) > [ABBA was a direct influence on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/abba-was-a-direct-influence-on-me/) [Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/) Browse all 75 Abba quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is a general sense of guarded optimism. 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