--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The present danger which this country…" description: "\"The present danger which this country faces is at least as great as the danger which we faced during the war with Germany and Japan. Briefly stated, it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0be/james-forrestal-34465_cease_the-present-danger-which-this-country-fa_3046083.jpg" --- # The present danger which this country faces is at least as… ![“The present danger which this country faces is at least as great as the danger which we faced during the war with Germany and Japan. Briefly stated, it is the very real danger that this country, as we know it, may cease to exist.” quote by James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0be/james-forrestal-34465_cease_the-present-danger-which-this-country-fa_3046083.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0be/james-forrestal-34465_cease_the-present-danger-which-this-country-fa_3046083.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0be/james-forrestal-34465_cease_the-present-danger-which-this-country-fa_3046083.jpg) > “The present danger which this country faces is at least as great as the danger which we faced during the war with Germany and Japan. Briefly stated, it is the very real danger that this country, as we know it, may cease to exist.” [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The nation faces a profound existential threat comparable to wartime perils, risking its very survival. **In simple terms:** America may cease to exist without action. Key Takeaway Recognize and address existential risks now. Themes politics existential risk national security Mood anxious urgent Type political warning When to use this quote - policy making - defense planning - public awareness - international diplomacy Key Concepts Geopolitics war national survival Questions to Reflect On - What modern threats could end the nation? - How can societies prepare for existential risks? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on past wars may obscure new threats. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cease/) [Cease to exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cease-to-exist/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Danger Faced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger-faced-4532444/) [Exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exist/) [Faced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faced/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Germany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/germany/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Great Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-danger-901571/) [Japan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/japan/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present/) [Present Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-danger-264731/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-danger-1431041/) [Stated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stated/) [Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Which](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/which/) ## Related quotes > [The danger I faced was not accepted as reasonable grounds for deferring my tax payments, as authorities, who despite being told all of this,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauryn-hill/the-danger-i-faced-was-not-accepted-as-reasonable-grounds-for/) [Lauryn Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauryn-hill/) > [I think we also ought to prepare the American public, by way of informing them, that Saddam Hussein has these weapons, continues to attempt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-think-we-also-ought-to-prepare-the-american-public-by-way-of/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [The clear and present danger of climate change means we cannot burn our way to prosperity. 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We will be ready to repel any clear and present danger that poses a genuine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-c-sorensen/we-need-not-renounce-the-use-of-conventional-force-we-will-be-ready/) [Theodore C. Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-c-sorensen/) > [If you wait until those weapons pose a direct, clear, present danger to the United States, you've probably waited too long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sununu/if-you-wait-until-those-weapons-pose-a-direct-clear-present-danger-to/) [John Sununu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sununu/) > [I'm deeply concerned. And I think, in many ways, the Trump presidency poses a clear and present danger to our country and to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-m-deeply-concerned-and-i-think-in-many-ways-the-trump-presidency/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [But this is the great danger America faces. That we will cease to be one nation and become instead a collection of interest groups:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/but-this-is-the-great-danger-america-faces-that-we-will-cease-to-be/) [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) > [To expose our minds constantly to ungodly thinking is a great danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-begg/to-expose-our-minds-constantly-to-ungodly-thinking-is-a-great-danger/) [Alistair Begg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-begg/) > [Gloucester, 'tis true that we are in great danger; The greater therefore should our courage be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/gloucester-tis-true-that-we-are-in-great-danger-the-greater-therefore/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [obedience is a great danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-broner/obedience-is-a-great-danger/) [E. M. Broner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-broner/) ## More by James Forrestal > [By providing outstanding economic leadership, this country can wage its attack successfully - and can thereby build the foundations of a peaceful world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forrestal/by-providing-outstanding-economic-leadership-this-country-can-wage/) [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) > [As in the war of 1941-45, our victory and our survival depend on how and where we attack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forrestal/as-in-the-war-of-1941-45-our-victory-and-our-survival-depend-on-how/) [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) > [If all Europe lies flat while the Russian mob tramps over it, we will then be faced with a war under difficult circumstances, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forrestal/if-all-europe-lies-flat-while-the-russian-mob-tramps-over-it-we-will/) [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) > [Moreover, the accomplishment of Russia's aims has been greatly simplified by the fact that we have heretofore offered the world no practical antidote for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forrestal/moreover-the-accomplishment-of-russia-s-aims-has-been-greatly/) [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) > [There is a serious, immediate and extraordinarily grave threat to the continued existence of this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forrestal/there-is-a-serious-immediate-and-extraordinarily-grave-threat-to-the/) [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) > [Courage is the capacity to conduct oneself with restraint in times of prosperity and with courage and tenacity when things do not go well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forrestal/courage-is-the-capacity-to-conduct-oneself-with-restraint-in-times-of/) [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) > [From 1941 to 1945 we won a war by enlisting the whole-hearted support of all our people and all our resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forrestal/from-1941-to-1945-we-won-a-war-by-enlisting-the-whole-hearted-support/) [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) > [This country cannot afford the deceptive luxury of waging defensive warfare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forrestal/this-country-cannot-afford-the-deceptive-luxury-of-waging-defensive/) [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) > [The raising of that flag on Suribachi means a Marine Corps for the next 500 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forrestal/the-raising-of-that-flag-on-suribachi-means-a-marine-corps-for-the/) [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) > [For the only way in which a durable peace can be created is by world-wide restoration of economic activity and international trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forrestal/for-the-only-way-in-which-a-durable-peace-can-be-created-is-by-world/) [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) > [A similar revolving fund could be set up for Germany, for a durable peace can rest only upon a Germany that, while militarily impotent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forrestal/a-similar-revolving-fund-could-be-set-up-for-germany-for-a-durable/) [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) > [It is inconceivable that even the gang who runs Russia would be willing to take on war, but one always has to remember that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forrestal/it-is-inconceivable-that-even-the-gang-who-runs-russia-would-be/) [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) > [If these assets were set up as a revolving fund with which Japan could import raw materials for its industries, Japanese exports could again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forrestal/if-these-assets-were-set-up-as-a-revolving-fund-with-which-japan/) [James Forrestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) [Explore all 14 James Forrestal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forrestal/) ## More Cease quotes > [So long as we fear the outside world, we must cease to think of Swaraj.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/so-long-as-we-fear-the-outside-world-we-must-cease-to-think-of-swaraj/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [In the name of Jerusalem. If I forget the extermination of the Jews, may my right hand wither, may my tongue stick to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menachem-begin/in-the-name-of-jerusalem-if-i-forget-the-extermination-of-the-jews/) [Menachem Begin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menachem-begin/) > [But if you will recall the history of our civil troubles, you will see half the nation bathe itself, out of piety, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/but-if-you-will-recall-the-history-of-our-civil-troubles-you-will-see/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [Metallica's the only band i've ever been in. I'm not sure that when it ends in five, ten years, I'm going to put an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-ulrich/metallica-s-the-only-band-i-ve-ever-been-in-i-m-not-sure-that-when-it/) [Lars Ulrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-ulrich/) > [Cease speaking of enemies when an achievement can kindle a great light. Solitude will transmit the message better than the murmurs of crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-roerich/cease-speaking-of-enemies-when-an-achievement-can-kindle-a-great/) [Nicholas Roerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-roerich/) > [Without a function, we cease to be. So, I will write till I die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farley-mowat/without-a-function-we-cease-to-be-so-i-will-write-till-i-die/) [Farley Mowat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farley-mowat/) > [We have won an armistice on a single battlefield, not peace in our world. We may not now relax our guard nor cease our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/we-have-won-an-armistice-on-a-single-battlefield-not-peace-in-our/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [My child, seek those things which make for peace. 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