---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Coming into World War II, we were seen as…"
description: "\"Coming into World War II, we were seen as a conquering hero for beleaguered people, we are now seen as invader, an occupier. And what that is saying is..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/jesse-jackson-1161_believable_coming-into-world-war-ii-we-were-seen-as_1012917.jpg"
---

#  Coming into World War II, we were seen as a conquering…

![“Coming into World War II, we were seen as a conquering hero for beleaguered people, we are now seen as invader, an occupier. And what that is saying is we have more might than right, so we kind of have a kind of moral deficit disorder. And that's why a leader must lift us back to the higher…” quote by Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/jesse-jackson-1161_believable_coming-into-world-war-ii-we-were-seen-as_1012917.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/jesse-jackson-1161_believable_coming-into-world-war-ii-we-were-seen-as_1012917.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/jesse-jackson-1161_believable_coming-into-world-war-ii-we-were-seen-as_1012917.jpg)

> “Coming into World War II, we were seen as a conquering hero for beleaguered people, we are now seen as invader, an occupier. And what that is saying is we have more might than right, so we kind of have a kind of moral deficit disorder. And that's why a leader must lift us back to the higher ground, because at the end of the day what makes you strong is that you are believable, that as significant as might is, ultimately right is even stronger than might.”

[Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/)

## 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 argues that true strength lies not in sheer power but in moral legitimacy; leaders must rise above mere might to earn credibility and ethical authority.

**In simple terms:** Moral right outweighs raw power; leaders need credibility.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize ethical integrity over brute force.

Themes

leadership ethics power credibility morality

Mood

inspirational thoughtful serious

Type

political philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- political discourse
- conflict resolution
- public policy
- community building

Key Concepts

Moral deficit higher ground ethical leadership

Questions to Reflect On

- What actions demonstrate moral authority in leadership?
- How can societies hold powerful actors accountable?

A Different Perspective

Power without moral right leads to oppression and loss of trust.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[End of the day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-of-the-day/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Higher ground](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher-ground/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War of the worlds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-of-the-worlds/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war/) [World war ii](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war-ii/)

## Related quotes

> [American's greatest deficit is no longer found in the federal budget. It is a moral deficit, and it may be found in a polluted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/american-s-greatest-deficit-is-no-longer-found-in-the-federal-budget/)

[Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/)

> [Those with a moral deficit put on a good show, and sleep like a baby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/those-with-a-moral-deficit-put-on-a-good-show-and-sleep-like-a-baby/)

[Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/)

> [He wished he could arrange a maiming as a kind of moral lesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/he-wished-he-could-arrange-a-maiming-as-a-kind-of-moral-lesson/)

[John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/)

> [It's healthy for government to be a kind of moral catalyst, using the bully pulpit of high office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/it-s-healthy-for-government-to-be-a-kind-of-moral-catalyst-using-the/)

[William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/)

> [I guess to me religion is a kind of moral code.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-rubin/i-guess-to-me-religion-is-a-kind-of-moral-code/)

[Vera Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-rubin/)

> [With truths of a certain kind, it is not enough to make them appear convincing: one must also make them felt. Of such kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-truths-of-a-certain-kind-it-is-not-enough-to-make-them-appear/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Wolf apparently holds me to some kind of moral standard that he himself doesn't even observe but thinks I should.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alecia-whitaker/wolf-apparently-holds-me-to-some-kind-of-moral-standard-that-he/)

[Alecia Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alecia-whitaker/)

> [Turning the other cheek is a kind of moral jiu-jitsu.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-stanley-lee/turning-the-other-cheek-is-a-kind-of-moral-jiu-jitsu/)

[Gerald Stanley Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-stanley-lee/)

> [On an occasion of this kind it becomes more than a moral duty to speak one's mind. It becomes a pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/on-an-occasion-of-this-kind-it-becomes-more-than-a-moral-duty-to/)

[Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/)

> [Walk through the mud in life, if you ever want to get to the higher ground”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-plitt/walk-through-the-mud-in-life-if-you-ever-want-to-get-to-the-higher/)

[Greg Plitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-plitt/)

> [“Indeed, it is the nature of intelligent life to climb mountains. They all want to stand on ever higher ground to gaze ever farther…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-cixin/indeed-it-is-the-nature-of-intelligent-life-to-climb-mountains-they/)

[Liu Cixin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-cixin/)

> [“Some women are built by the fire. Yet, there are some that are the FIRE!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/some-women-are-built-by-the-fire-yet-there-are-some-that-are-the-fire/)

[Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/)

> [“A young man was sitting at home when a terrible rainstorm began. Within hours, the man’s house began to flood, and someone came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-vance/a-young-man-was-sitting-at-home-when-a-terrible-rainstorm-began/)

[J.D. Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-vance/)

> [An increasing number of people are growing uncomfortable with the gulf between the world's rich and the poor. Ostentatiously splashing your money around simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalle-lasn/an-increasing-number-of-people-are-growing-uncomfortable-with-the/)

[Kalle Lasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalle-lasn/)

> [“Humble yourself before the Lord and he will lift you high. People who are gentle, humble and able always have a great ending no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/humble-yourself-before-the-lord-and-he-will-lift-you-high-people-who/)

[israelmore ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

## More by Jesse Jackson

> [If my mind can conceive it ,and my heart can believe it,i known I can achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/if-my-mind-can-conceive-it-and-my-heart-can-believe-it-i-known-i-can/)

[Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/)

> [We reveal our joys and successes, we conceal our pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-reveal-our-joys-and-successes-we-conceal-our-pain/)

[Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/)

> [We blacks were the first people embracing Obama, long before the people at expensive fundraisers were supporting him. We gave him his first love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-blacks-were-the-first-people-embracing-obama-long-before-the/)

[Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/)

> [The coffers are full of money and equipment for the Ferguson Police and the Missouri National Guard to put down a potential uprising, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/the-coffers-are-full-of-money-and-equipment-for-the-ferguson-police/)

[Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/)

> [Many are observing Ferguson and witnessing the anger, demonstrations, looting and vandalism and calling for quiet. But quiet isn't enough. The absence of noise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/many-are-observing-ferguson-and-witnessing-the-anger-demonstrations/)

[Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/)

> [What's good for the very rich might not be good for anybody but them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/what-s-good-for-the-very-rich-might-not-be-good-for-anybody-but-them/)

[Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/)

> [Those who have the most wealth and the most property, their children have the first, the best, and the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/those-who-have-the-most-wealth-and-the-most-property-their-children/)

[Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/)

> [Most blacks will argue that they excel because of hard work, because of intellect, determination, sweat, blood, tears and risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/most-blacks-will-argue-that-they-excel-because-of-hard-work-because/)

[Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/)

> [Pictures can live in one's memory. That's why they are important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/pictures-can-live-in-one-s-memory-that-s-why-they-are-important/)

[Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/)

> [A check or credit card, a Gucci bag strap, anything of value will do. Give as you live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/a-check-or-credit-card-a-gucci-bag-strap-anything-of-value-will-do/)

[Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/)

> [When they wrote the Constitution, only white male landowners had the right to vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/when-they-wrote-the-constitution-only-white-male-landowners-had-the/)

[Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/)

> [I'm too mature to be angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/i-m-too-mature-to-be-angry/)

[Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/)

> [We picked their cotton. We cooked their food. We nursed their babies. Now we can run their cities. We can run their states. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-picked-their-cotton-we-cooked-their-food-we-nursed-their-babies/)

[Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/)

> [There are clear patterns of discrimination against Blacks and Latinos. The big banks targeted Blacks and Latinos with toxic packages of subprime predatory lending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/there-are-clear-patterns-of-discrimination-against-blacks-and-latinos/)

[Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/)

> [Few would deny that blacks have become very dominant in athletics: football, basketball, track, now dominant in tennis and dominant in golf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/few-would-deny-that-blacks-have-become-very-dominant-in-athletics/)

[Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/)

[Explore all 281 Jesse Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/)

## More Believable quotes

> [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [Making the unbelievable believable is different on a set with 'Fantastic Four,' where it's like, 'Wind machines! Because the airship is coming in and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-washington/making-the-unbelievable-believable-is-different-on-a-set-with/)

[Kerry Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-washington/)

> ['The Avengers' made it more believable that I could have been a major in the U.S. Army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cobie-smulders/the-avengers-made-it-more-believable-that-i-could-have-been-a-major/)

[Cobie Smulders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cobie-smulders/)

> [In creating the strange milieu in which your story takes place, you must first understand as well as you possibly can the familiar milieu…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/in-creating-the-strange-milieu-in-which-your-story-takes-place-you/)

[Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/)

> [“Good fiction makes the truth believable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarrant-smith/good-fiction-makes-the-truth-believable/)

Tarrant Smith

> [As an actor, I like my films to be believable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-kay-menon/as-an-actor-i-like-my-films-to-be-believable/)

[Kay Kay Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-kay-menon/)

> [Mostly it's lies, writing novels. You set out to tell an untrue story and you try to make it believable, even to yourself. Which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/mostly-it-s-lies-writing-novels-you-set-out-to-tell-an-untrue-story/)

[Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/)

> [American traditions and the American ethic require us to be truthful, but the most important reason is that truth is the best propaganda and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/american-traditions-and-the-american-ethic-require-us-to-be-truthful/)

[Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/)

> [Why am I an atheist? The short answer is that I cannot accept any of the alternatives. I simply don't find them believable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-smoker/why-am-i-an-atheist-the-short-answer-is-that-i-cannot-accept-any-of/)

[Barbara Smoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-smoker/)

> [I don't understand that, because I think that what people like most about the show is that they recognize themselves in the characters and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-richardson/i-don-t-understand-that-because-i-think-that-what-people-like-most/)

[Patricia Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-richardson/)

> [An idea has no worth at all without believable characters to implement it; a plot without characters is like a tennis court without players.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-jones/an-idea-has-no-worth-at-all-without-believable-characters-to/)

[Chuck Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-jones/)

> [What is most important to me is that my narrator's voice is believable, and that, though it is clearly an absolute fiction, it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-bohjalian/what-is-most-important-to-me-is-that-my-narrator-s-voice-is/)

[Chris Bohjalian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-bohjalian/)

> [I'm straight, but the character was too important to me to muddle his world with my private life. As a nobody, I got away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-harold/i-m-straight-but-the-character-was-too-important-to-me-to-muddle-his/)

[Gale Harold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-harold/)

> [When I originally came from 'Cheetah Girls,' I was making music that was real to me but not believable. I think there was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-bailon/when-i-originally-came-from-cheetah-girls-i-was-making-music-that-was/)

[Adrienne Bailon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-bailon/)

> [You have to create characters - certainly in series TV - who people engage with. They don't have to be nice; you don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/you-have-to-create-characters-certainly-in-series-tv-who-people/)

[Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/)

Browse all 230 Believable quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Coming into World War II, we were seen as a conquering hero for beleaguered people, we are now seen as invader, an occupier. And what that is saying is we have more might than right, so we kind of have a kind of moral deficit disorder. And that's why a leader must lift us back to the higher ground, because at the end of the day what makes you strong is that you are believable, that as significant as might is, ultimately right is even stronger than might.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jesse Jackson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/coming-into-world-war-ii-we-were-seen-as-a-conquering-hero-for/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Believable"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/coming-into-world-war-ii-we-were-seen-as-a-conquering-hero-for/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/jesse-jackson-1161_believable_coming-into-world-war-ii-we-were-seen-as_1012917.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/jesse-jackson-1161_believable_coming-into-world-war-ii-we-were-seen-as_1012917.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/jesse-jackson-1161_believable_coming-into-world-war-ii-we-were-seen-as_1012917.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Coming into World War II, we were seen as a conquering hero for beleaguered people, we are now seen as…” — Jesse Jackson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Jesse Jackson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Coming into World War II, we...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/coming-into-world-war-ii-we-were-seen-as-a-conquering-hero-for/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/coming-into-world-war-ii-we-were-seen-as-a-conquering-hero-for/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
