--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our 21st-century world is an incredibly…" description: "\"Our 21st-century world is an incredibly dangerous one. Between brutal civil wars, violent extremism, spreading autocracy, rising inequality, territoria..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/298/joe-sestak-5964_civil-war_our-21st-century-world-is-an-incredibly_1235997.jpg" --- # Our 21st-century world is an incredibly dangerous one… ![“Our 21st-century world is an incredibly dangerous one. Between brutal civil wars, violent extremism, spreading autocracy, rising inequality, territorial expansionism, election interference, and nuclear proliferation, our policymakers have their hands full.” quote by Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/298/joe-sestak-5964_civil-war_our-21st-century-world-is-an-incredibly_1235997.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/298/joe-sestak-5964_civil-war_our-21st-century-world-is-an-incredibly_1235997.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/298/joe-sestak-5964_civil-war_our-21st-century-world-is-an-incredibly_1235997.jpg) > “Our 21st-century world is an incredibly dangerous one. Between brutal civil wars, violent extremism, spreading autocracy, rising inequality, territorial expansionism, election interference, and nuclear proliferation, our policymakers have their hands full.” [Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The modern era faces multiple, interlinked threats that overwhelm policymakers and destabilize societies. **In simple terms:** The world today is very unsafe because of many serious problems. Key Takeaway Recognize and address each threat systematically. Themes security politics global affairs risk management Mood urgent concerned Type political analytical When to use this quote - government strategy - international diplomacy - civil society activism - public awareness campaigns Key Concepts geopolitics systemic risk policy coordination Questions to Reflect On - What can individuals do to mitigate these global threats? - How can governments prioritize among competing crises? A Different Perspective Solutions require cooperation across nations and sectors, which is often lacking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civil war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-war/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Nuclear proliferation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-proliferation/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Wars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wars/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Nationalism and extremism ... are spreading today like a cancerous growth in the fabric of people's national self-awareness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raisa-gorbacheva/nationalism-and-extremism-are-spreading-today-like-a-cancerous-growth/) [Raisa Gorbacheva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raisa-gorbacheva/) > [We have the leading companies and the leading sectors in the advanced industrial world, we have an incredibly dynamic society, and we have high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fareed-zakaria/we-have-the-leading-companies-and-the-leading-sectors-in-the-advanced/) [Fareed Zakaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fareed-zakaria/) > [The world is this incredibly blurry, crazy dream that I'm just sort of stumbling through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-mangum/the-world-is-this-incredibly-blurry-crazy-dream-that-i-m-just-sort-of/) [Jeff Mangum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-mangum/) > [What popped up more than that was the realization that I made as an adult that the world is this incredibly complex, layered, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/what-popped-up-more-than-that-was-the-realization-that-i-made-as-an/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [They need to review this secret world. We have an incredibly powerful government that gets on automatic pilot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/they-need-to-review-this-secret-world-we-have-an-incredibly-powerful/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [Anything worth doing in this world is incredibly difficult to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/anything-worth-doing-in-this-world-is-incredibly-difficult-to-do/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [It's radical Islamic terrorism. And yet, when you see the last eight years, something's gone wrong to call it violent extremism or man-caused disasters.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-davis-hanson/it-s-radical-islamic-terrorism-and-yet-when-you-see-the-last-eight/) [Victor Davis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-davis-hanson/) > [We have not confronted forcefully enough the intolerance, sectarianism, and hopelessness that feeds violent extremism in too many parts of the globe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-have-not-confronted-forcefully-enough-the-intolerance-sectarianism/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Domestic violent extremism is not a threat limited to any single law enforcement agency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-padilla/domestic-violent-extremism-is-not-a-threat-limited-to-any-single-law/) [Alex Padilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-padilla/) > [Let me be very clear: We monitor the risks of violent extremism taking root here in the United States. We don't have the luxury…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-napolitano/let-me-be-very-clear-we-monitor-the-risks-of-violent-extremism-taking/) [Janet Napolitano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-napolitano/) > [We are seeing expressions of violent extremism born of false ideologies, false narratives, ideologies of hate, and we are seeing the potential connectivity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/we-are-seeing-expressions-of-violent-extremism-born-of-false/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [Domestic violent extremism is the most acute threat, terrorism-related threat that we are seeing to our homeland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/domestic-violent-extremism-is-the-most-acute-threat-terrorism-related/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [“Corruption, it made plain, was not solely a humanitarian affair, an issue touching on principles or values alone. It was a matter of national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-chayes/corruption-it-made-plain-was-not-solely-a-humanitarian-affair-an/) [Sarah Chayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-chayes/) > [The practical reality that in order for us to identify homegrown violent extremism and prevent it or root it out before it takes action,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/the-practical-reality-that-in-order-for-us-to-identify-homegrown/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [If we value human rights, they should be at the core of the project against violent extremism, and women a key part of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeyah-khan/if-we-value-human-rights-they-should-be-at-the-core-of-the-project/) [Deeyah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeyah-khan/) ## More by Joe Sestak > [Having served in the military, I know that militaries can stop a problem, but they can't fix a problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/having-served-in-the-military-i-know-that-militaries-can-stop-a/) [Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/) > [Torture is and must remain illegal. Warrantless wiretapping is also illegal, as was the transfer of Guantanamo detainees to Qatar without proper notice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/torture-is-and-must-remain-illegal-warrantless-wiretapping-is-also/) [Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/) > [To be productive and focused, the rugged individuals in our economy need health security so that our country can remain competitive and agile in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/to-be-productive-and-focused-the-rugged-individuals-in-our-economy/) [Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/) > [It's like I learned in the military: the officers always ate last. When you're responsible for people, that's how it should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/it-s-like-i-learned-in-the-military-the-officers-always-ate-last-when/) [Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/) > [If you took money out of politics, you'd solve 80 percent of all the problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/if-you-took-money-out-of-politics-you-d-solve-80-percent-of-all-the/) [Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/) > [Americans want someone who is accountable to them above self, above party, and above any special interest. They want a President that has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/americans-want-someone-who-is-accountable-to-them-above-self-above/) [Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/) > [I want to be a public servant, not a politician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/i-want-to-be-a-public-servant-not-a-politician/) [Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/) > [We were rugged individualists in the Navy, but we all had health care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/we-were-rugged-individualists-in-the-navy-but-we-all-had-health-care/) [Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/) > [The United States must ensure that Iran does not attain nuclear weapons, as this poses a direct threat to our interests, including Israel, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/the-united-states-must-ensure-that-iran-does-not-attain-nuclear/) [Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/) > [Some of the greatest national security threats we face cannot be defeated or defended by traditional military hardware, but only by greatly enhanced cyberspace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/some-of-the-greatest-national-security-threats-we-face-cannot-be/) [Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/) > [I favor every worker having access to a retirement savings account, and there are various options for doing this. I do support states implementing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/i-favor-every-worker-having-access-to-a-retirement-savings-account/) [Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/) > [Launching a ground war against Iran would require hundreds of thousands of troops for a 'regime change followed by nation-building' operation, as we attempted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/launching-a-ground-war-against-iran-would-require-hundreds-of/) [Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/) > [At the end of the day, Israel is its own self-determining government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/at-the-end-of-the-day-israel-is-its-own-self-determining-government/) [Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/) > [There are too many who have not shared in the benefits of this economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/there-are-too-many-who-have-not-shared-in-the-benefits-of-this-economy/) [Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/) > [Your U.S. military has the best child care in the nation. Full, paid family and medical leave benefits. Why aren't we doing that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/your-u-s-military-has-the-best-child-care-in-the-nation-full-paid/) [Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/) [Explore all 100 Joe Sestak quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/) ## More 21st century quotes > [The young people today are the 21st century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/the-young-people-today-are-the-21st-century/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [“You know it’s the 21st Century when someone TEXTS you from the washroom to ask you to bring them a roll of toilet paper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/comic-strip-mama/you-know-it-s-the-21st-century-when-someone-texts-you-from-the/) Comic Strip Mama > [“I am made of a thousand ghosts. Only you can shoot me down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-james/i-am-made-of-a-thousand-ghosts-only-you-can-shoot-me-down/) Bella James > [Like many others, I have deep misgivings about the state of education in the United States. Too many of our students fail to graduate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/like-many-others-i-have-deep-misgivings-about-the-state-of-education/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Undeniably, character does count for our citizens, out communities, and our Nation, and this week we celebrate the importance of character in our individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/undeniably-character-does-count-for-our-citizens-out-communities-and/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [The hope of Internet anarchists was that repressive governments would have only two options: accept the Internet with its limitless possibilities of spreading information,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/the-hope-of-internet-anarchists-was-that-repressive-governments-would/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [Maybe we need a tax credit for the poorest Americans to buy a laptop. Now, maybe that's wrong, maybe that's expensive, maybe we can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/maybe-we-need-a-tax-credit-for-the-poorest-americans-to-buy-a-laptop/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [The 20th century has been marked by cynicism, selfishness, greed, and the desire to please, all without changing the status quo. In the 21st…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/the-20th-century-has-been-marked-by-cynicism-selfishness-greed-and/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [I firmly believe that the mission of religion in the 21st century must be to contribute concretely to the peaceful coexistence of humankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/i-firmly-believe-that-the-mission-of-religion-in-the-21st-century/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [Facebook, Twitter...Welcome to The 21st Century...Where Someone can stalk you without leaving the couch!..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/facebook-twitter-welcome-to-the-21st-century-where-someone-can-stalk/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Human Race is all over universe! And I am the first person to inform you. I am the most influential person of this decade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwani-kumar-ojha/human-race-is-all-over-universe-and-i-am-the-first-person-to-inform/) [Ashwani Kumar Ojha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwani-kumar-ojha/) > [Like the railroads that brought us together in the 19th century, these trails will bring us together in the 20th and 21st centuries. (at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/like-the-railroads-that-brought-us-together-in-the-19th-century-these/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [What I love about making albums in the 21st century is that so few people buy albums! I can make an album without any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/what-i-love-about-making-albums-in-the-21st-century-is-that-so-few/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [As a former Apollo astronaut, I think it's safe to say that SpaceX and the other commercial developers embody the 21st century version of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-schweickart/as-a-former-apollo-astronaut-i-think-it-s-safe-to-say-that-spacex-and/) [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) > [The computer provides the only way to give students a real foundation in 21st-century skills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-negroponte/the-computer-provides-the-only-way-to-give-students-a-real-foundation/) [Nicholas Negroponte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-negroponte/) Browse all 771 21st century quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our 21st-century world is an incredibly dangerous one. Between brutal civil wars, violent extremism, spreading autocracy, rising inequality, territorial expansionism, election interference, and nuclear proliferation, our policymakers have their hands full.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joe Sestak" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/our-21st-century-world-is-an-incredibly-dangerous-one-between-brutal/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "21st century" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/our-21st-century-world-is-an-incredibly-dangerous-one-between-brutal/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/298/joe-sestak-5964_civil-war_our-21st-century-world-is-an-incredibly_1235997.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/298/joe-sestak-5964_civil-war_our-21st-century-world-is-an-incredibly_1235997.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/298/joe-sestak-5964_civil-war_our-21st-century-world-is-an-incredibly_1235997.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Our 21st-century world is an incredibly dangerous one. Between brutal civil wars, violent extremism…” — Joe Sestak", "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": "Joe Sestak", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Our 21st-century world is an incredibly...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/our-21st-century-world-is-an-incredibly-dangerous-one-between-brutal/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/our-21st-century-world-is-an-incredibly-dangerous-one-between-brutal/#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 } } ] } ```