--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think nations can stand aside for…" description: "\"I don't think nations can stand aside for ethnic cleansing and genocide.\" — John Major" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/john-major-8314_cleansing_i-don-t-think-nations-can-stand-aside-fo_1912558.png" --- # I don't think nations can stand aside for ethnic cleansing… ![“I don't think nations can stand aside for ethnic cleansing and genocide.” quote by John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/john-major-8314_cleansing_i-don-t-think-nations-can-stand-aside-fo_1912558.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/john-major-8314_cleansing_i-don-t-think-nations-can-stand-aside-fo_1912558.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/john-major-8314_cleansing_i-don-t-think-nations-can-stand-aside-fo_1912558.png) > “I don't think nations can stand aside for ethnic cleansing and genocide.” [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Nations must intervene to stop mass atrocities, not remain passive. **In simple terms:** Countries should act against genocide. Key Takeaway Take a stand against genocide. Themes responsibility human rights intervention Mood serious urgent Type political ethical When to use this quote - humanitarian crises - UN debates - foreign policy decisions Key Concepts international law moral duty political action Questions to Reflect On - When is intervention justified? - How to balance sovereignty and protection? A Different Perspective Intervention can be politically costly and may cause unintended harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cleansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleansing/) [Cleansing Genocide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleansing-genocide-2888357/) [Ethnic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethnic/) [Ethnic cleansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethnic-cleansing/) [Genocide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genocide/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Nations Stand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations-stand-2888358/) [Stand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [One could reasonably argue that the Turkish pogrom against the Armenians during World War I qualifies as a crime against humanity, as does the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-junger/one-could-reasonably-argue-that-the-turkish-pogrom-against-the/) [Sebastian Junger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-junger/) > [There is no ethnic cleansing in Bahrain, no mass genocide, no policy of killing innocent people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamad-bin-isa-al-khalifa/there-is-no-ethnic-cleansing-in-bahrain-no-mass-genocide-no-policy-of/) [Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamad-bin-isa-al-khalifa/) > [I have wanted to give Iraq a lesson in democracy - because we're experienced with it, you know. And, in democracy, after a hundred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-have-wanted-to-give-iraq-a-lesson-in-democracy-because-we-re/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I'd like to teach Iraq about Democracy because we're so experienced with it. First they should know that after 100 years they should free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-d-like-to-teach-iraq-about-democracy-because-we-re-so-experienced/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [All this happiness on display is suspect... If they think - and they could be right - that continued torture and summary executions, ethnic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/all-this-happiness-on-display-is-suspect-if-they-think-and-they-could/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I think clearly the United States, as well as other western nations, should stand by their commitments to human rights and democracy and should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-p-huntington/i-think-clearly-the-united-states-as-well-as-other-western-nations/) [Samuel P. Huntington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-p-huntington/) > [A United Nations that will not stand up for human rights is a United Nations that cannot stand up for itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/a-united-nations-that-will-not-stand-up-for-human-rights-is-a-united/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [“By attempting to surgically erase or "correct" visual traits that connect women of colour to their ancestry, these shows perpetrate a symbolic form of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-pozner/by-attempting-to-surgically-erase-or-correct-visual-traits-that/) [Jennifer L. Pozner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-pozner/) > [It is the duty of Israeli leaders to explain to public opinion, clearly and courageously, a certain number of facts that are forgotten with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-sharon/it-is-the-duty-of-israeli-leaders-to-explain-to-public-opinion/) [Ariel Sharon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-sharon/) > [I wrote about Bosnia at the time. Somebody looked out their window and saw gangsters coming down the street and doing ethnic cleansing. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-evans/i-wrote-about-bosnia-at-the-time-somebody-looked-out-their-window-and/) [Harold Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-evans/) > [What liberals mean by 'goose-stepping' or 'ethnic cleansing' is generally something along the lines of 'eliminating taxpayer funding for the National Endowment for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/what-liberals-mean-by-goose-stepping-or-ethnic-cleansing-is-generally/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [ In terms intellectually, \[what\] shaped my life was the whole Munich thing \[the Munich Agreement\] that I knew about all my life, in terms… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-terms-intellectually-what-shaped-my-life-was-the-whole-munich/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [We walked outside, Ben-Gurion accompanying us. Allon repeated his question, What is to be done with the Palestinian population?' Ben-Gurion waved his hand in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yitzhak-rabin/we-walked-outside-ben-gurion-accompanying-us-allon-repeated-his/) [Yitzhak Rabin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yitzhak-rabin/) > [Israel should have exploited the repression of the demonstrations in China, when world attention focused on that country, to carry out mass expulsions among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-netanyahu/israel-should-have-exploited-the-repression-of-the-demonstrations-in/) [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-netanyahu/) > [We must not forget; but we must forgive. Suffering often such compassion from the Jewish community. It was Jewish groups in the US who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/we-must-not-forget-but-we-must-forgive-suffering-often-such/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) ## More by John Major > [I think it's extremely unlikely that the European Union will fracture with nations dropping off the edge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-think-it-s-extremely-unlikely-that-the-european-union-will-fracture/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [The politician who never made a mistake never made a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/the-politician-who-never-made-a-mistake-never-made-a-decision/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [A consensus politician is someone who does something that he doesn't believe is right because it keeps people quiet when he does it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/a-consensus-politician-is-someone-who-does-something-that-he-doesn-t/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [I'm very proud of what my parents achieved and what they stood for. They didn't have much, but in many ways they were richer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-m-very-proud-of-what-my-parents-achieved-and-what-they-stood-for/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [You cannot think of Margaret without Denis. There comes a time when every Prime Minister needs someone to give him or her the unvarnished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/you-cannot-think-of-margaret-without-denis-there-comes-a-time-when/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [I am not running as Son of Margaret Thatcher. I have my own priorities and my own programmes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-am-not-running-as-son-of-margaret-thatcher-i-have-my-own-priorities/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [I inherited a sick economy and passed on a sound one. But one abiding regret for me is that, in between, I did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-inherited-a-sick-economy-and-passed-on-a-sound-one-but-one-abiding/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [I like the best of the British press. The best of the British press is very good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-like-the-best-of-the-british-press-the-best-of-the-british-press-is/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [I think we can get respect for Parliament back providing governments and oppositions are frank.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-think-we-can-get-respect-for-parliament-back-providing-governments/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [When the euro was born, it was born in the wrong economic circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/when-the-euro-was-born-it-was-born-in-the-wrong-economic-circumstances/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [I want to see us build a country that is at ease with itself, a country that is confident and a country that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-want-to-see-us-build-a-country-that-is-at-ease-with-itself-a/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [If is a very big preposition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/if-is-a-very-big-preposition/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [It is time to return to those core values, time to get back to basics: to self-discipline and respect for the law, to consideration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/it-is-time-to-return-to-those-core-values-time-to-get-back-to-basics/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [I don't have a shred of regret about entering the exchange-rate mechanism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-don-t-have-a-shred-of-regret-about-entering-the-exchange-rate/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [Disunity costs votes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/disunity-costs-votes/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) [Explore all 82 John Major quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) ## More Cleansing quotes > [I put hibiscus flower in every cup of tea I have. It's sweet, sexy, and cleansing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-batali/i-put-hibiscus-flower-in-every-cup-of-tea-i-have-it-s-sweet-sexy-and/) [Mario Batali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-batali/) > [We must not forget; but we must forgive. Suffering often such compassion from the Jewish community. It was Jewish groups in the US who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/we-must-not-forget-but-we-must-forgive-suffering-often-such/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [I use Bioderma. It's like a cleansing oil. I just use that to cleanse my face, I use moisturizer and that's it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-consani/i-use-bioderma-it-s-like-a-cleansing-oil-i-just-use-that-to-cleanse/) [Alex Consani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-consani/) > [I find the greatest songs in the world come out of pain, and I don't like it! Here's what it does: It strips away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-richie/i-find-the-greatest-songs-in-the-world-come-out-of-pain-and-i-don-t/) [Lionel Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-richie/) > [When I get home at night, then it's time for the real cleansing deal. I go to town either with the Clarisonic or ProActiv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-torres/when-i-get-home-at-night-then-it-s-time-for-the-real-cleansing-deal-i/) [Eve Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-torres/) > [I don't want to say I drank the Kool-Aid because I'm definitely not religious and I don't buy into any religion at all. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ladyhawke/i-don-t-want-to-say-i-drank-the-kool-aid-because-i-m-definitely-not/) [Ladyhawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ladyhawke/) > [“Laugh now, and laugh hard. For laughter is the bell. And when it rings, it cleanses the air.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/laugh-now-and-laugh-hard-for-laughter-is-the-bell-and-when-it-rings/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“cleansing your friends doesn’t mean you have to expel them from your life forever, but depending on the level of their negativity and potentially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-alden/cleansing-your-friends-doesn-t-mean-you-have-to-expel-them-from-your/) [Michael Alden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-alden/) > [Israel should have exploited the repression of the demonstrations in China, when world attention focused on that country, to carry out mass expulsions among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-netanyahu/israel-should-have-exploited-the-repression-of-the-demonstrations-in/) [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-netanyahu/) > [In the evening, I use a cleansing oil - coconut oil also works - to remove makeup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-mock/in-the-evening-i-use-a-cleansing-oil-coconut-oil-also-works-to-remove/) [Janet Mock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-mock/) > [“Work has a way of cleansing the mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-wheeler/work-has-a-way-of-cleansing-the-mind/) [Jeff Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-wheeler/) > [“If salt is a cleansing agent,can't the sea wash away our sins.?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ms-nazareth/if-salt-is-a-cleansing-agent-can-t-the-sea-wash-away-our-sins/) [ms.nazareth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ms-nazareth/) > [The law, instead of cleansing the heart from sin, doth revive it, put strength into, and increase it in the soul, even as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/the-law-instead-of-cleansing-the-heart-from-sin-doth-revive-it-put/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [“Many think they play the last act. With life in turmoil, they seem to live the setup of a shattering countdown. To an insistent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/many-think-they-play-the-last-act-with-life-in-turmoil-they-seem-to/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [As most doctors will tell you, cleansing is ridiculous. You know what's been around longer than that state-of-the-art juicer? Your kidneys. And your liver.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/as-most-doctors-will-tell-you-cleansing-is-ridiculous-you-know-what-s/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) [Browse all 238 Cleansing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleansing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think nations can stand aside for ethnic cleansing and genocide.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Major" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-don-t-think-nations-can-stand-aside-for-ethnic-cleansing-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cleansing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-don-t-think-nations-can-stand-aside-for-ethnic-cleansing-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/john-major-8314_cleansing_i-don-t-think-nations-can-stand-aside-fo_1912558.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/john-major-8314_cleansing_i-don-t-think-nations-can-stand-aside-fo_1912558.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/john-major-8314_cleansing_i-don-t-think-nations-can-stand-aside-fo_1912558.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't think nations can stand aside for ethnic cleansing and genocide.” — John Major", "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": "John Major", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't think nations can stand...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-don-t-think-nations-can-stand-aside-for-ethnic-cleansing-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-don-t-think-nations-can-stand-aside-for-ethnic-cleansing-and/#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 } } ] } ```