--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the eurozone collapses, its epitaph…" description: "\"“If the eurozone collapses, its epitaph should be the words of Jean-Claude Juncker, the former prime minister of Luxembourg, in 2007: “We all know what..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad2/john-micklethwait-31410_prime-minister_if-the-eurozone-collapses-its-epitaph-sh_772893.jpg" --- # If the eurozone collapses, its epitaph should be the words… ![“If the eurozone collapses, its epitaph should be the words of Jean-Claude Juncker, the former prime minister of Luxembourg, in 2007: “We all know what to do, but we don’t know how to get re-elected once we have done it.”32” quote by John Micklethwait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad2/john-micklethwait-31410_prime-minister_if-the-eurozone-collapses-its-epitaph-sh_772893.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad2/john-micklethwait-31410_prime-minister_if-the-eurozone-collapses-its-epitaph-sh_772893.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad2/john-micklethwait-31410_prime-minister_if-the-eurozone-collapses-its-epitaph-sh_772893.jpg) > ““If the eurozone collapses, its epitaph should be the words of Jean-Claude Juncker, the former prime minister of Luxembourg, in 2007: “We all know what to do, but we don’t know how to get re-elected once we have done it.”32”” [John Micklethwait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-micklethwait/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that political leaders may know the right policies but lack the electoral incentive to implement them, risking systemic collapse. **In simple terms:** Leaders know what to do but fear losing votes. Key Takeaway Align policy success with voter trust. Themes politics governance accountability Mood cautious critical Type political analytical When to use this quote - government reform - EU integration - public communication - policy advocacy Key Concepts public choice theory policy implementation electoral cycles Questions to Reflect On - How can democratic systems reward effective governance? - What mechanisms can ensure accountability beyond elections? A Different Perspective Political realities often prioritize short‑term popularity over long‑term solutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Collapses Epitaph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collapses-epitaph-5970200/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Eurozone Collapses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eurozone-collapses-5970198/) [Luxembourg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luxembourg/) [Luxembourg 2007](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luxembourg-2007-5970199/) [Minister Luxembourg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minister-luxembourg-2331566/) [Prime minister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prime-minister/) ## Related quotes > [“As Jean-Claude Juncker, then prime minister of Luxembourg and later president of the European Commission, once said, ‘When it becomes serious, you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanis-varoufakis/as-jean-claude-juncker-then-prime-minister-of-luxembourg-and-later/) [Yanis Varoufakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanis-varoufakis/) > [I have confidence that the government of Luxembourg will not make any decision that frustrates this transaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lakshmi-mittal/i-have-confidence-that-the-government-of-luxembourg-will-not-make-any/) [Lakshmi Mittal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lakshmi-mittal/) > [Luxembourg has a track record of being successful when it takes risks. 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