--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only way that we're going to feel…" description: "\"The only way that we're going to feel secure in this country again and that we're going to feel good about ourselves is if we use these systems we've p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a93/john-perkins-17246_about_the-only-way-that-we-re-going-to-feel-se_2326513.jpg" --- # The only way that we're going to feel secure in this… ![“The only way that we're going to feel secure in this country again and that we're going to feel good about ourselves is if we use these systems we've put into place to create positive change around the world. I really believe we can do that.” quote by John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a93/john-perkins-17246_about_the-only-way-that-we-re-going-to-feel-se_2326513.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a93/john-perkins-17246_about_the-only-way-that-we-re-going-to-feel-se_2326513.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a93/john-perkins-17246_about_the-only-way-that-we-re-going-to-feel-se_2326513.jpg) > “The only way that we're going to feel secure in this country again and that we're going to feel good about ourselves is if we use these systems we've put into place to create positive change around the world. I really believe we can do that.” [John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that national confidence and self‑esteem will return when existing systems are harnessed to generate positive global change. **In simple terms:** Use current systems for positive change. Key Takeaway Leverage existing structures to improve the world. Themes leadership global responsibility optimism Mood inspirational pragmatic Type political social. When to use this quote - policy reform - NGO initiatives - community projects - education programs Key Concepts systems thinking social impact collective action Questions to Reflect On - What concrete steps can we take to repurpose current systems? - How do we ensure reforms benefit all communities? A Different Perspective Existing systems may be entrenched or resistant to reform. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/again/) [Around](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around/) [Around the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Create](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create/) [Create Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create-positive-249388/) [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Feel good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-good/) [Feel Secure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-secure-286170/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Ourselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ourselves/) [Place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/place/) [Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive/) [Positive change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-change/) [Put](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/put/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Secure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secure/) [Secure Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secure-country-3073469/) [Systems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/systems/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [We all need to come together to create positive change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/we-all-need-to-come-together-to-create-positive-change/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [To be a leader you must be able to create positive change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/to-be-a-leader-you-must-be-able-to-create-positive-change/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [If I can have a platform and use that platform as a way to create positive change, then I will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-madden/if-i-can-have-a-platform-and-use-that-platform-as-a-way-to-create/) [Madeleine Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-madden/) > [“If I must die one day God please allow me to die bankrupt of all my gifts and talents. May I die empty with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rayvon-l-walker/if-i-must-die-one-day-god-please-allow-me-to-die-bankrupt-of-all-my/) [Rayvon L. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rayvon-l-walker/) > [We are going to secure this country. We are going to manage it properly. We will continue to improve the situation, security, economy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammadu-buhari/we-are-going-to-secure-this-country-we-are-going-to-manage-it/) [Muhammadu Buhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammadu-buhari/) > [We put people at the centre of securing the country. You can't secure your country with only a security apparatus and missiles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hailemariam-desalegn/we-put-people-at-the-centre-of-securing-the-country-you-can-t-secure/) [Hailemariam Desalegn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hailemariam-desalegn/) > [If you believe that the job of the federal government is to secure this country, it's really important for you to understand that success…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-you-believe-that-the-job-of-the-federal-government-is-to-secure/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [To create more positive results in your life, replace if only with next time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-create-more-positive-results-in-your-life-replace-if-only-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In other words, in exactly the same environment, those with a positive mind-set tend to create positive situations, while those with a negative mind-set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dispenza/in-other-words-in-exactly-the-same-environment-those-with-a-positive/) [Joe Dispenza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dispenza/) > [“Your thoughts become your attitudes, which become your actions, which become your behavior, which become your habits, which become your lifestyle, and inevitably determine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/your-thoughts-become-your-attitudes-which-become-your-actions-which/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [Be nice, not for others but for yourself. Create a positive atmosphere by being optimistic and kind with your words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-nice-not-for-others-but-for-yourself-create-a-positive-atmosphere/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is a divine plan and there is a reason for this, and my choice is to create the most positive reaction I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-wallace/there-is-a-divine-plan-and-there-is-a-reason-for-this-and-my-choice/) [Dee Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-wallace/) > [“Affirmations do not create magic, but they are good to remind yourself that you’re doing great, and it can create a positive mindset.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pooja-agnihotri/affirmations-do-not-create-magic-but-they-are-good-to-remind-yourself/) [Pooja Agnihotri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pooja-agnihotri/) > [Positive people around you create a positive atmosphere, God is good, important to always self check and improve as a person every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/positive-people-around-you-create-a-positive-atmosphere-god-is-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“START DESIGNING YOUR LIFE. Treat the next month of your life as a design project. Do field research on yourself, looking for unmet needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-designing-your-life-treat-the-next-month-of-your-life-as-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by John Perkins > [I was initially recruited while I was in business school back in the late sixties by the National Security Agency, the nation's largest and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/i-was-initially-recruited-while-i-was-in-business-school-back-in-the/) [John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/) > [I've never met anyone who wanted to be a terrorist. They are desperate people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/i-ve-never-met-anyone-who-wanted-to-be-a-terrorist-they-are-desperate/) [John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/) > [But when 9/11 struck, I had a change of heart. 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They found out all my weaknesses and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/when-the-national-security-agency-recruited-me-they-put-me-through-a/) [John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/) > [“How, I asked myself, do you convince men and women who live comfortably to change a system that provides their comforts--even when they know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/how-i-asked-myself-do-you-convince-men-and-women-who-live-comfortably/) [john perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/) > [“The first question we must address deals with optimism, the possibility of achieving our goal. Are we in a position where we can actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/the-first-question-we-must-address-deals-with-optimism-the/) [John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/) > [And in Iraq we tried to implement the same policy that was so successful in Saudi Arabia, but Saddam Hussein didn't buy. When the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/and-in-iraq-we-tried-to-implement-the-same-policy-that-was-so/) [John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/) > [I felt guilty throughout the whole time, but I was seduced. The power of these drugs, sex, power, and money, was extremely strong for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/i-felt-guilty-throughout-the-whole-time-but-i-was-seduced-the-power/) [John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/) > [None of the quick fixes to the world's problems are going to work, unless we change the dream of greed and scarcity that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/none-of-the-quick-fixes-to-the-world-s-problems-are-going-to-work/) [John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/) > [“Stop being so greedy," she said, "and so selfish. 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Those companies would then go in and build an electrical system or ports or highways, and these would basically serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/these-were-big-ones-those-companies-would-then-go-in-and-build-an/) [John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/) [Explore all 30 John Perkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. 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As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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