--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [Maxim] Litvinov signed his letter not in…" description: "\"[Maxim] Litvinov signed his letter not in private capacity but as representative of the state, just as did President [Franklin] Roosevelt. Their agreem..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/098/joseph-stalin-1734_activity_maxim-litvinov-signed-his-letter-not-in_1305870.jpg" --- # \[Maxim\] Litvinov signed his letter not in private capacity… ![“[Maxim] Litvinov signed his letter not in private capacity but as representative of the state, just as did President [Franklin] Roosevelt. Their agreement represents an agrement between two states. Signing this agreement both Litvinov and President Roosevelt as the representatives of two states…” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/098/joseph-stalin-1734_activity_maxim-litvinov-signed-his-letter-not-in_1305870.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/098/joseph-stalin-1734_activity_maxim-litvinov-signed-his-letter-not-in_1305870.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/098/joseph-stalin-1734_activity_maxim-litvinov-signed-his-letter-not-in_1305870.jpg) > “\[Maxim\] Litvinov signed his letter not in private capacity but as representative of the state, just as did President \[Franklin\] Roosevelt. Their agreement represents an agrement between two states. Signing this agreement both Litvinov and President Roosevelt as the representatives of two states have in mind the activities of the agents of those states who should not and will not interfere in each other's internal affairs.” [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) ## 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 emphasizes that state representatives act on behalf of their nations, not personal interests, and that agreements are between governments, not individuals. **In simple terms:** State officials speak for their countries, not themselves. Key Takeaway Treat agreements as intergovernmental commitments. Themes diplomacy sovereignty international law Mood formal strategic Type political legal When to use this quote - negotiations - treaty signing - foreign policy - conflict resolution Key Concepts realism statecraft noninterference Questions to Reflect On - How do personal biases affect state negotiations? - What mechanisms ensure compliance with noninterference? A Different Perspective Assumes all parties honor noninterference, which may not hold in practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) [Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) [Agents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agents/) [Agreement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreement/) [Agreement Litvinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreement-litvinov-4304296/) [Capacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity/) [Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/franklin/) [Interfere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interfere/) [Internal affairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internal-affairs/) [Internals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internals/) [Letters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letters/) [Litvinov President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/litvinov-president-4304298/) [Litvinov Signed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/litvinov-signed-4304297/) [Maxims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maxims/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [President roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-roosevelt/) [Representatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representatives/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Signed Letter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/signed-letter-3067105/) [Signing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/signing/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [States Signing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states-signing-4304299/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [“He signed the letter: George Washington Gale Ferris.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-larson/he-signed-the-letter-george-washington-gale-ferris/) [Erik Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-larson/) > [I found that my name signed to a check was even more welcome than when signed to a letter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roberts-rinehart/i-found-that-my-name-signed-to-a-check-was-even-more-welcome-than/) [Mary Roberts Rinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roberts-rinehart/) > [Make no mistake about it: once a band has signed a letter of intent, they will either eventually sign a contract that suits the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-albini/make-no-mistake-about-it-once-a-band-has-signed-a-letter-of-intent/) [Steve Albini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-albini/) > [If we look at American history, between 1942 and 1947, the data that was collected by the Census Bureau was handed over to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bachmann/if-we-look-at-american-history-between-1942-and-1947-the-data-that/) [Michele Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-bachmann/) > [“The omnibus programs passed under the Social Security Act in 1935 were crafted in such a way as to protect the southern way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-omnibus-programs-passed-under-the-social-security-act-in-1935/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Here is the answer which I will give to President Roosevelt. 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I would rather have President Roosevelt say one word to Congress infavor of amending the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/when-will-the-men-do-something-besides-extend-congratulations-i-would/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [Dillinger at one point was the second most popular man in America after President Roosevelt. And he was a national hero for a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mann/dillinger-at-one-point-was-the-second-most-popular-man-in-america/) [Michael Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mann/) > [One day President Roosevelt told me that he was asking publicly for suggestions about what the war should be called. I said at once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-day-president-roosevelt-told-me-that-he-was-asking-publicly-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nelson W. Aldrich of Rhode Island. Aldrich, a multimillionaire, a card-playing partner of J. Pierpont Morgan, the father-in-law of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-hochschild/nelson-w-aldrich-of-rhode-island-aldrich-a-multimillionaire-a-card/) [Adam Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-hochschild/) > [“We have no managed to acquire bases all over the world—islands distant as the Australian Archipelago which President Roosevelt seized in 1938 without so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-flynn/we-have-no-managed-to-acquire-bases-all-over-the-world-islands/) [John T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-flynn/) > [President Roosevelt, the author of Social Security, was the first to suggest that, in order to provide for the country's retirement needs, Social Security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doolittle/president-roosevelt-the-author-of-social-security-was-the-first-to/) [John Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doolittle/) > [“To hear, in the short space of one week, a Scottish terrier booed by an audience and President Roosevelt criticized by Charles Lindbergh was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-b-white/to-hear-in-the-short-space-of-one-week-a-scottish-terrier-booed-by-an/) [E. B. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-b-white/) ## More by Joseph Stalin > [ Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a \[Soviet socialistic\] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-national-socialism-have-anything/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [There is no nation in the whole world desiring war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/there-is-no-nation-in-the-whole-world-desiring-war/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [Our Red Army now needs IL-2 aircraft like the air it breathes, like the bread it eats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/our-red-army-now-needs-il-2-aircraft-like-the-air-it-breathes-like/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [If things should go too far and deportation of all whiteguard emigres from the United States were demanded, this would be an attempt against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/if-things-should-go-too-far-and-deportation-of-all-whiteguard-emigres/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [We think that a powerful and vigorous movement is impossible without differences - "true conformity" is possible only in the cemetery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/we-think-that-a-powerful-and-vigorous-movement-is-impossible-without/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [ \[American Communist Party\] legally exists in the U.S.A., it nominates its candidates in the elections, including Presidential elections. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/american-communist-party-legally-exists-in-the-u-s-a-it-nominates-its/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [“Gratitude is an illness suffered by dogs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/gratitude-is-an-illness-suffered-by-dogs/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [A man's eyes should be torn out if he can only see the past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/a-man-s-eyes-should-be-torn-out-if-he-can-only-see-the-past/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [One death is a tragedy; a million is a statistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/one-death-is-a-tragedy-a-million-is-a-statistic/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [Education is a weapon, whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/education-is-a-weapon-whose-effect-depends-on-who-holds-it-in-his/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [To slacken the tempo...would mean falling behind. And those who fall behind get beaten...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/to-slacken-the-tempo-would-mean-falling-behind-and-those-who-fall/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [You do not lament the loss of hair of one who has been beheaded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/you-do-not-lament-the-loss-of-hair-of-one-who-has-been-beheaded/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [The Red Army and Navy and the whole Soviet people must fight for every inch of Soviet soil, fight to the last drop of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/the-red-army-and-navy-and-the-whole-soviet-people-must-fight-for/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [ I admit that I do not recall the speeches of Comrades \[Earl\] Browder and \[Samuel\] Darcy. I do not even recall of what they… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/i-admit-that-i-do-not-recall-the-speeches-of-comrades-earl-browder/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [He who casts a vote decides nothing. He who counts the vote decides everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/he-who-casts-a-vote-decides-nothing-he-who-counts-the-vote-decides/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) [Explore all 208 Joseph Stalin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) ## More Activity quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/) [Gero Miesenbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gero-miesenbock/) > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/) [Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/) > [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[Maxim] Litvinov signed his letter not in private capacity but as representative of the state, just as did President [Franklin] Roosevelt. 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