--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I really believe that actually…" description: "\"I really believe that actually Ahmadinejad undermines Iran far more than he enhances Iran's status. And I think we have to go back to what FDR said, yo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/karim-sadjadpour-58933_believe_i-really-believe-that-actually-ahmadinej_3195150.jpg" --- # I really believe that actually Ahmadinejad undermines Iran… ![“I really believe that actually Ahmadinejad undermines Iran far more than he enhances Iran's status. And I think we have to go back to what FDR said, you know, speak softly and carry a big stick. I think Iran under Ahmadinejad, they speak loudly and carry a small stick.” quote by Karim Sadjadpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/karim-sadjadpour-58933_believe_i-really-believe-that-actually-ahmadinej_3195150.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/karim-sadjadpour-58933_believe_i-really-believe-that-actually-ahmadinej_3195150.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/karim-sadjadpour-58933_believe_i-really-believe-that-actually-ahmadinej_3195150.jpg) > “I really believe that actually Ahmadinejad undermines Iran far more than he enhances Iran's status. And I think we have to go back to what FDR said, you know, speak softly and carry a big stick. I think Iran under Ahmadinejad, they speak loudly and carry a small stick.” [Karim Sadjadpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karim-sadjadpour/) ## 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 contrasts soft diplomatic power with aggressive posturing, suggesting Iran's leadership under Ahmadinejad is ineffective and counterproductive. **In simple terms:** Soft power works better than loud, weak threats. Key Takeaway Advocate measured, credible diplomacy. Themes politics foreign policy leadership Mood critical analytical Type political commentary When to use this quote - diplomatic negotiations - international relations - policy analysis Key Concepts soft power deterrence credibility Questions to Reflect On - How can a country balance firmness with credibility? - What are the risks of over‑assertive rhetoric? A Different Perspective Loud, empty threats can damage a nation's standing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Carry A Big Stick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carry-a-big-stick/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [The Cold War philosophy of Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD), which prevented the former Soviet Union and the United States from using the nuclear weapons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lewis/the-cold-war-philosophy-of-mutual-assured-destruction-mad-which/) [Bernard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lewis/) > [When the president of Iran Ahmadinejad says that our debt makes America not a great country, that's a frightening thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/when-the-president-of-iran-ahmadinejad-says-that-our-debt-makes/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [“Speak softly, but carry a big stick.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-marshall/speak-softly-but-carry-a-big-stick/) [Tim Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-marshall/) > [My hero is a guy named Teddy Roosevelt. Teddy Roosevelt used to say, walk softly, talk softly but carry a big stick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/my-hero-is-a-guy-named-teddy-roosevelt-teddy-roosevelt-used-to-say/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [“I have always been fond of the West African proverb: ‘Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far,’ ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-have-always-been-fond-of-the-west-african-proverb-speak-softly-and/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [You know I love a good family feud and I carry a big stick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-i-love-a-good-family-feud-and-i-carry-a-big-stick/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/speak-softly-and-carry-a-big-stick-you-will-go-far/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I'm going to stay respectful. The team comes first. I'm not going to do anything to jeopardize them or myself, so I'll just make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-garrett/i-m-going-to-stay-respectful-the-team-comes-first-i-m-not-going-to-do/) [Myles Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-garrett/) > [“It had been Theodore Roosevelt’s dictum — using a supposed West African proverb — that a successful leader should “speak softly and carry a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-hamilton/it-had-been-theodore-roosevelt-s-dictum-using-a-supposed-west-african/) [Nigel Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-hamilton/) > [Walk softly and carry a big stick. Or stomp loudly and carry enough firepower to start a small war. Whatever worked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-hunter/walk-softly-and-carry-a-big-stick-or-stomp-loudly-and-carry-enough/) [Faith Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-hunter/) > [Teddy Roosevelt... once said, 'Speak softly and carry a big stick.' Jimmy Carter wants to speak loudly and carry a fly swatter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/teddy-roosevelt-once-said-speak-softly-and-carry-a-big-stick-jimmy/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [There is a homely old adage which runs: "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." If the American nation will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-is-a-homely-old-adage-which-runs-speak-softly-and-carry-a-big/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“Speak softly, but carry a big stick. —Theodore Roosevelt, U.S. president”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/speak-softly-but-carry-a-big-stick-theodore-roosevelt-u-s-president/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [“Speak softly and carry a big stick.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-roosevelt/speak-softly-and-carry-a-big-stick/) [Teddy Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-roosevelt/) > [“Right here let me make as vigorous a plea as I know how in favor of saying nothing that we do not mean, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/right-here-let-me-make-as-vigorous-a-plea-as-i-know-how-in-favor-of/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) ## More by Karim Sadjadpour > [The most important individual in the Iran is not President Ahmadinejad. It's the supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. He was elected, but we're not talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karim-sadjadpour/the-most-important-individual-in-the-iran-is-not-president/) [Karim Sadjadpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karim-sadjadpour/) > [President Ahmadinejad is not the most powerful individual. At the same time, he is reflecting Iranian views right now, so it's difficult to neglect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karim-sadjadpour/president-ahmadinejad-is-not-the-most-powerful-individual-at-the-same/) [Karim Sadjadpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karim-sadjadpour/) > [I think whenever Ahmadinejad opens his mouth in forums, especially in front of the U.N. General Assembly, those that are listening, especially Western officials,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karim-sadjadpour/i-think-whenever-ahmadinejad-opens-his-mouth-in-forums-especially-in/) [Karim Sadjadpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karim-sadjadpour/) > [The Iranian government prevented journalists from marching in solidarity with the victims of the Charlie Hebdo massacre yet it organized flag-burning protests against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karim-sadjadpour/the-iranian-government-prevented-journalists-from-marching-in/) [Karim Sadjadpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karim-sadjadpour/) [Explore all 5 Karim Sadjadpour quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karim-sadjadpour/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. 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He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I really believe that actually Ahmadinejad undermines Iran far more than he enhances Iran's status. And I think we have to go back to what FDR said, you know, speak softly and carry a big stick. 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