--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We as a country are very good at…" description: "\"We as a country are very good at responding to acute, short-term crises. When the crisis becomes chronic, we tend to withdraw.\" — Kenneth Cole" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/kenneth-cole-3800_becomes_we-as-a-country-are-very-good-at-respond_1058705.jpg" --- # We as a country are very good at responding to acute… ![“We as a country are very good at responding to acute, short-term crises. When the crisis becomes chronic, we tend to withdraw.” quote by Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/kenneth-cole-3800_becomes_we-as-a-country-are-very-good-at-respond_1058705.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/kenneth-cole-3800_becomes_we-as-a-country-are-very-good-at-respond_1058705.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/kenneth-cole-3800_becomes_we-as-a-country-are-very-good-at-respond_1058705.jpg) > “We as a country are very good at responding to acute, short-term crises. When the crisis becomes chronic, we tend to withdraw.” [Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societies excel at short-term crisis response but often neglect long-term systemic issues, leading to disengagement. **In simple terms:** We handle emergencies well but ignore lasting problems. Key Takeaway Balance immediate action with sustained commitment. Themes crisis management policy societal response short-term long-term Mood concern determined Type policy social When to use this quote - Disaster relief - public health - economic downturns - climate change Key Concepts Systemic resilience public policy social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can we sustain attention on chronic issues? - What incentives encourage long-term planning? A Different Perspective Long-term solutions require political will and resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Crisis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crisis/) ## Related quotes > [“With psychiatric medications, you solve one problem for a period of time, but the next thing you know you end up with two problems.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-whitaker/with-psychiatric-medications-you-solve-one-problem-for-a-period-of/) [Robert Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-whitaker/) > [“We “activate a physiological system that has evolved for responding to acute physical emergencies,” Sapolsky writes, “but we turn it on for months on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tough/we-activate-a-physiological-system-that-has-evolved-for-responding-to/) [Paul Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tough/) > [There is a particular whir of agitation about female hunger, a low-level thrumming of shoulds and shouldn'ts and can'ts and wants that can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/there-is-a-particular-whir-of-agitation-about-female-hunger-a-low/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [I am, of course, romanticizing; a chronic tendency of mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tana-french/i-am-of-course-romanticizing-a-chronic-tendency-of-mine/) [Tana French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tana-french/) > [I'm a chronic relapser. I guess I always will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-haim/i-m-a-chronic-relapser-i-guess-i-always-will-be/) [Corey Haim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-haim/) > [“The most chronic heart disease is caused by having greediness in your heart. Go for check ups regularly and learn how to swallow those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-most-chronic-heart-disease-is-caused-by-having-greediness-in-your/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Longevity is having a chronic disease - and taking care of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/longevity-is-having-a-chronic-disease-and-taking-care-of-it/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [If you have suffered the loss of a family member to chronic disease, if you suffer debilitating seasons of depression, if you have lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/if-you-have-suffered-the-loss-of-a-family-member-to-chronic-disease/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [“Daily chronic fatigue can be an indication that something is wrong in your environment that needs to be identified and removed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/daily-chronic-fatigue-can-be-an-indication-that-something-is-wrong-in/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [When the Veterans Affairs Department implemented a program to provide home-based health care to veterans with multiple chronic conditions - many of the system's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/when-the-veterans-affairs-department-implemented-a-program-to-provide/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [I'm such a chronic relativist, I can't hold down a strong opinion about many things long enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/i-m-such-a-chronic-relativist-i-can-t-hold-down-a-strong-opinion/) [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) > [There's nothing wrong with me...except acute chronic fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/there-s-nothing-wrong-with-me-except-acute-chronic-fear/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [“What saves doctors' reputations is the fact that many illnesses are benign and that people can go on living with a large number of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-chevallier/what-saves-doctors-reputations-is-the-fact-that-many-illnesses-are/) [Gabriel Chevallier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-chevallier/) > [I was born with a chronic anxiety about the weather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/i-was-born-with-a-chronic-anxiety-about-the-weather/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [Chronic In My Brain , Bitch I'm Reppin Taylor Gang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/chronic-in-my-brain-bitch-i-m-reppin-taylor-gang/) [Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/) ## More by Kenneth Cole > [People have a whole lot more choices than they've had in the past, and I have only earned the right to be considered -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cole/people-have-a-whole-lot-more-choices-than-they-ve-had-in-the-past-and/) [Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) > [Twitter is a very powerful platform for adversarial feedback.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cole/twitter-is-a-very-powerful-platform-for-adversarial-feedback/) [Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) > [I've come to realize nobody needs what we sell. There's hardly a woman who needs another pair of black shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cole/i-ve-come-to-realize-nobody-needs-what-we-sell-there-s-hardly-a-woman/) [Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) > [I never really had long range plans. I take one season at a time, every day at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cole/i-never-really-had-long-range-plans-i-take-one-season-at-a-time-every/) [Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) > [After working with my father for two years, we started Candie's, a line of imported shoes from Italy. Then in 1982 I set out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cole/after-working-with-my-father-for-two-years-we-started-candie-s-a-line/) [Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) > [It's not about me, it's about you, the customer. 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To the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cole/over-the-years-i-have-found-a-way-to-use-this-business-and-this/) [Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) > [This is what I wanted the business to be when I started it: a lot of black, a lot of luxurious materials, and modern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cole/this-is-what-i-wanted-the-business-to-be-when-i-started-it-a-lot-of/) [Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) [Explore all 122 Kenneth Cole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) ## More Becomes quotes > [Hollywood is very much an industry town. Your life becomes caught up in all of the parties and this list and that list. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-johnson/hollywood-is-very-much-an-industry-town-your-life-becomes-caught-up/) [Don Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-johnson/) > [If you have more downforce, everything becomes much easier. 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The body becomes addicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/we-spend-millions-of-dollars-to-remove-pain-from-our-lives-it-s-why/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [As artists, we can't help but infuse our art with our own experience, so your experience becomes informative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-morrison/as-artists-we-can-t-help-but-infuse-our-art-with-our-own-experience/) [Rachel Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-morrison/) > [As politics is disconnected from its ethical and material moorings, it becomes easier to punish and imprison young people than to educate them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/as-politics-is-disconnected-from-its-ethical-and-material-moorings-it/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [It becomes dangerous for somebody who doesn't want their boss to know their sexual preference to use online networks to push for laws supporting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/it-becomes-dangerous-for-somebody-who-doesn-t-want-their-boss-to-know/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [When you try to become a good cook, in the beginning, most likely the dish is not going to be good. But you keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jannik-sinner/when-you-try-to-become-a-good-cook-in-the-beginning-most-likely-the/) [Jannik Sinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jannik-sinner/) > [It's interesting how sleepwalking in a certain way becomes an accumulation of your outside stimuli that's actually there and what's happening in your brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/it-s-interesting-how-sleepwalking-in-a-certain-way-becomes-an/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [What actor do you really take seriously who becomes a singer? It's kind of ridiculous. I can't think of anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-dunst/what-actor-do-you-really-take-seriously-who-becomes-a-singer-it-s/) [Kirsten Dunst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-dunst/) > [You don't really write a hit song - you write a great song, and then, if the public decides it's a hit, they take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nuno-bettencourt/you-don-t-really-write-a-hit-song-you-write-a-great-song-and-then-if/) [Nuno Bettencourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nuno-bettencourt/) > [When an accident or a crime happens, there's a period of time before the yellow tape goes up, before the official response becomes formalized.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gilroy/when-an-accident-or-a-crime-happens-there-s-a-period-of-time-before/) [Dan Gilroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gilroy/) > [Our society is so obsessed with working out to be skinny, and none of that has a purpose. 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