--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Depending on where you live, your threat…" description: "\"Depending on where you live, your threat is much different from the other person. If you ask a New Yorker today, because of the way the press plays it,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/597/kofi-annan-799_agreement_depending-on-where-you-live-your-threat_1895588.jpg" --- # Depending on where you live, your threat is much different… ![“Depending on where you live, your threat is much different from the other person. If you ask a New Yorker today, because of the way the press plays it, he will say terrorism is his biggest fear. But for somebody living on a small island state, then it is climate change, the rise of the sea level…” quote by Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/597/kofi-annan-799_agreement_depending-on-where-you-live-your-threat_1895588.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/597/kofi-annan-799_agreement_depending-on-where-you-live-your-threat_1895588.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/597/kofi-annan-799_agreement_depending-on-where-you-live-your-threat_1895588.jpg) > “Depending on where you live, your threat is much different from the other person. If you ask a New Yorker today, because of the way the press plays it, he will say terrorism is his biggest fear. But for somebody living on a small island state, then it is climate change, the rise of the sea level, for his whole island may be washed away. If I go to southern Africa, they tell me it is HIV/AIDS and somewhere in Asia it is poverty. This is also why you will find it difficult to find agreements, because if you want someone to be concerned about your threat, then you should be concerned about his.” [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Threat perception varies by geography; people prioritize dangers most immediate to their lives. **In simple terms:** People fear what affects them directly. Key Takeaway Recognize others’ concerns to build empathy. Themes empathy global awareness conflict resolution Mood thoughtful concerned Type inspirational political When to use this quote - international negotiations - community planning - public health campaigns Key Concepts relative risk perception cultural context communication Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance local and global priorities? - What strategies foster shared understanding? A Different Perspective Different threats may compete for limited resources and attention. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agreement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreement/) [Asia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asia/) [Biggest fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biggest-fear/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Climate change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate-change/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Islands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islands/) [New yorkers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-yorkers/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea/) [Southern africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/southern-africa/) [Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [HIV/AIDS has become much more than a health issue. HIV/AIDS is a development issue, it's a security issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/hiv-aids-has-become-much-more-than-a-health-issue-hiv-aids-is-a/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [The fight against HIV/AIDS requires leadership from all parts of government - and it needs to go right to the top. AIDS is far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/the-fight-against-hiv-aids-requires-leadership-from-all-parts-of/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [The global HIV/AIDS epidemic is an unprecedented crisis that requires an unprecedented response. In particular it requires solidarity - between the healthy and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/the-global-hiv-aids-epidemic-is-an-unprecedented-crisis-that-requires/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [The whole of that part of Southern Africa which is controlled by racial minorities is experiencing either consistent and regular guerilla activity or is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-slovo/the-whole-of-that-part-of-southern-africa-which-is-controlled-by/) [Joe Slovo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-slovo/) > [You can actually muck with history and think about what if, why not. What if there were dragons in the Incan Empire that allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-novik/you-can-actually-muck-with-history-and-think-about-what-if-why-not/) [Naomi Novik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-novik/) > [In spite of the frightful pogroms which took place, first in Poland and then in unprecedented fashion in the Ukraine, and which cost the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-fahey/in-spite-of-the-frightful-pogroms-which-took-place-first-in-poland/) [Denis Fahey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-fahey/) > [Now if we can get white population, immigrants and big companies and so on moving into Africa and if we can get with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/now-if-we-can-get-white-population-immigrants-and-big-companies-and/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [Ordinarily rivers run small at the beginning, grow broader and broader as they proceed, and become widest and deepest at the point, where they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/ordinarily-rivers-run-small-at-the-beginning-grow-broader-and-broader/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [South Africa is regarded as being an extraordinarily important country - not just for South Africa, but for Southern Africa, for the BRICS, working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/south-africa-is-regarded-as-being-an-extraordinarily-important/) [Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/) > [It is often argued that the people who will be affected by a major decision should be involved in it. Paul Kruger, president of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-e-boone/it-is-often-argued-that-the-people-who-will-be-affected-by-a-major/) Louis E. Boone > [Reality shows that, contrary to other countries in southern Africa, we have no basis for a classical guerilla struggle. We have never had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-slovo/reality-shows-that-contrary-to-other-countries-in-southern-africa-we/) [Joe Slovo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-slovo/) > [Our aim is to gain control of the two great treasure houses on which the West depends: The energy treasure house of the Persian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonid-brezhnev/our-aim-is-to-gain-control-of-the-two-great-treasure-houses-on-which/) [Leonid Brezhnev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonid-brezhnev/) > [In New York I heard A Piece of Ground, written by a white South African, Jeremy Taylor. I modified it a little and sang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-makeba/in-new-york-i-heard-a-piece-of-ground-written-by-a-white-south/) [Miriam Makeba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-makeba/) > [“Because it is located so far south, and the coastal plain quickly rises into high land, South Africa is one of the very few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-marshall/because-it-is-located-so-far-south-and-the-coastal-plain-quickly/) [Tim Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-marshall/) > [People see him as a hero. Not just in Zimbabwe or here in Zambia but across the whole of southern Africa. It's no good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-kaunda/people-see-him-as-a-hero-not-just-in-zimbabwe-or-here-in-zambia-but/) [Kenneth Kaunda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-kaunda/) ## More by Kofi Annan > [All our efforts to defeat poverty and pursue sustainable development will be in vain if environmental degradation and natural resource depletion continue unabated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/all-our-efforts-to-defeat-poverty-and-pursue-sustainable-development/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [We were all children once. And we all share the desire for the well-being of our children, which has always been and will continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/we-were-all-children-once-and-we-all-share-the-desire-for-the-well/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [You will recall that for months after 9/11, there was incredible support and sympathy for the US. I really hoped and wished they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/you-will-recall-that-for-months-after-9-11-there-was-incredible/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [A nation has the right to defend itself, but when it comes to the broader issue of peace and security, the legitimacy rests only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/a-nation-has-the-right-to-defend-itself-but-when-it-comes-to-the/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Sometimes when you take a tough action against one side in the conflict, they see you as part of the conflict and they attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/sometimes-when-you-take-a-tough-action-against-one-side-in-the/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Some have suggested that ideally there must be some international body that would treat areas like the Arctic as a global commerce, a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/some-have-suggested-that-ideally-there-must-be-some-international/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [In an age of interdependence, global citizenship - based on trust and sense of shared responsibility - is a crucial pillar of progress. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/in-an-age-of-interdependence-global-citizenship-based-on-trust-and/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [We knew the Syrian situation was complex and there were lots of divisions, particularly on the side of the opposition... This is a tough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/we-knew-the-syrian-situation-was-complex-and-there-were-lots-of/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [The question is the morning after. What sort of Iraq do we wake up to after the bombing? What happens in the region? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/the-question-is-the-morning-after-what-sort-of-iraq-do-we-wake-up-to/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [I laugh a lot inside and outside, and at myself sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/i-laugh-a-lot-inside-and-outside-and-at-myself-sometimes/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Can the state, which represents the whole of society and has the duty of protecting society, fulfill that duty by lowering itself to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/can-the-state-which-represents-the-whole-of-society-and-has-the-duty/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [As long as inequality and other social problems plague us, populists will try to exploit them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/as-long-as-inequality-and-other-social-problems-plague-us-populists/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Developing and newer democracies are much more susceptible to the tactics of populists and demagogues - they often do not have strong institutions, free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/developing-and-newer-democracies-are-much-more-susceptible-to-the/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [The young and dynamic and idealistic people in the square do not have the chance to organise themselves politically, to be able to follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/the-young-and-dynamic-and-idealistic-people-in-the-square-do-not-have/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) [Explore all 366 Kofi Annan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) ## More Agreement quotes > [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [There's no way to have a peace agreement unless the mediator or negotiator looks at both sides from an equal basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/there-s-no-way-to-have-a-peace-agreement-unless-the-mediator-or/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Biochemists and biologists who adhere blindly to the Darwinism theory search for results that will be in agreement with their theories and consequently orient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-paul-grasse/biochemists-and-biologists-who-adhere-blindly-to-the-darwinism-theory/) [Pierre-Paul Grasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-paul-grasse/) > [In coming to that agreement, my party had a clear philosophy throughout. In Northern Ireland, we should have institutions that respected the differences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/in-coming-to-that-agreement-my-party-had-a-clear-philosophy/) [John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/) > [Identity is not negotiable. An identity you have achieved by agreement is always a prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-john-harrison/identity-is-not-negotiable-an-identity-you-have-achieved-by-agreement/) [M. John Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-john-harrison/) > [I am formally accountable to the steering board of the PIC, and I meet with nine ambassadors from the PIC every week. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-ashdown/i-am-formally-accountable-to-the-steering-board-of-the-pic-and-i-meet/) [Paddy Ashdown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-ashdown/) > [Because countries often have differing political and economic systems, agreements are needed to protect those invested in trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/because-countries-often-have-differing-political-and-economic-systems/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [As long as I sit at Henry Clay's desk, I will remember his lifelong desire to forge agreement, but I will also keep close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/as-long-as-i-sit-at-henry-clay-s-desk-i-will-remember-his-lifelong/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [Gaia's main problems are not industrialization, ozone depletion, overpopulation, or resource depletion. Gaia's main problem is the lack of mutual understanding and mutual agreement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/gaia-s-main-problems-are-not-industrialization-ozone-depletion/) [Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/) > [We recognize that NAFTA is a three-country agreement, and we need a three-country negotiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/we-recognize-that-nafta-is-a-three-country-agreement-and-we-need-a/) [Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/) > [At Ohio State University, to avoid being guilty of 'sexual assault' or 'sexual violence,' you and your partner now apparently have to agree on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/at-ohio-state-university-to-avoid-being-guilty-of-sexual-assault-or/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Whatever you perceive, you always make a story with yourself as the main character, and that dictates your life. Then when you read 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/whatever-you-perceive-you-always-make-a-story-with-yourself-as-the/) [Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/) > [ Look at what I am proposing, and we \[wih Bernie Sanders\] have a vigorous agreement here. We both want to reign in the excesses… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/look-at-what-i-am-proposing-and-we-wih-bernie-sanders-have-a-vigorous/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I spoke on the phone with President Rouhani of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The two of us discussed our ongoing efforts to reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-spoke-on-the-phone-with-president-rouhani-of-the-islamic-republic/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Netanyahu made all sorts of claims. This was going to be a terrible deal. This was going to result in Iran getting 50 billion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/netanyahu-made-all-sorts-of-claims-this-was-going-to-be-a-terrible/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Browse all 1,138 Agreement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Depending on where you live, your threat is much different from the other person. If you ask a New Yorker today, because of the way the press plays it, he will say terrorism is his biggest fear. But for somebody living on a small island state, then it is climate change, the rise of the sea level, for his whole island may be washed away. If I go to southern Africa, they tell me it is HIV/AIDS and somewhere in Asia it is poverty. This is also why you will find it difficult to find agreements, because if you want someone to be concerned about your threat, then you should be concerned about his.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kofi Annan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/depending-on-where-you-live-your-threat-is-much-different-from-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Agreement" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/depending-on-where-you-live-your-threat-is-much-different-from-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/597/kofi-annan-799_agreement_depending-on-where-you-live-your-threat_1895588.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/597/kofi-annan-799_agreement_depending-on-where-you-live-your-threat_1895588.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/597/kofi-annan-799_agreement_depending-on-where-you-live-your-threat_1895588.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Depending on where you live, your threat is much different from the other person. If you ask a New Yorker…” — Kofi Annan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kofi Annan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Depending on where you live, your...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/depending-on-where-you-live-your-threat-is-much-different-from-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/depending-on-where-you-live-your-threat-is-much-different-from-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```