--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When people say the U.N. is useless, I…" description: "\"When people say the U.N. is useless, I ask the question, which U.N. are we talking about? We have the U.N. that is a secretariat led by the secretary g..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/kofi-annan-799_people_when-people-say-the-u-n-is-useless-i-ask_1985496.png" --- # When people say the U.N. is useless, I ask the question… ![“When people say the U.N. is useless, I ask the question, which U.N. are we talking about? We have the U.N. that is a secretariat led by the secretary general, and we have a U.N. made up of member states who give us our mandate.” quote by Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/kofi-annan-799_people_when-people-say-the-u-n-is-useless-i-ask_1985496.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/kofi-annan-799_people_when-people-say-the-u-n-is-useless-i-ask_1985496.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/kofi-annan-799_people_when-people-say-the-u-n-is-useless-i-ask_1985496.png) > “When people say the U.N. is useless, I ask the question, which U.N. are we talking about? We have the U.N. that is a secretariat led by the secretary general, and we have a U.N. made up of member states who give us our mandate.” [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. The UN comprises both a secretariat and member states, each with distinct roles and responsibilities. **In simple terms:** The UN has two parts with different duties. Key Takeaway Recognize the UN’s dual structure. Themes international relations governance accountability Mood analytical critical Type informative educational When to use this quote - policy analysis - diplomacy - academic study Key Concepts institutional design political legitimacy Questions to Reflect On - Which UN body influences decisions most? - How does this duality affect effectiveness? A Different Perspective Critics may overlook this nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Member States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/member-states-615763/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question/) [Secretariat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secretariat-1263003/) [Secretariat Led](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secretariat-led-3413646/) [Secretary General](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secretary-general-722503/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Talking Secretariat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking-secretariat-3413647/) [United nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-nations/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) [Useless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/useless/) ## Related quotes > [There is firm support in the Swedish society for the United Nations and, of course, for the Secretary-General Kofi Annan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goran-persson/there-is-firm-support-in-the-swedish-society-for-the-united-nations/) [Goran Persson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goran-persson/) > [I take very seriously my responsibility as Secretary-General to make sure that the United Nations is doing everything it can to uphold the universal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/i-take-very-seriously-my-responsibility-as-secretary-general-to-make/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Indeed, it is a common goal to create a stronger United Nations able to meet the multitude of expectations placed upon it. To that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miroslav-lajcak/indeed-it-is-a-common-goal-to-create-a-stronger-united-nations-able/) [Miroslav Lajcak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miroslav-lajcak/) > [One of the main lessons I have learned during my five years as Secretary-General is that broad partnerships are the key to solving broad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/one-of-the-main-lessons-i-have-learned-during-my-five-years-as/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Everybody knows that the United Nations is not the Secretary-General; he has an important position, but the United Nations is the states within this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/everybody-knows-that-the-united-nations-is-not-the-secretary-general/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [It's always a difficult time to be secretary general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/it-s-always-a-difficult-time-to-be-secretary-general/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [The UN was very media-shy, and its relationship with the press was very controlled; although periodically I spoke to the press, the rule was,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/the-un-was-very-media-shy-and-its-relationship-with-the-press-was/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Secretariat was just ridiculously endowed with every positive quality that a person would seek out in a non-human. He was very aware of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-lane/secretariat-was-just-ridiculously-endowed-with-every-positive-quality/) [Diane Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-lane/) > [The secretariat will play a pivotal role in decision-making above a certain level, where basic policies are involved, but below that, we will have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-gandhi/the-secretariat-will-play-a-pivotal-role-in-decision-making-above-a/) [Rajiv Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-gandhi/) > ['Secretariat' was such a magnificent animal, unbelievably beautiful and powerful. It's always nice to see something that close to perfection, a reason to celebrate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/secretariat-was-such-a-magnificent-animal-unbelievably-beautiful-and/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [“Years after the fact, when people asked me how I got into the horse business, the answer was always the same: "I saw Secretariat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-rowand/years-after-the-fact-when-people-asked-me-how-i-got-into-the-horse/) [George Rowand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-rowand/) > [“I saw Secretariat run - really run - for about fifteen seconds, and my life was never the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-rowand/i-saw-secretariat-run-really-run-for-about-fifteen-seconds-and-my/) [George Rowand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-rowand/) > [The E.U. is founded on the Treaties which apply only to the Member States who have agreed and ratified them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-manuel-barroso/the-e-u-is-founded-on-the-treaties-which-apply-only-to-the-member/) [Jose Manuel Barroso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-manuel-barroso/) > [It is crucial to maintain the political equality among the member states, which is fundamental to the community. At the same time we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-duda/it-is-crucial-to-maintain-the-political-equality-among-the-member/) [Andrzej Duda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-duda/) > [It is not acceptable for customers in one member state to pay the price for a company to become a bigger player in other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neelie-kroes/it-is-not-acceptable-for-customers-in-one-member-state-to-pay-the/) [Neelie Kroes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neelie-kroes/) ## 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 People quotes > [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [I feel like the future is unwritten. So many of the things that we write now haven't been about educating people on the environment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/i-feel-like-the-future-is-unwritten-so-many-of-the-things-that-we/) [John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [For us who are now in power, we need to be challenged to serve the people and ignore our own egos and personal interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/for-us-who-are-now-in-power-we-need-to-be-challenged-to-serve-the/) [Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/) > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [By eating many fruits and vegetables in place of fast food and junk food, people could avoid obesity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-murdock/by-eating-many-fruits-and-vegetables-in-place-of-fast-food-and-junk/) [David H. 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