--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nations keep agreements, keep their…" description: "\"Nations keep agreements, keep their treaties so long as they continue to do them good.\" — Linus Pauling" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/linus-pauling-8508_agreement_nations-keep-agreements-keep-their-treat_1246322.jpg" --- # Nations keep agreements, keep their treaties so long as… ![“Nations keep agreements, keep their treaties so long as they continue to do them good.” quote by Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/linus-pauling-8508_agreement_nations-keep-agreements-keep-their-treat_1246322.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/linus-pauling-8508_agreement_nations-keep-agreements-keep-their-treat_1246322.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/linus-pauling-8508_agreement_nations-keep-agreements-keep-their-treat_1246322.jpg) > “Nations keep agreements, keep their treaties so long as they continue to do them good.” [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Treaties are honored only while they remain beneficial to the parties involved. **In simple terms:** People keep agreements when they see advantage. Key Takeaway Assess mutual benefit before committing. Themes diplomacy trust mutual benefit pragmatism Mood analytical cautious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - trade negotiations - environmental accords - alliances Key Concepts international relations game theory contract law Questions to Reflect On - What incentives keep treaties alive? - How to balance short‑term gain vs. long‑term trust? A Different Perspective Self‑interest may undermine long‑term stability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agreement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreement/) [Agreements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreements/) [Agreements Treaties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreements-treaties-3910353/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Nations Agreements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations-agreements-3910352/) [Treaties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treaties/) [Treaties Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treaties-long-3910351/) ## Related quotes > [Agreements. Specifically, a treaty ratified by all the orders of whimsical like forms who dwell here that affords a measure of security for mortal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mull/agreements-specifically-a-treaty-ratified-by-all-the-orders-of/) [Brandon Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mull/) > [The establishment of free trade agreements can be a critical and progressive step towards greater economic integration, and continues to become more valuable in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-kildee/the-establishment-of-free-trade-agreements-can-be-a-critical-and/) [Dan Kildee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-kildee/) > [Beneficial in theory, so-called free trade agreements far too often have been detrimental to the United States economy and the manufacturing sector that forms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-kildee/beneficial-in-theory-so-called-free-trade-agreements-far-too-often/) [Dan Kildee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-kildee/) > [There is still work to be done, but that remains a crucial lesson, you cannot bring peace and security to people just by signing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/there-is-still-work-to-be-done-but-that-remains-a-crucial-lesson-you/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Engineers in the developed world should be arguing not for protectionism but for trade agreements that seek to establish rules that result in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-behlendorf/engineers-in-the-developed-world-should-be-arguing-not-for/) [Brian Behlendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-behlendorf/) > [Make fair agreements and stick to them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/make-fair-agreements-and-stick-to-them/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [A peace deal requires agreements, and you don't make agreements with your friends, you make agreements with your enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-holbrooke/a-peace-deal-requires-agreements-and-you-don-t-make-agreements-with/) [Richard Holbrooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-holbrooke/) > [Your life works to the degree you keep your agreements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-erhard/your-life-works-to-the-degree-you-keep-your-agreements/) [Werner Erhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-erhard/) > [The most powerful men were those who most effectively used the power of adult competence to enforce childish agreements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-s-trow/the-most-powerful-men-were-those-who-most-effectively-used-the-power/) [George W. S. Trow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-s-trow/) > [We need the UN, to deal with the threats to our common security from nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, not only in the case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-lindh/we-need-the-un-to-deal-with-the-threats-to-our-common-security-from/) [Anna Lindh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-lindh/) > [The United States was founded on the idea that all people are endowed with inalienable rights, and that principle has allowed us to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-united-states-was-founded-on-the-idea-that-all-people-are-endowed/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Treaties, agreements and organizations to help settle disputes may be necessary, but they often favor the interests of business over citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/treaties-agreements-and-organizations-to-help-settle-disputes-may-be/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [I will never be without information,' she determined. 'I will do better than my sisters. If a bird or any other beast comes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/i-will-never-be-without-information-she-determined-i-will-do-better/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [ Our agreements on creating the conditions for preparing a peace treaty \[with Japan\] should be rooted in this trust. This may be achieved, for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/our-agreements-on-creating-the-conditions-for-preparing-a-peace/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [The treaties of the European Union say that, once a country has decided to leave, then they are excluded from the treaty after two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/the-treaties-of-the-european-union-say-that-once-a-country-has/) [David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/) ## More by Linus Pauling > [You can trace every sickness, every disease and every ailment to a mineral deficiency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/you-can-trace-every-sickness-every-disease-and-every-ailment-to-a/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [Science is the search for truth, that is the effort to understand the world: it involves the rejection of bias, of dogma, of revelation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/science-is-the-search-for-truth-that-is-the-effort-to-understand-the/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [The only sane policy for the world is that of abolishing war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/the-only-sane-policy-for-the-world-is-that-of-abolishing-war/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [Just one living cell in the human body is, more complex than New York City.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/just-one-living-cell-in-the-human-body-is-more-complex-than-new-york/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [Satisfaction of one's curiosity is one of the greatest sources of happiness in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/satisfaction-of-one-s-curiosity-is-one-of-the-greatest-sources-of/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [Science is the search for the truth--it is not a game in which one tries to beat his opponent, to do harm to others.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/science-is-the-search-for-the-truth-it-is-not-a-game-in-which-one/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [ \[Professor Pauling\] confesses that he had harboured the feeling that sooner or later he would be the one to get the DNA structure; and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/professor-pauling-confesses-that-he-had-harboured-the-feeling-that/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/the-best-way-to-have-a-good-idea-is-to-have-lots-of-ideas/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [Every aspect of the world today - even politics and international relations - is affected by chemistry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/every-aspect-of-the-world-today-even-politics-and-international/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [I believe that you can, by taking some simple and inexpensive measures, lead a longer life and extend your years of well-being. My most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/i-believe-that-you-can-by-taking-some-simple-and-inexpensive-measures/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [But I know also that still more interesting discoveries will be made that I have not the imagination to describe - and I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/but-i-know-also-that-still-more-interesting-discoveries-will-be-made/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [Man's great power of thinking, remembering, and communicating are responsible for the evolution of civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/man-s-great-power-of-thinking-remembering-and-communicating-are/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/the-best-way-to-have-a-good-idea-is-to-have-a-lot-of-ideas/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [I try to identify myself with the atoms ... I ask what I would do If I were a carbon atom or a sodium atom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/i-try-to-identify-myself-with-the-atoms-i-ask-what-i-would-do-if-i/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [The way to get good ideas is to get lots of ideas and throw the bad ones away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/the-way-to-get-good-ideas-is-to-get-lots-of-ideas-and-throw-the-bad/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) [Explore all 80 Linus Pauling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) ## 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": "Nations keep agreements, keep their treaties so long as they continue to do them good.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Linus Pauling" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/nations-keep-agreements-keep-their-treaties-so-long-as-they-continue/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Agreement" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/nations-keep-agreements-keep-their-treaties-so-long-as-they-continue/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/linus-pauling-8508_agreement_nations-keep-agreements-keep-their-treat_1246322.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/linus-pauling-8508_agreement_nations-keep-agreements-keep-their-treat_1246322.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/linus-pauling-8508_agreement_nations-keep-agreements-keep-their-treat_1246322.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nations keep agreements, keep their treaties so long as they continue to do them good.” — Linus Pauling", "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": "Linus Pauling", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Nations keep agreements, keep their treaties...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/nations-keep-agreements-keep-their-treaties-so-long-as-they-continue/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/nations-keep-agreements-keep-their-treaties-so-long-as-they-continue/#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 } } ] } ```