--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ironically, it is exactly because we are…" description: "\"Ironically, it is exactly because we are a city that embraces freedom, that welcomes everyone and encourages their dreams, that New York remains on the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/michael-bloomberg-1293_cities_ironically-it-is-exactly-because-we-are_1452376.png" --- # Ironically, it is exactly because we are a city that… ![“Ironically, it is exactly because we are a city that embraces freedom, that welcomes everyone and encourages their dreams, that New York remains on the front lines in the war on terror.” quote by Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/michael-bloomberg-1293_cities_ironically-it-is-exactly-because-we-are_1452376.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/michael-bloomberg-1293_cities_ironically-it-is-exactly-because-we-are_1452376.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/michael-bloomberg-1293_cities_ironically-it-is-exactly-because-we-are_1452376.png) > “Ironically, it is exactly because we are a city that embraces freedom, that welcomes everyone and encourages their dreams, that New York remains on the front lines in the war on terror.” [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom and openness attract diverse people and ideas, which can also make a city a target for terrorism, highlighting a paradox of liberty and security. **In simple terms:** Freedom draws people and also threats. Key Takeaway Balance openness with vigilant security. Themes freedom security diversity paradox urban life Mood concerned reflective Type political analytical When to use this quote - city planning - immigration policy - public safety initiatives - community building Key Concepts civil liberties terrorism social cohesion Questions to Reflect On - How can a city protect its residents without compromising its core values? - What policies best reconcile openness with safety? A Different Perspective Security measures may erode the very freedoms they aim to protect. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [City Embraces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/city-embraces-629588/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Embrace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embrace/) [Embraces Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embraces-freedom-629587/) [Exactly City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exactly-city-629592/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Welcomes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-welcomes-629590/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [Remains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remains/) [Terror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terror/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War on terror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-on-terror/) [York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/york/) ## Related quotes > [It is exactly because we are a city that embraces freedom, that welcomes everyone and encourages their dreams, that New York remains on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/it-is-exactly-because-we-are-a-city-that-embraces-freedom-that/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [Criticism of government finds sanctuary in several portions of the 1st Amendment. It is part of the right of free speech. It embraces freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/criticism-of-government-finds-sanctuary-in-several-portions-of-the/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [Russia is a competitor. They're a strong nation, something we need to recognize, but their economy is just a little bit bigger than Illinois,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-kinzinger/russia-is-a-competitor-they-re-a-strong-nation-something-we-need-to/) [Adam Kinzinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-kinzinger/) > [We should demand that (Customs and Border Protection) focus on the true priority that we face on the war on terror... Stripping small amounts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-vitter/we-should-demand-that-customs-and-border-protection-focus-on-the-true/) [David Vitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-vitter/) > [In the tradition of Black Hawk Down, Malcolm MacPherson vividly brings to life this harrowing story of courage, pathos, and war at its grittiest.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-winik/in-the-tradition-of-black-hawk-down-malcolm-macpherson-vividly-brings/) [Jay Winik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-winik/) > [We all know that Washington families are making a tremendous commitment to winning the War on Terror. Tonight, more than 22,000 Washington state soldiers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-murray/we-all-know-that-washington-families-are-making-a-tremendous/) [Patty Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-murray/) > [From our perspective, trying to deal with this continuing campaign of terror, if you will, the war on terror that we're engaged in, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/from-our-perspective-trying-to-deal-with-this-continuing-campaign-of/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Guy Savelli's role in the War on Terror began when half-a-dozen strangers, within days of one another, contacted him via e-mail and telephone in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ronson/guy-savelli-s-role-in-the-war-on-terror-began-when-half-a-dozen/) [Jon Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ronson/) > [Funny, for all surveillance, Osama bin Laden is still free—and we're not. Guess who's winning the "war on terror?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/funny-for-all-surveillance-osama-bin-laden-is-still-free-and-we-re/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [The bill Congress sent me would take away one of the most valuable tools in the war on terror...so today I vetoed it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-bill-congress-sent-me-would-take-away-one-of-the-most-valuable/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Terrorists can endanger some of us, but the war on terror endangers us all. How much more can the Constitution be diminished before it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/terrorists-can-endanger-some-of-us-but-the-war-on-terror-endangers-us/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [Critics have stepped up their attacks on the President for authorizing the National Security Agency to listen to international communications of known al Qaeda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/critics-have-stepped-up-their-attacks-on-the-president-for/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > [It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This nation is freedom's home, and freedom's defender.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/it-is-clear-that-the-future-of-freedom-and-peace-depend-on-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [If it is terrorism, if it is war on terror, then the Afghan people will join you on terror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamid-karzai/if-it-is-terrorism-if-it-is-war-on-terror-then-the-afghan-people-will/) [Hamid Karzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamid-karzai/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) ## More by Michael Bloomberg > [I'm not going to run for president. No way, no how.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/i-m-not-going-to-run-for-president-no-way-no-how/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [Now, you might say – “But why should we pay people for doing what they’re supposed to do?” It’s a fair question – but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/now-you-might-say-but-why-should-we-pay-people-for-doing-what-they-re/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [What I'm trying to do is to create excitement. So people looking at the Bloomberg's office building say, "My goodness, what's going on here?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/what-i-m-trying-to-do-is-to-create-excitement-so-people-looking-at/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [You have to understand, we have better communications and better transportation, so people know what's available elsewhere and can get a message out, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/you-have-to-understand-we-have-better-communications-and-better/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [ The system \[in U.S.\] is designed for a two-party system. And those two parties have an interest in keeping third parties out. There's too… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/the-system-in-u-s-is-designed-for-a-two-party-system-and-those-two/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [If you want to do something for your children and show how much you love them, the single best thing-by far-is to support organizations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/if-you-want-to-do-something-for-your-children-and-show-how-much-you/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [We haven't had a world war in a long time. We do have mass movements of people out of Syria and North Africa. But,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/we-haven-t-had-a-world-war-in-a-long-time-we-do-have-mass-movements/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [I think one of the great dangers here is going and categorizing anybody from one religion as a terrorist. That's not true... That would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/i-think-one-of-the-great-dangers-here-is-going-and-categorizing/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [Stubborn isn't a word I would use to describe myself; pigheaded is more appropriate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/stubborn-isn-t-a-word-i-would-use-to-describe-myself-pigheaded-is/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [Many of America's and New York's sons and daughters are around the world fighting for the freedoms that the Statue of Liberty stands for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/many-of-america-s-and-new-york-s-sons-and-daughters-are-around-the/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [If you really believe that you're making a difference and that you can leave a legacy of better schools and jobs and safer streets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/if-you-really-believe-that-you-re-making-a-difference-and-that-you/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [The next day after I got fired, literally the next day, I started a new company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/the-next-day-after-i-got-fired-literally-the-next-day-i-started-a-new/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [We all must recognize that homeland security funds should be allocated by threat and no other reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/we-all-must-recognize-that-homeland-security-funds-should-be/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [In New York City, a lot of people think "the great outdoors" is the area between your front door and a taxi cab.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/in-new-york-city-a-lot-of-people-think-the-great-outdoors-is-the-area/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [Is your company so small you have to do everything for yourself? Wait until you're so big that you can't. That's worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/is-your-company-so-small-you-have-to-do-everything-for-yourself-wait/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) [Explore all 259 Michael Bloomberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) ## More Cities quotes > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [Surely, if Mother Nature had been consulted, she would never have consented to building a city in New Orleans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-zuckerman/surely-if-mother-nature-had-been-consulted-she-would-never-have/) [Mortimer Zuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-zuckerman/) > [Cities are 2% of the earth's crust, but they are 50% of the world's population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-ratti/cities-are-2-of-the-earth-s-crust-but-they-are-50-of-the-world-s/) [Carlo Ratti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlo-ratti/) > [A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-man-could-be-a-lover-and-defender-of-the-wilderness-without-ever-in/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [All Germany was in turmoil. Revolutionaries seized power in the cities of Munich, Hanover and Cologne. One regional German government after another was toppled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cross-giblin/all-germany-was-in-turmoil-revolutionaries-seized-power-in-the-cities/) [James Cross Giblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cross-giblin/) > [Nice is a city of ghosts and specters, but I hope not to become one of them right away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-modiano/nice-is-a-city-of-ghosts-and-specters-but-i-hope-not-to-become-one-of/) [Patrick Modiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-modiano/) > [I know of not one Republican candidate that would not appear publicly with Mitt Romney and I know many Democrats that don't even want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/i-know-of-not-one-republican-candidate-that-would-not-appear-publicly/) [Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [We will neglect our cities to our peril, for in neglecting them we neglect the nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-will-neglect-our-cities-to-our-peril-for-in-neglecting-them-we/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [I didn't know the city at all, but I was so happy to be in New York I cried. I was so excited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/i-didn-t-know-the-city-at-all-but-i-was-so-happy-to-be-in-new-york-i/) [Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/) > [Outside of Paris, there is no hope for the cultured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/outside-of-paris-there-is-no-hope-for-the-cultured/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [Dawn's faint breath breathes with your mouth at the ends of empty streets. Gray light your eyes, sweet drops of dawn on dark hills.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/dawn-s-faint-breath-breathes-with-your-mouth-at-the-ends-of-empty/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Vienna is a handsome, lively city, and pleases me exceedingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-chopin/vienna-is-a-handsome-lively-city-and-pleases-me-exceedingly/) [Frederic Chopin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-chopin/) > [“We have grace of strength to work, to clear our cities of any dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-have-grace-of-strength-to-work-to-clear-our-cities-of-any-dirt/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I was too tired to think. I merely felt the town as a unique unreality. What was it? I knew -- the moon's picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-too-tired-to-think-i-merely-felt-the-town-as-a-unique-unreality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 7,153 Cities quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Ironically, it is exactly because we are a city that embraces freedom, that welcomes everyone and encourages their dreams, that New York remains on the front lines in the war on terror.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Bloomberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/ironically-it-is-exactly-because-we-are-a-city-that-embraces-freedom/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cities" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/ironically-it-is-exactly-because-we-are-a-city-that-embraces-freedom/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/michael-bloomberg-1293_cities_ironically-it-is-exactly-because-we-are_1452376.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/michael-bloomberg-1293_cities_ironically-it-is-exactly-because-we-are_1452376.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/michael-bloomberg-1293_cities_ironically-it-is-exactly-because-we-are_1452376.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Ironically, it is exactly because we are a city that embraces freedom, that welcomes everyone and encourages…” — Michael Bloomberg", "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": "Michael Bloomberg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Ironically, it is exactly because we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/ironically-it-is-exactly-because-we-are-a-city-that-embraces-freedom/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/ironically-it-is-exactly-because-we-are-a-city-that-embraces-freedom/#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 } } ] } ```