--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: First of all, the world criticizes…" description: "\"First of all, the world criticizes American foreign policy because Americans criticize American foreign policy. We shouldn't be surprised about that. C..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/801/michael-mandelbaum-15229_american_first-of-all-the-world-criticizes-americ_2617016.png" --- # First of all, the world criticizes American foreign policy… ![“First of all, the world criticizes American foreign policy because Americans criticize American foreign policy. We shouldn't be surprised about that. Criticizing government is a God-given right - at least in democracies.” quote by Michael Mandelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/801/michael-mandelbaum-15229_american_first-of-all-the-world-criticizes-americ_2617016.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/801/michael-mandelbaum-15229_american_first-of-all-the-world-criticizes-americ_2617016.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/801/michael-mandelbaum-15229_american_first-of-all-the-world-criticizes-americ_2617016.png) > “First of all, the world criticizes American foreign policy because Americans criticize American foreign policy. We shouldn't be surprised about that. Criticizing government is a God-given right - at least in democracies.” [Michael Mandelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mandelbaum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticizing government is a democratic right; Americans often criticize their own policies. **In simple terms:** Criticism is a democratic right. Key Takeaway Exercise free speech. Themes politics free speech democracy Mood analytical concerned Type political advice When to use this quote - voting - public protests - media commentary - policy debate Key Concepts civic engagement public discourse Questions to Reflect On - When does criticism become harmful? - How can constructive criticism be fostered? A Different Perspective Criticism can become unproductive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [Americans Criticize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans-criticize-2077071/) [Criticize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticize/) [Criticize American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticize-american-2077073/) [Criticizes American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticizes-american-2077074/) [Criticizing Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticizing-government-2077075/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Foreign policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foreign-policy/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Criticizes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-criticizes-2077072/) ## Related quotes > [I want no criticism of America at my table. The Americans criticize themselves more than enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-want-no-criticism-of-america-at-my-table-the-americans-criticize/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [...Americans...automatically equate dissension with disloyalty. They view any criticism of our existing social, economic, and political forms, as sedition and subversion. ...(" The growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/americans-automatically-equate-dissension-with-disloyalty-they-view/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's plenty to criticize about the mass media, but they are the source of regular information about a wide range of topics. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-plenty-to-criticize-about-the-mass-media-but-they-are-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [If you don't allow people to contribute, to offer their point of view, or to criticize what has been put before them, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/if-you-don-t-allow-people-to-contribute-to-offer-their-point-of-view/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Men can be divided into 2 groups: one that goes ahead and achieves something, and one that comes after and criticizes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-can-be-divided-into-2-groups-one-that-goes-ahead-and-achieves/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Woody Allen is a genius. His films are wonderful. He's poetic, but he's also a critic. He artfully steps back from a social setting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/woody-allen-is-a-genius-his-films-are-wonderful-he-s-poetic-but-he-s/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [We are all too keenly aware that those of you who supported us by purchasing the 3DS in the beginningmay feel betrayed and criticize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satoru-iwata/we-are-all-too-keenly-aware-that-those-of-you-who-supported-us-by/) [Satoru Iwata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satoru-iwata/) > [The privilege of prayer to me is one of the most cherished possessions, because faith and experience alike convince me that God himself sees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfred-grenfell/the-privilege-of-prayer-to-me-is-one-of-the-most-cherished/) [Wilfred Grenfell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfred-grenfell/) > [Those who lack the confidence and esteem to make the decisions that they need to make for themselves, are usually the same ones who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/those-who-lack-the-confidence-and-esteem-to-make-the-decisions-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can criticize Trump and his wealth all day long, but you can't say he hasn't worked. You can say that about the Clintons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/you-can-criticize-trump-and-his-wealth-all-day-long-but-you-can-t-say/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Lavish praise on people and people will flourish; criticize people and they'll shrivel up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/lavish-praise-on-people-and-people-will-flourish-criticize-people-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [When I passed the Chancellor he arose, waved his hand at me, and I waved back at him. I think the writers showed bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/when-i-passed-the-chancellor-he-arose-waved-his-hand-at-me-and-i/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) ## More by Michael Mandelbaum > [Certainly, protecting oppressed people, stopping ethnic conflict and promoting responsible governance are worthy goals. But none is as important for American security and prosperity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mandelbaum/certainly-protecting-oppressed-people-stopping-ethnic-conflict-and/) [Michael Mandelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mandelbaum/) > [In truth, every American administration since that of Franklin D. Roosevelt has maintained close ties with the Saudi rulers, and for a single, simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mandelbaum/in-truth-every-american-administration-since-that-of-franklin-d/) [Michael Mandelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mandelbaum/) > [All policy is a matter of gains and losses, upsides and downsides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mandelbaum/all-policy-is-a-matter-of-gains-and-losses-upsides-and-downsides/) [Michael Mandelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mandelbaum/) > [In the past when a country became as powerful as the United States, other countries would band together to clip its wings. But that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mandelbaum/in-the-past-when-a-country-became-as-powerful-as-the-united-states/) [Michael Mandelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mandelbaum/) > [In my experience, it's not just that serious books get a hearing on comedy shows. But serious books get a serious hearing, as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mandelbaum/in-my-experience-it-s-not-just-that-serious-books-get-a-hearing-on/) [Michael Mandelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mandelbaum/) > [After all, the past is our only real guide to the future, and historical analogies are instruments for distilling and organizing the past and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mandelbaum/after-all-the-past-is-our-only-real-guide-to-the-future-and/) [Michael Mandelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mandelbaum/) > [The American political system is so porous, it's so open, it's so frustrating for those who are trying to make policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mandelbaum/the-american-political-system-is-so-porous-it-s-so-open-it-s-so/) [Michael Mandelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mandelbaum/) > [Read the news section of the newspaper and there is confusion and uncertainty, a world buffeted by large forces people neither understand nor control.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mandelbaum/read-the-news-section-of-the-newspaper-and-there-is-confusion-and/) [Michael Mandelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mandelbaum/) > [The United States doesn't do what it does in the world for altruistic reasons. Nobody set out to be the world's government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mandelbaum/the-united-states-doesn-t-do-what-it-does-in-the-world-for-altruistic/) [Michael Mandelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mandelbaum/) > [The United States plays, for the most part, a constructive global role, and to the extent that that role shrinks, other countries, even those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mandelbaum/the-united-states-plays-for-the-most-part-a-constructive-global-role/) [Michael Mandelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mandelbaum/) > [American foreign policy, for all its shortcomings, has underpinned political stability around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mandelbaum/american-foreign-policy-for-all-its-shortcomings-has-underpinned/) [Michael Mandelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mandelbaum/) > [In the past, a blow to the international system's strongest power would have been welcomed by its rivals. In the wake of September 11,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mandelbaum/in-the-past-a-blow-to-the-international-system-s-strongest-power/) [Michael Mandelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mandelbaum/) > [The attacks of September 11, 2001, were spectacular, riveting, grim, costly and searing. The shock that they caused reverberated throughout the world. What happened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mandelbaum/the-attacks-of-september-11-2001-were-spectacular-riveting-grim/) [Michael Mandelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mandelbaum/) > [To call the American role in the world imperial was, for many who did so, a way of asserting that the United States was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mandelbaum/to-call-the-american-role-in-the-world-imperial-was-for-many-who-did/) [Michael Mandelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mandelbaum/) > [The United States will continue to be number one, and I do not see any country or group of countries taking the United States'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mandelbaum/the-united-states-will-continue-to-be-number-one-and-i-do-not-see-any/) [Michael Mandelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mandelbaum/) [Explore all 43 Michael Mandelbaum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mandelbaum/) ## More American quotes > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in a tremendous investment to support millions of workers without a paycheck and behind on bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/congress-passed-the-american-rescue-plan-act-in-a-tremendous/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and employ almost half of the working population. Yet because of their size, they rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/small-businesses-are-the-backbone-of-the-american-economy-and-employ/) [Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/) > [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [New York and San Francisco are distinctly different. San Francisco is driving the American media, not New York. You have young, microwaved millionaires and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/new-york-and-san-francisco-are-distinctly-different-san-francisco-is/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) [Browse all 7,717 American quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "First of all, the world criticizes American foreign policy because Americans criticize American foreign policy. We shouldn't be surprised about that. 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