--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The attacks of September 11 persuaded…" description: "\"The attacks of September 11 persuaded many Americans that what might seem to be obscure or distant potential threats can very quickly materialize and i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/434/michael-mandelbaum-15229_american_the-attacks-of-september-11-persuaded-ma_1025082.png" --- # The attacks of September 11 persuaded many Americans that… ![“The attacks of September 11 persuaded many Americans that what might seem to be obscure or distant potential threats can very quickly materialize and it therefore makes sense to attend to them even before they become urgent.” quote by Michael Mandelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/434/michael-mandelbaum-15229_american_the-attacks-of-september-11-persuaded-ma_1025082.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/434/michael-mandelbaum-15229_american_the-attacks-of-september-11-persuaded-ma_1025082.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/434/michael-mandelbaum-15229_american_the-attacks-of-september-11-persuaded-ma_1025082.png) > “The attacks of September 11 persuaded many Americans that what might seem to be obscure or distant potential threats can very quickly materialize and it therefore makes sense to attend to them even before they become urgent.” [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. Early attention to seemingly minor threats prevents them from becoming crises; proactive vigilance is essential. **In simple terms:** Watch small threats before they become big. Key Takeaway Act early to mitigate emerging risks. Themes security preparedness risk assessment proactive policy prevention Mood alert thoughtful Type policy analysis When to use this quote - government planning - corporate risk management - public health - environmental safety Key Concepts threat perception early warning resource allocation policy making Questions to Reflect On - What minor signs do you monitor? - How do you balance vigilance with practicality? A Different Perspective Focusing too much on unlikely threats can waste resources and cause panic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [Attacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attacks/) [Attacks September](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attacks-september-375243/) [Attend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attend/) [Attend Urgent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attend-urgent-2309012/) [Become](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/become/) [Before](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/before/) [Distant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distant/) [Even](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/even/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes/) [Many](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/many/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Obscure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obscure/) [Persuaded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persuaded/) [Potential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/potential/) [Potential Threats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/potential-threats-694426/) [Quickly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quickly/) [Seem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seem/) [Sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense/) [September](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/september/) [September 11](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/september-11/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [Therefore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/therefore/) [Threats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threats/) [Threats Quickly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threats-quickly-2309011/) [Urgent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urgent/) [Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [We take all potential threats to public and private sector systems seriously and will continue to investigate and hold accountable those who pose a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/we-take-all-potential-threats-to-public-and-private-sector-systems/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [Security has to be, and has long been, our government's top priority. It is imperative that we continue to diligently watch for potential threats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/security-has-to-be-and-has-long-been-our-government-s-top-priority-it/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [We have global interests, potential threats from elsewhere, North Korea, Iran, Taiwan Straits and the like. We must be prepared for any future threat.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-skelton/we-have-global-interests-potential-threats-from-elsewhere-north-korea/) [Ike Skelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-skelton/) > [The terrorist attacks of September 11th and the courageous actions of our armed forces in Afghanistan and Iraq remind us that friends of tyranny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/the-terrorist-attacks-of-september-11th-and-the-courageous-actions-of/) [Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/) > [Nobody's ever suggested that the attacks of September the 11th were ordered by Iraq. I have suggested, however, that resentment and the lack of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/nobody-s-ever-suggested-that-the-attacks-of-september-the-11th-were/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, as well as more recent attacks in Madrid, Spain, and London, England, showed in a very tragic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-bonner/the-terrorist-attacks-of-september-11-2001-as-well-as-more-recent/) [Jo Bonner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-bonner/) > [The attacks of September 11th were intended to break our spirit. Instead we have emerged stronger and more unified.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/the-attacks-of-september-11th-were-intended-to-break-our-spirit-2/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [The anniversary of the tragic attacks on September 11, 2001, and September 11, 2012, is a day to remember those who died and suffered.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-hoekstra/the-anniversary-of-the-tragic-attacks-on-september-11-2001-and/) [Pete Hoekstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-hoekstra/) > [The terrorist attacks on September the 11th were a turning point for our nation. We saw the goals of a determined enemy: to expand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-terrorist-attacks-on-september-the-11th-were-a-turning-point-for/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The attacks of September 11th were intended to break our spirit. Instead we have emerged stronger and more unified. We feel renewed devotion to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/the-attacks-of-september-11th-were-intended-to-break-our-spirit/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [“Climate change is already causing, every week, as many deaths as occurred in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/climate-change-is-already-causing-every-week-as-many-deaths-as/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [“After the murderous attacks on September 11th, I had an overwhelming need to know what people hated most about America so we arranged to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haas/after-the-murderous-attacks-on-september-11th-i-had-an-overwhelming/) [Scott Haas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haas/) > [The attacks of September 11 - and subsequent acts of terror from London to Madrid to Fort Hood, Texas - embody the most repulsive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/the-attacks-of-september-11-and-subsequent-acts-of-terror-from-london/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [In remembering those who lost their lives in the London attacks and the September 11th attacks we continue our commitment to fighting for freedom,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-hastings/in-remembering-those-who-lost-their-lives-in-the-london-attacks-and/) [Doc Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-hastings/) ## 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": "The attacks of September 11 persuaded many Americans that what might seem to be obscure or distant potential threats can very quickly materialize and it therefore makes sense to attend to them even before they become urgent.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Mandelbaum" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mandelbaum/the-attacks-of-september-11-persuaded-many-americans-that-what-might/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mandelbaum/the-attacks-of-september-11-persuaded-many-americans-that-what-might/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/434/michael-mandelbaum-15229_american_the-attacks-of-september-11-persuaded-ma_1025082.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/434/michael-mandelbaum-15229_american_the-attacks-of-september-11-persuaded-ma_1025082.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/434/michael-mandelbaum-15229_american_the-attacks-of-september-11-persuaded-ma_1025082.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The attacks of September 11 persuaded many Americans that what might seem to be obscure or distant potential…” — Michael Mandelbaum", "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 Mandelbaum", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mandelbaum/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The attacks of September 11 persuaded...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mandelbaum/the-attacks-of-september-11-persuaded-many-americans-that-what-might/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mandelbaum/the-attacks-of-september-11-persuaded-many-americans-that-what-might/#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 } } ] } ```