--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The thing that keeps me awake at night is…" description: "\"The thing that keeps me awake at night is a nexus between terrorism and massive destruction...the possibility that a terrorist organization could eithe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abf/michele-flournoy-59058_acquire_the-thing-that-keeps-me-awake-at-night-i_1998480.png" --- # The thing that keeps me awake at night is a nexus between… ![“The thing that keeps me awake at night is a nexus between terrorism and massive destruction...the possibility that a terrorist organization could either acquire a ready-made weapon or fabricate something improvised that would have a catastrophic effect for us.” quote by Michele Flournoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abf/michele-flournoy-59058_acquire_the-thing-that-keeps-me-awake-at-night-i_1998480.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abf/michele-flournoy-59058_acquire_the-thing-that-keeps-me-awake-at-night-i_1998480.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abf/michele-flournoy-59058_acquire_the-thing-that-keeps-me-awake-at-night-i_1998480.png) > “The thing that keeps me awake at night is a nexus between terrorism and massive destruction...the possibility that a terrorist organization could either acquire a ready-made weapon or fabricate something improvised that would have a catastrophic effect for us.” [Michele Flournoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-flournoy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights the fear that terrorist groups might obtain or create weapons capable of massive destruction, posing a severe security threat. **In simple terms:** Terrorists could get or make catastrophic weapons. Key Takeaway Prioritize intelligence and prevention. Themes security terrorism risk management Mood anxious urgent Type policy strategic warning When to use this quote - national defense planning - counter‑terrorism operations - policy making - emergency response Key Concepts non‑proliferation preparedness strategic foresight Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance vigilance with realistic threat assessment? - What safeguards can reduce the risk of weapon acquisition? A Different Perspective It may overstate the likelihood of such extreme scenarios, causing panic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acquire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquire/) [Awake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awake/) [Awake at night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awake-at-night/) [Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction/) [Effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effects/) [Fabricate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fabricate/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Massive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/massive/) [Nexus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nexus/) [Nexus Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nexus-terrorism-1922947/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Possibility Terrorist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility-terrorist-3502985/) [Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ready/) [Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism/) [Terrorism Massive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism-massive-3502986/) [Terrorist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorist/) [Terrorist Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorist-organization-450880/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) ## Related quotes > [The nexus between terrorism and nuclear weapons, or even nuclear material, is obviously a current concern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-reiss/the-nexus-between-terrorism-and-nuclear-weapons-or-even-nuclear/) [Mitchell Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-reiss/) > [What we will not wait for is that particular nexus of terrorism, weapons of mass destruction that is extremism, and the technology to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/what-we-will-not-wait-for-is-that-particular-nexus-of-terrorism/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [The possibility that terrorist groups could obtain weapons of mass destruction should not be dismissed as a fiction. This is a horrific threat the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/the-possibility-that-terrorist-groups-could-obtain-weapons-of-mass/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [I really believe the nexus of terrorism and nuclear weapons is the world's most ominous threat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/i-really-believe-the-nexus-of-terrorism-and-nuclear-weapons-is-the/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [The fact that wealthy people or people from privileged backgrounds may wind up in a violent terrorist organization is not new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lowell-bergman/the-fact-that-wealthy-people-or-people-from-privileged-backgrounds/) [Lowell Bergman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lowell-bergman/) > [Hamas is a little more than an enemy of the United States. Hamas, of course, is a terrorist organization - listed by Europeans as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/hamas-is-a-little-more-than-an-enemy-of-the-united-states-hamas-of/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [The NEA is a terrorist organization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-paige/the-nea-is-a-terrorist-organization/) [Rod Paige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-paige/) > [The Taliban, who controlled Afghanistan, harbored and protected the terrorist organization that was behind the 9/11 attacks on the United States, and they needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/the-taliban-who-controlled-afghanistan-harbored-and-protected-the/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [Hamas is a terrorist organization dedicated to annihilating the Jewish state. It runs a theocratic totalitarian state in Gaza, with no individual liberty, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/hamas-is-a-terrorist-organization-dedicated-to-annihilating-the/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [Don't negotiate with terrorists; patent trolls have done more damage to the United States economy than any domestic or foreign terrorist organization in history,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-curtis/don-t-negotiate-with-terrorists-patent-trolls-have-done-more-damage/) [Drew Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-curtis/) > [None of us condone terrorism in any way, shape, or form, and I believe Hezbollah is a terrorist organization that was, is, and remains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-conyers/none-of-us-condone-terrorism-in-any-way-shape-or-form-and-i-believe/) [John Conyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-conyers/) > [“He and his subordinates have issued a visa to a self-proclaimed member of a formally designated Egyptian terrorist organization in order to enable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/he-and-his-subordinates-have-issued-a-visa-to-a-self-proclaimed/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [Any organization or any individual that targets civilians and kills them for political agenda is a terrorist organization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feisal-abdul-rauf/any-organization-or-any-individual-that-targets-civilians-and-kills/) [Feisal Abdul Rauf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feisal-abdul-rauf/) > [We are the most powerful nation on earth. No external power, no terrorist organization can defeat us. But we can defeat ourselves by getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/we-are-the-most-powerful-nation-on-earth-no-external-power-no/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [My greatest fear is the Iranians acquire a nuclear weapon and give it to a terrorist organization. And there is a real threat of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/my-greatest-fear-is-the-iranians-acquire-a-nuclear-weapon-and-give-it/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) ## More by Michele Flournoy > [ \[James Mattis\] also has real passion for the care of the men and women in the U.S. military and their families. So, you know,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-flournoy/james-mattis-also-has-real-passion-for-the-care-of-the-men-and-women/) [Michele Flournoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-flournoy/) > [ISIS is the new jihad - violent jihadist vanguard in the Middle East and globally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-flournoy/isis-is-the-new-jihad-violent-jihadist-vanguard-in-the-middle-east/) [Michele Flournoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-flournoy/) > [General James Mattis is a storied and much-respected military leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-flournoy/general-james-mattis-is-a-storied-and-much-respected-military-leader/) [Michele Flournoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-flournoy/) > [ \[James Mattis\] is a student of history. 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The more we pursue it - and the more we seem to acquire it - the more we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-aquilina/humility-is-an-elusive-virtue-the-more-we-pursue-it-and-the-more-we/) [Mike Aquilina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-aquilina/) > [Acquire worldly wisdom and adjust your behavior accordingly. If your new behavior gives you a little temporary unpopularity with your peer group then to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/acquire-worldly-wisdom-and-adjust-your-behavior-accordingly-if-your/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [This was Shakespeare's form ; Who walk'd in every path of human life, Felt every passion ; and to all mankind Doth now, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-akenside/this-was-shakespeare-s-form-who-walk-d-in-every-path-of-human-life/) [Mark Akenside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-akenside/) > [Wasn't Saddam destroyed? Wasn't Gaddafi liquidated? 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Kim Jong-un isn't doing too badly, either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fisk/wasn-t-saddam-destroyed-wasn-t-gaddafi-liquidated-didn-t-milosevic-go/) [Robert Fisk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fisk/) > [The best way for women to acquire knowledge is from conversation with a father, a brother, or a friend, in the way of family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-letitia-barbauld/the-best-way-for-women-to-acquire-knowledge-is-from-conversation-with/) [Anna Letitia Barbauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-letitia-barbauld/) > [Have you ever wanted something so badly that you would do anything, believe anything in order to acquire it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/have-you-ever-wanted-something-so-badly-that-you-would-do-anything/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [Ballet is pure and demands that you serve something larger than yourself, whether it be beauty or art, or a combination of both. 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Thus they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-enemy-s-spies-who-have-come-to-spy-on-us-must-be-sought-out/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [In the late 1950s a major topic under discussion was whether Canada should acquire nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/in-the-late-1950s-a-major-topic-under-discussion-was-whether-canada/) [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) > [Shamanism is a path of knowledge, not of faith, and that knowledge cannot come from me or anyone else in this reality. To acquire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-harner/shamanism-is-a-path-of-knowledge-not-of-faith-and-that-knowledge/) [Michael Harner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-harner/) [Browse all 1,020 Acquire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The thing that keeps me awake at night is a nexus between terrorism and massive destruction...the possibility that a terrorist organization could either acquire a ready-made weapon or fabricate something improvised that would have a catastrophic effect for us.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michele Flournoy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-flournoy/the-thing-that-keeps-me-awake-at-night-is-a-nexus-between-terrorism/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acquire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-flournoy/the-thing-that-keeps-me-awake-at-night-is-a-nexus-between-terrorism/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abf/michele-flournoy-59058_acquire_the-thing-that-keeps-me-awake-at-night-i_1998480.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abf/michele-flournoy-59058_acquire_the-thing-that-keeps-me-awake-at-night-i_1998480.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abf/michele-flournoy-59058_acquire_the-thing-that-keeps-me-awake-at-night-i_1998480.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The thing that keeps me awake at night is a nexus between terrorism and massive destruction...the…” — Michele Flournoy", "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": "Michele Flournoy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-flournoy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The thing that keeps me awake...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-flournoy/the-thing-that-keeps-me-awake-at-night-is-a-nexus-between-terrorism/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-flournoy/the-thing-that-keeps-me-awake-at-night-is-a-nexus-between-terrorism/#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 } } ] } ```