--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe that if America does not lead…" description: "\"I believe that if America does not lead, others will - others who do not share our interests and our values - and the world will grow darker, for our f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/621/mitt-romney-268_america_i-believe-that-if-america-does-not-lead_2547343.png" --- # I believe that if America does not lead, others will… ![“I believe that if America does not lead, others will - others who do not share our interests and our values - and the world will grow darker, for our friends and for us.” quote by Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/621/mitt-romney-268_america_i-believe-that-if-america-does-not-lead_2547343.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/621/mitt-romney-268_america_i-believe-that-if-america-does-not-lead_2547343.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/621/mitt-romney-268_america_i-believe-that-if-america-does-not-lead_2547343.png) > “I believe that if America does not lead, others will - others who do not share our interests and our values - and the world will grow darker, for our friends and for us.” [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker warns that without U.S. leadership, other nations with differing values may dominate, leading to a more dangerous world for allies and Americans. **In simple terms:** U.S. leadership prevents hostile powers from shaping the world. Key Takeaway Support active American leadership abroad. Themes leadership geopolitics values security Mood cautious determined Type political strategic When to use this quote - foreign policy debates - alliances - international negotiations - defense strategy Key Concepts American exceptionalism global responsibility balance of power Questions to Reflect On - How can the U.S. lead while respecting other nations' sovereignty? - What are the risks of over‑assertive leadership? A Different Perspective Assumes all non‑U.S. actors are hostile, ignoring potential cooperation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-does/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-america/) [Darker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darker/) [Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/does/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Grow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grow/) [Grow Darker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grow-darker-1488077/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [I believe that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe-that/) [Interests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interests/) [Lead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lead/) [Lead Share](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lead-share-1488076/) [Others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/others/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Share](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/share/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [There are millions of Americans outside Washington who are tired of stale political arguments and are moving this country forward. They believe, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/there-are-millions-of-americans-outside-washington-who-are-tired-of/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I authored the Universal National Service Act because I believe that everyone in America should contribute to the greater good of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/i-authored-the-universal-national-service-act-because-i-believe-that/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) > [I believe in an America where millions of Americans believe in an America that's the America millions of Americans believe in. That's the America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-believe-in-an-america-where-millions-of-americans-believe-in-an/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [We still believe in the America that is a land of opportunity and a beacon of freedom. We believe in the America that challenges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/we-still-believe-in-the-america-that-is-a-land-of-opportunity-and-a/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [The principles that made this nation a great and powerful leader of the world, have not lost their meaning. They never will. We know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/the-principles-that-made-this-nation-a-great-and-powerful-leader-of/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I absolutely believe that America has a responsibility, and the privilege of helping defend freedom and promote the principles that make the world more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-absolutely-believe-that-america-has-a-responsibility-and-the/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [If America does not use her vast resources of wealth to end poverty and make it possible for all of God's children to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/if-america-does-not-use-her-vast-resources-of-wealth-to-end-poverty/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [When the United States of America does things in its best interests, it is hated. I'm sorry, that just ticks me off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/when-the-united-states-of-america-does-things-in-its-best-interests/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [America does not go abroad in search of monsters to destroy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/america-does-not-go-abroad-in-search-of-monsters-to-destroy/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [Racism is a cancer that America does not want to cure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-d/racism-is-a-cancer-that-america-does-not-want-to-cure/) [Willie D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-d/) > [What America does best is produce the ability to accept failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/what-america-does-best-is-produce-the-ability-to-accept-failure/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [Very little of what America does is actually bad, and I don't think it ever does anything anywhere that is intentionally bad. I mean,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/very-little-of-what-america-does-is-actually-bad-and-i-don-t-think-it/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [America does not stand with dictators, and we never will and we shall never.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-gallego/america-does-not-stand-with-dictators-and-we-never-will-and-we-shall/) [Ruben Gallego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-gallego/) > [In fact, American presidents never apologize for what America does in war, because in the American mind, all its wars are defensive, always fought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/in-fact-american-presidents-never-apologize-for-what-america-does-in/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [The United States of America does not have friends; it has interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-foster-dulles/the-united-states-of-america-does-not-have-friends-it-has-interests/) [John Foster Dulles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-foster-dulles/) ## More by Mitt Romney > [I look at what's happening around the world and I see Iran four years closer to a bomb. I see the Middle East with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-look-at-what-s-happening-around-the-world-and-i-see-iran-four-years/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I would like to have campaign spending limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-would-like-to-have-campaign-spending-limits/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I believe in my Mormon faith, and I endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers - I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-believe-in-my-mormon-faith-and-i-endeavor-to-live-by-it-my-faith-is/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [America's military is second to none in the world. We're blessed with terrific soldiers, and extraordinary technology and intelligence. But the idea of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/america-s-military-is-second-to-none-in-the-world-we-re-blessed-with/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [And a special thank you to the citizens of Massachusetts: You are paying all the taxes, creating all the jobs, raising all the children.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/and-a-special-thank-you-to-the-citizens-of-massachusetts-you-are/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [When I was elected governor of my state, I had a legislature 87 percent Democrat. It was not lost on me that to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/when-i-was-elected-governor-of-my-state-i-had-a-legislature-87/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I saw the young man over there with eggs Benedict, with hollandaise sauce. And I was going to suggest to you that you serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-saw-the-young-man-over-there-with-eggs-benedict-with-hollandaise/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I've been a hunter pretty much all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-ve-been-a-hunter-pretty-much-all-my-life/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I think Mitt Romney has demonstrated repeatedly he has a penchant for - for secrecy, doesn't seem to have any interest in actually showing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-think-mitt-romney-has-demonstrated-repeatedly-he-has-a-penchant-for/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [If I were to offer advice to any president of the United States, it would be this: do whatever you can do to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/if-i-were-to-offer-advice-to-any-president-of-the-united-states-it/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I was too important to go to Vietnam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-was-too-important-to-go-to-vietnam/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [America has not dictated to other nations. We have freed other nations from dictators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/america-has-not-dictated-to-other-nations-we-have-freed-other-nations/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [The right course is for the Palestinians and the Israelis to sit down at the table together. The Palestinians need to recognize that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/the-right-course-is-for-the-palestinians-and-the-israelis-to-sit-down/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [If I'm President of the United States, when I'm President of the United States, we will stand with Israel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/if-i-m-president-of-the-united-states-when-i-m-president-of-the/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [President Obama instituted the most anti-growth, anti-investment, anti-jobs measures that we have seen in our lifetime. Now he called his agenda ambitious, I call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/president-obama-instituted-the-most-anti-growth-anti-investment-anti/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) [Explore all 781 Mitt Romney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I believe that if America does not lead, others will - others who do not share our interests and our values - and the world will grow darker, for our friends and for us.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mitt Romney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-believe-that-if-america-does-not-lead-others-will-others-who-do-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-believe-that-if-america-does-not-lead-others-will-others-who-do-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/621/mitt-romney-268_america_i-believe-that-if-america-does-not-lead_2547343.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/621/mitt-romney-268_america_i-believe-that-if-america-does-not-lead_2547343.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/621/mitt-romney-268_america_i-believe-that-if-america-does-not-lead_2547343.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I believe that if America does not lead, others will - others who do not share our interests and our values…” — Mitt Romney", "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": "Mitt Romney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I believe that if America does...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-believe-that-if-america-does-not-lead-others-will-others-who-do-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-believe-that-if-america-does-not-lead-others-will-others-who-do-not/#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 } } ] } ```