---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The decision to put American lives at…"
description: "\"The decision to put American lives at risk is a decision that has a very high hurdle to pass.\" — Mitt Romney"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/mitt-romney-268_american_the-decision-to-put-american-lives-at-ri_2065864.png"
---

#  The decision to put American lives at risk is a decision…

![“The decision to put American lives at risk is a decision that has a very high hurdle to pass.” quote by Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/mitt-romney-268_american_the-decision-to-put-american-lives-at-ri_2065864.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/mitt-romney-268_american_the-decision-to-put-american-lives-at-ri_2065864.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/mitt-romney-268_american_the-decision-to-put-american-lives-at-ri_2065864.png)

> “The decision to put American lives at risk is a decision that has a very high hurdle to pass.”

[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 argues that risking American lives requires an exceptionally high justification.

**In simple terms:** Risking lives demands very strong reasons.

Key Takeaway

Demand rigorous justification.

Themes

ethics policy national security risk assessment

Mood

serious thoughtful

Type

ethical policy

When to use this quote

- policy drafting
- legislative hearings
- public debate

Key Concepts

decision thresholds public safety military ethics

Questions to Reflect On

- What criteria define “high hurdle”?
- How balance security and liberty?

A Different Perspective

High thresholds can impede necessary swift action in emergencies.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Hurdle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurdle/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/)

## Related quotes

> [“Waiting is a risk to something or nothing, its on your own Decision if you'll stay and still with your Patience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-ian-n-cny/waiting-is-a-risk-to-something-or-nothing-its-on-your-own-decision-if/)

[kent Ian N. Cny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-ian-n-cny/)

> [“You are one idea, one risk, one decision away from a totally different life. Of course, it’ll probably be the toughest decision you ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/you-are-one-idea-one-risk-one-decision-away-from-a-totally-different/)

[Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/)

> [When so many lives are at risk, when so much killing is going on, when there's so much chaos and suffering, isn't the risk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/when-so-many-lives-are-at-risk-when-so-much-killing-is-going-on-when/)

[Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/)

> [Every day, hundreds of thousands of men and women protect and serve, often putting their own lives at risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-costello/every-day-hundreds-of-thousands-of-men-and-women-protect-and-serve/)

[Jerry Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-costello/)

> [It's like every step we take in our lives is a risk and yet we must go on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/it-s-like-every-step-we-take-in-our-lives-is-a-risk-and-yet-we-must/)

[Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/)

> [No president ever puts American lives at risk without a terrible sense of responsibility. And no American ever hears or reads of a soldier’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/no-president-ever-puts-american-lives-at-risk-without-a-terrible/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [I think if we're going to live in this - in this world - in this technological world where information can be disseminated so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-if-we-re-going-to-live-in-this-in-this-world-in-this/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If you hold back in hurdles, you are going to fall over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-pearson/if-you-hold-back-in-hurdles-you-are-going-to-fall-over/)

[Sally Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-pearson/)

> [Whether I'm trying to figure out what the U.S. military is doing in Latin America or Africa, Afghanistan or Qatar, the response is remarkably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-turse/whether-i-m-trying-to-figure-out-what-the-u-s-military-is-doing-in/)

[Nick Turse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-turse/)

> [Four of my children are daughters, and I've watched them devote themselves to reading books about how little girls learn to become women -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-massie/four-of-my-children-are-daughters-and-i-ve-watched-them-devote/)

[Robert K. Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-massie/)

> [Trample the weak. Hurdle the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/attila-the-hun/trample-the-weak-hurdle-the-dead/)

[Attila the Hun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/attila-the-hun/)

> [Getting started as a volunteer anywhere can be a challenge to a lot of people. The biggest hurdle is that people think they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-joyner-kersee/getting-started-as-a-volunteer-anywhere-can-be-a-challenge-to-a-lot/)

[Jackie Joyner-Kersee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-joyner-kersee/)

> [I've been motivated by overcoming challenge and overcoming the hurdles and obstacles that face me. There still is plenty out there to get motivated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-agassi/i-ve-been-motivated-by-overcoming-challenge-and-overcoming-the/)

[Andre Agassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-agassi/)

> [If you're not ready to fall, you're not ready to hurdle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tonie-campbell/if-you-re-not-ready-to-fall-you-re-not-ready-to-hurdle/)

Tonie Campbell

> [The less obvious hurdle is that of preparing parents emotionally and putting forward realistic images of parenthood and motherhood. There also needs to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/the-less-obvious-hurdle-is-that-of-preparing-parents-emotionally-and/)

[Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/)

## 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 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

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The decision to put American lives at risk is a decision that has a very high hurdle to pass.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mitt Romney"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/the-decision-to-put-american-lives-at-risk-is-a-decision-that-has-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "American"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/the-decision-to-put-american-lives-at-risk-is-a-decision-that-has-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/mitt-romney-268_american_the-decision-to-put-american-lives-at-ri_2065864.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/mitt-romney-268_american_the-decision-to-put-american-lives-at-ri_2065864.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/812/mitt-romney-268_american_the-decision-to-put-american-lives-at-ri_2065864.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The decision to put American lives at risk is a decision that has a very high hurdle to pass.” — 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": "The decision to put American lives...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/the-decision-to-put-american-lives-at-risk-is-a-decision-that-has-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/the-decision-to-put-american-lives-at-risk-is-a-decision-that-has-a/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
