--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A decade ago, I lived in Saudi Arabia, in…" description: "\"A decade ago, I lived in Saudi Arabia, in Riyadh, as the treasury attache to our embassy there, and I was, of course, on the ground in the Middle East ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/morgan-ortagus-11473_arab-spring_a-decade-ago-i-lived-in-saudi-arabia-in_2406274.jpg" --- # A decade ago, I lived in Saudi Arabia, in Riyadh, as the… ![“A decade ago, I lived in Saudi Arabia, in Riyadh, as the treasury attache to our embassy there, and I was, of course, on the ground in the Middle East whenever the Arab Spring started, and it's fast-forward a decade later, nine years later. It's hard to believe that I am still working on this…” quote by Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/morgan-ortagus-11473_arab-spring_a-decade-ago-i-lived-in-saudi-arabia-in_2406274.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/morgan-ortagus-11473_arab-spring_a-decade-ago-i-lived-in-saudi-arabia-in_2406274.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cc/morgan-ortagus-11473_arab-spring_a-decade-ago-i-lived-in-saudi-arabia-in_2406274.jpg) > “A decade ago, I lived in Saudi Arabia, in Riyadh, as the treasury attache to our embassy there, and I was, of course, on the ground in the Middle East whenever the Arab Spring started, and it's fast-forward a decade later, nine years later. It's hard to believe that I am still working on this issue. You know, here in the State Department.” [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reflects on long‑term engagement with Middle Eastern affairs and the persistence required in diplomatic work **In simple terms:** Long‑term work demands patience and dedication Key Takeaway Stay committed to complex issues Themes dedication policy diplomacy Mood reflective determined Type political inspirational When to use this quote - Foreign service - conflict analysis - policy advising Key Concepts Geopolitics regional stability career longevity Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain motivation over decades? - What strategies help navigate policy fatigue? A Different Perspective Challenges include bureaucratic inertia and shifting political landscapes ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arab spring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arab-spring/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Decade Ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decade-ago-1522193/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard to believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-to-believe/) [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [Lived Saudi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lived-saudi-1863109/) [Middle east](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-east/) [Saudi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saudi/) [Saudi arabia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saudi-arabia/) [Spring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spring/) ## Related quotes > [I lived in Saudi Arabia in the late 1970s. It was, for a Westerner, pretty idyllic. There were the religious police; there were the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lacey/i-lived-in-saudi-arabia-in-the-late-1970s-it-was-for-a-westerner/) [Robert Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lacey/) > [We are not a failed Arab republic, so we should not fear Arab Spring. We should embrace Arab Spring. That's what I hope Saudi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/we-are-not-a-failed-arab-republic-so-we-should-not-fear-arab-spring/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [Saudi Arabia is the bulwark of our relationship, especially when it comes to Iran, and without the partnership of Saudi Arabia and our other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/saudi-arabia-is-the-bulwark-of-our-relationship-especially-when-it/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [I move countries every three or four years. I was born in London, and we lived in Canada. Then we lived in Saudi Arabia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-simone/i-move-countries-every-three-or-four-years-i-was-born-in-london-and/) [Hannah Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-simone/) > [There is always the risk that a conflagration in the Middle East becomes larger and more dangerous. In this scenario, we discover that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-bremmer/there-is-always-the-risk-that-a-conflagration-in-the-middle-east/) [Ian Bremmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-bremmer/) > [The death of Yemeni strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh shows that Saudi Arabia is paying for its betrayal of the Arab spring in Yemen in 2011.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/the-death-of-yemeni-strongman-ali-abdullah-saleh-shows-that-saudi/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [If Iran obtains nuclear weapons, then almost certainly Saudi Arabia will do the same, as will Egypt, Turkey and perhaps others in the region.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/if-iran-obtains-nuclear-weapons-then-almost-certainly-saudi-arabia/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [Saudi Arabia has allowed training on its soil of American forces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/saudi-arabia-has-allowed-training-on-its-soil-of-american-forces/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Over the last few years they have done a superb job in their fight against al-Qaida. As you may recall, our embassy in Jedda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/over-the-last-few-years-they-have-done-a-superb-job-in-their-fight/) [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) > [Saudi Arabia is a crucial ally in the Middle East, supporting U.S. efforts to fight terrorism and halt the ambitions of a hostile and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hurd/saudi-arabia-is-a-crucial-ally-in-the-middle-east-supporting-u-s/) [Will Hurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hurd/) > [The Treasury Department would use the interest from these securities to hire U.S. companies to build Saudi Arabia - new cities, new infrastructure -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/the-treasury-department-would-use-the-interest-from-these-securities/) [John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/) > [Saudi Arabia isn't just a conservative country with different values we shouldn't judge. It is a modern Gilead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mona-eltahawy/saudi-arabia-isn-t-just-a-conservative-country-with-different-values/) [Mona Eltahawy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mona-eltahawy/) > [Saudi Arabia has historically attempted to influence politics in Beirut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/saudi-arabia-has-historically-attempted-to-influence-politics-in/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [In Saudi Arabia, among other countries, Muslims are not free to convert to Christianity, and Christians are not free to practice their faith. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-warraq/in-saudi-arabia-among-other-countries-muslims-are-not-free-to-convert/) [Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/) > [America is the Saudi Arabia of coal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/america-is-the-saudi-arabia-of-coal/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) ## More by Morgan Ortagus > [The United States welcomes China's commitment to engage in arms control negotiations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/the-united-states-welcomes-china-s-commitment-to-engage-in-arms/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [President Trump insists on fairness and reciprocity in U.S.-China relations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/president-trump-insists-on-fairness-and-reciprocity-in-u-s-china/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [What would be most productive is for Chairman Kim and his staff and for President Trump and all his staff to continue upon the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/what-would-be-most-productive-is-for-chairman-kim-and-his-staff-and/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [Quite frankly, I don't want someone with the temperament of a middle school pubescent boy in the president's office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/quite-frankly-i-don-t-want-someone-with-the-temperament-of-a-middle/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [The United States is deeply concerned by Turkey's announced intentions to begin offshore drilling operations in an area claimed by the Republic of Cyprus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/the-united-states-is-deeply-concerned-by-turkey-s-announced/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [Saudi Arabia is the bulwark of our relationship, especially when it comes to Iran, and without the partnership of Saudi Arabia and our other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/saudi-arabia-is-the-bulwark-of-our-relationship-especially-when-it/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [Iran must stop all proliferation-sensitive activities, including uranium enrichment, and we will not accept actions that support the continuation of such enrichment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/iran-must-stop-all-proliferation-sensitive-activities-including/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [The United States, whenever it comes to any region in the world where there are tensions, asks for people to observe the rule of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/the-united-states-whenever-it-comes-to-any-region-in-the-world-where/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [There are areas in which the Russians are actually surprisingly cooperative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/there-are-areas-in-which-the-russians-are-actually-surprisingly/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [The stealing of American research, of course, ultimately takes American jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/the-stealing-of-american-research-of-course-ultimately-takes-american/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [We call on the P.R.C. to remain focused on supporting international efforts to combat the global pandemic and to stop exploiting the distraction or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/we-call-on-the-p-r-c-to-remain-focused-on-supporting-international/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [We have directed the closure of P.R.C. Consulate General Houston, in order to protect American intellectual property and American's private information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/we-have-directed-the-closure-of-p-r-c-consulate-general-houston-in/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [I don't think that leaking an American diplomat's private information, pictures, names of their children, I don't think that is a formal protest, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/i-don-t-think-that-leaking-an-american-diplomat-s-private-information/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [If 2016 taught us anything, it's that President Trump's political prowess should not be discounted or underestimated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/if-2016-taught-us-anything-it-s-that-president-trump-s-political/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [Given my own experience in national security, I have seen while serving abroad just how important women's economic empowerment is to national security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/given-my-own-experience-in-national-security-i-have-seen-while/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) [Explore all 59 Morgan Ortagus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) ## More Arab spring quotes > [None of us is certain about the outcome of the Arab Spring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/none-of-us-is-certain-about-the-outcome-of-the-arab-spring/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [As you know with the Arab Spring, there were no dividends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/najib-razak/as-you-know-with-the-arab-spring-there-were-no-dividends/) [Najib Razak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/najib-razak/) > [Some socialist movements in Egypt, Tunisia and Bahrain, for instance, were genuine. I was making films about the so-called Arab Spring, and I'm well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-vltchek/some-socialist-movements-in-egypt-tunisia-and-bahrain-for-instance/) [Andre Vltchek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-vltchek/) > [We are living in a world in which developments are harder to predict and one that has become more uncertain. In such a world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-stoltenberg/we-are-living-in-a-world-in-which-developments-are-harder-to-predict/) [Jens Stoltenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-stoltenberg/) > [The first question that I ask : do I have public support or not. That is the first question that I asked as President.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/the-first-question-that-i-ask-do-i-have-public-support-or-not-that-is/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [“Our daily routines influence the lives of people and animals halfway across the world, and some personal gestures can unexpectedly set the entire world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/our-daily-routines-influence-the-lives-of-people-and-animals-halfway/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [There is always the risk that a conflagration in the Middle East becomes larger and more dangerous. In this scenario, we discover that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-bremmer/there-is-always-the-risk-that-a-conflagration-in-the-middle-east/) [Ian Bremmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-bremmer/) > [One of the themes of 'The Longest War,' my book, which came out before the Arab spring happened, was how al-Qaida and bin Laden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/one-of-the-themes-of-the-longest-war-my-book-which-came-out-before/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [I don't think the Arab Spring had much to do with energy. I think it was just the opposite, in fact. I think the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/i-don-t-think-the-arab-spring-had-much-to-do-with-energy-i-think-it/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [I think Martin Luther King would always keep track of collective insurgencies among poor and working people. He was concerned about the treatment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/i-think-martin-luther-king-would-always-keep-track-of-collective/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [Everyone knew that Saleh and the Houthis were a marriage of convenience. He was a dictator; the Houthis are ideologues who want to impose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/everyone-knew-that-saleh-and-the-houthis-were-a-marriage-of/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [The Arab Spring is a true phenomenon. Embrace Arab Spring; embrace the aspiration for freedom of the people of Egypt, Syria, and Yemen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/the-arab-spring-is-a-true-phenomenon-embrace-arab-spring-embrace-the/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [The death of Yemeni strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh shows that Saudi Arabia is paying for its betrayal of the Arab spring in Yemen in 2011.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/the-death-of-yemeni-strongman-ali-abdullah-saleh-shows-that-saudi/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [I believe democracy will succeed in Tunisia, but I also believe that it will succeed in the other Arab Spring countries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashid-al-ghannushi/i-believe-democracy-will-succeed-in-tunisia-but-i-also-believe-that/) [Rashid al-Ghannushi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashid-al-ghannushi/) > [“The Arab Spring has been a dismal failure. All indications are that what comes next will be significantly worse than what existed before, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-bradley/the-arab-spring-has-been-a-dismal-failure-all-indications-are-that/) [John R. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-bradley/) [Browse all 108 Arab spring quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arab-spring/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A decade ago, I lived in Saudi Arabia, in Riyadh, as the treasury attache to our embassy there, and I was, of course, on the ground in the Middle East whenever the Arab Spring started, and it's fast-forward a decade later, nine years later. It's hard to believe that I am still working on this issue. 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