---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought using the Ayatollah's money to…"
description: "\"I thought using the Ayatollah's money to support the Nicaraguan resistance was a neat idea.\" — Oliver North"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/oliver-north-9452_money_i-thought-using-the-ayatollah-s-money-to_208589.jpg"
---

#  I thought using the Ayatollah's money to support the…

![“I thought using the Ayatollah's money to support the Nicaraguan resistance was a neat idea.” quote by Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/oliver-north-9452_money_i-thought-using-the-ayatollah-s-money-to_208589.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/oliver-north-9452_money_i-thought-using-the-ayatollah-s-money-to_208589.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/oliver-north-9452_money_i-thought-using-the-ayatollah-s-money-to_208589.jpg)

> “I thought using the Ayatollah's money to support the Nicaraguan resistance was a neat idea.”

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Funding rebels with foreign money is portrayed as clever but ethically dubious.

**In simple terms:** Using illicit funds for a cause is risky.

Key Takeaway

Weigh moral costs of covert actions.

Themes

politics ethics strategy

Mood

critical reflective

Type

political controversial

When to use this quote

- military aid
- political scandals
- budget allocations

Key Concepts

covert operations foreign policy

Questions to Reflect On

- Is the end ever justified by the means?
- What safeguards prevent abuse?

A Different Perspective

Legal repercussions can outweigh short‑term gains.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ayatollah Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ayatollah-money-2158507/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Neat Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neat-idea-795256/) [Nicaraguan Resistance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nicaraguan-resistance-2158510/) [Support Nicaraguan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support-nicaraguan-2158508/) [Using Ayatollah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/using-ayatollah-2158509/)

## Related quotes

> [The Inhumans, just as an idea - the idea that you were an ordinary horseman until you were exposed to this catalyst that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-soule/the-inhumans-just-as-an-idea-the-idea-that-you-were-an-ordinary/)

[Charles Soule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-soule/)

> [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/)

[Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/)

> [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [“The writer must earn money in order to be able to live and to write, but he must by no means live and write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/the-writer-must-earn-money-in-order-to-be-able-to-live-and-to-write/)

[Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/)

> [I doubt that we Americans can come to terms with our money neuroses without understanding the more florid pathology of the very rich for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-slater/i-doubt-that-we-americans-can-come-to-terms-with-our-money-neuroses/)

[Philip Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-slater/)

> [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/)

[Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/)

> [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/)

[Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/)

> [“Don't allow money to become the yardstick by which you measure the worth of the world around you!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-james-pritchard/don-t-allow-money-to-become-the-yardstick-by-which-you-measure-the/)

[Andrew James Pritchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-james-pritchard/)

> [Maybe you can,t buy a big house.. A new car.. A huge diamond ring.. But if you have just one true friend who loves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy/maybe-you-can-t-buy-a-big-house-a-new-car-a-huge-diamond-ring-but-if/)

[Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy/)

> [If you restore a car, and you're making money, then you're doing it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/if-you-restore-a-car-and-you-re-making-money-then-you-re-doing-it/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/)

[Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/)

> [Money is the kind of instrument which is very speedily produced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoly-chubais/money-is-the-kind-of-instrument-which-is-very-speedily-produced/)

[Anatoly Chubais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoly-chubais/)

> [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/)

[Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/)

> [Don't let's lose sight of what creates wealth. It is open markets, it is capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/don-t-let-s-lose-sight-of-what-creates-wealth-it-is-open-markets-it/)

[Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/)

> [You've got to tell your money what to do or it will leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/you-ve-got-to-tell-your-money-what-to-do-or-it-will-leave/)

[Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/)

## More by Oliver North

> [“Frenchie spoke: 'Captain, you should have seen my lieutenant. He was magnificent.' It wasn't the word magnificent that meant so much. It was what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/frenchie-spoke-captain-you-should-have-seen-my-lieutenant-he-was/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [History and war are cruel pedants. Those who know too little of the former are likely to have too much of the latter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/history-and-war-are-cruel-pedants-those-who-know-too-little-of-the/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [Heroes aren't athletes who set new sports records, or Hollywood actors who make 'daring' films or politicians who make bold promises. Heroes are people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/heroes-aren-t-athletes-who-set-new-sports-records-or-hollywood-actors/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [Bill Clinton is not my commander-in-chief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/bill-clinton-is-not-my-commander-in-chief/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [I came here to tell you the truth, the good, the bad and the ugly. Ugly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/i-came-here-to-tell-you-the-truth-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-ugly/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [And of course there is so much of World War II that is documented that we never have seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/and-of-course-there-is-so-much-of-world-war-ii-that-is-documented/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [If you could have imagined that someone is happy that Obama is president, it has to be Jimmy Carter because he is no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/if-you-could-have-imagined-that-someone-is-happy-that-obama-is/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [“The objective was simple: capture or kill the brutal leader of a kidnapping ring with ties to the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/the-objective-was-simple-capture-or-kill-the-brutal-leader-of-a/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [In uniform, I had to make judgments about the best course of action in combat when the only choices were 'bad' or 'worse.' As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/in-uniform-i-had-to-make-judgments-about-the-best-course-of-action-in/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [“Heros aren't defined by the way they die but how they live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/heros-aren-t-defined-by-the-way-they-die-but-how-they-live/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [The Obama administration has turned a blind eye to radical Islam since before they came to office. If you look at everything that's transpired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/the-obama-administration-has-turned-a-blind-eye-to-radical-islam/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [I think as a rifle platoon and company commander your view is about 1,000 meters in front of you and you hope you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/i-think-as-a-rifle-platoon-and-company-commander-your-view-is-about-1/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [“we shall acquit ourselves with honor, that we may never bring shame upon our faith, our families, or our fellow men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/we-shall-acquit-ourselves-with-honor-that-we-may-never-bring-shame/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [“Whoever has the sword will have the earth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/whoever-has-the-sword-will-have-the-earth/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [Nothing is going to change the fact that I believe Ronald Reagan is the greatest president in my lifetime - may well be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/nothing-is-going-to-change-the-fact-that-i-believe-ronald-reagan-is/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

[Explore all 72 Oliver North quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

## More Money quotes

> [You've got to tell your money what to do or it will leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/you-ve-got-to-tell-your-money-what-to-do-or-it-will-leave/)

[Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/)

> [Don't let's lose sight of what creates wealth. It is open markets, it is capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/don-t-let-s-lose-sight-of-what-creates-wealth-it-is-open-markets-it/)

[Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/)

> [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/)

[Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/)

> [Money is the kind of instrument which is very speedily produced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoly-chubais/money-is-the-kind-of-instrument-which-is-very-speedily-produced/)

[Anatoly Chubais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoly-chubais/)

> [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/)

[Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/)

> [If you restore a car, and you're making money, then you're doing it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/if-you-restore-a-car-and-you-re-making-money-then-you-re-doing-it/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Maybe you can,t buy a big house.. A new car.. A huge diamond ring.. But if you have just one true friend who loves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy/maybe-you-can-t-buy-a-big-house-a-new-car-a-huge-diamond-ring-but-if/)

[Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy/)

> [“Don't allow money to become the yardstick by which you measure the worth of the world around you!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-james-pritchard/don-t-allow-money-to-become-the-yardstick-by-which-you-measure-the/)

[Andrew James Pritchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-james-pritchard/)

> [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/)

[Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/)

> [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/)

[Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/)

> [I doubt that we Americans can come to terms with our money neuroses without understanding the more florid pathology of the very rich for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-slater/i-doubt-that-we-americans-can-come-to-terms-with-our-money-neuroses/)

[Philip Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-slater/)

> [“The writer must earn money in order to be able to live and to write, but he must by no means live and write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/the-writer-must-earn-money-in-order-to-be-able-to-live-and-to-write/)

[Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/)

> [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/)

[Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/)

> [The man who works for the gold in the job rather than for the money in the pay envelope, is the fellow who gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-french-johnson/the-man-who-works-for-the-gold-in-the-job-rather-than-for-the-money/)

[Joseph French Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-french-johnson/)

[Browse all 45,172 Money quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I thought using the Ayatollah's money to support the Nicaraguan resistance was a neat idea.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Oliver North"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/i-thought-using-the-ayatollah-s-money-to-support-the-nicaraguan/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Money"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/i-thought-using-the-ayatollah-s-money-to-support-the-nicaraguan/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/oliver-north-9452_money_i-thought-using-the-ayatollah-s-money-to_208589.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/oliver-north-9452_money_i-thought-using-the-ayatollah-s-money-to_208589.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/oliver-north-9452_money_i-thought-using-the-ayatollah-s-money-to_208589.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I thought using the Ayatollah's money to support the Nicaraguan resistance was a neat idea.” — Oliver North",
                "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": "Oliver North",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I thought using the Ayatollah's money...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/i-thought-using-the-ayatollah-s-money-to-support-the-nicaraguan/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/i-thought-using-the-ayatollah-s-money-to-support-the-nicaraguan/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
