--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our Armed Forces, past and present have…" description: "\"Our Armed Forces, past and present have already waited too long for us to protect them.\" — Penny Mordaunt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/penny-mordaunt-5880_armed-forces_our-armed-forces-past-and-present-have-a_2428373.jpg" --- # Our Armed Forces, past and present have already waited too… ![“Our Armed Forces, past and present have already waited too long for us to protect them.” quote by Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/penny-mordaunt-5880_armed-forces_our-armed-forces-past-and-present-have-a_2428373.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/penny-mordaunt-5880_armed-forces_our-armed-forces-past-and-present-have-a_2428373.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/penny-mordaunt-5880_armed-forces_our-armed-forces-past-and-present-have-a_2428373.jpg) > “Our Armed Forces, past and present have already waited too long for us to protect them.” [Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The military has been waiting too long for public protection and support. **In simple terms:** Armed forces feel neglected. Key Takeaway Prioritize timely support for troops. Themes defense public policy citizen responsibility Mood concerned motivational Type political advocacy When to use this quote - policy debates - budget discussions - veteran services Key Concepts national security government accountability military morale Questions to Reflect On - What concrete steps can citizens take to support the armed forces? - How can governments better align defense needs with public expectations? A Different Perspective Balancing resources with other priorities is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Armed forces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armed-forces/) [Forces Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forces-past-248148/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-protect-248147/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past and present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-and-present/) [Present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present/) [Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect/) [Too long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-long/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) [Waited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waited/) [Waited Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waited-long/) ## Related quotes > [If ever the call comes to them, the young will go straight from the ranks of the neutralists into the ranks of he Majesty's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-macmillan/if-ever-the-call-comes-to-them-the-young-will-go-straight-from-the/) [Harold MacMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-macmillan/) > [“Time was supposed to heal all wounds. To Drummer, that was just a nice way of saying that if she waited long enough, none…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/time-was-supposed-to-heal-all-wounds-to-drummer-that-was-just-a-nice/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [“I've waited so very long for this. For you. For someone as beautiful, both inside and out, as you, my beloved Brianna. Do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-ryan-langan/i-ve-waited-so-very-long-for-this-for-you-for-someone-as-beautiful/) [Ruth Ryan Langan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-ryan-langan/) > [I think one thing that may have happened with both Facebook and Zynga is that they may have waited too long to go public.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gurley/i-think-one-thing-that-may-have-happened-with-both-facebook-and-zynga/) [Bill Gurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gurley/) > [I waited a long time out in the world before I gave myself permission to fail. Please don't even bother asking. Don't bother telling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/i-waited-a-long-time-out-in-the-world-before-i-gave-myself-permission/) [Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/) > [I've never had a dream that didn't come true, if I waited long enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-massey/i-ve-never-had-a-dream-that-didn-t-come-true-if-i-waited-long-enough/) [Raymond Massey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-massey/) > [We waited a long time to get married. He came with his baggage. I had mine. While we sorted our issues we got a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neelam-kothari/we-waited-a-long-time-to-get-married-he-came-with-his-baggage-i-had/) [Neelam Kothari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neelam-kothari/) > [Hope you'll forgive me, never meant wrong. Tried to be patient, but waited too long. But I would've came back.. But I would've came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/hope-you-ll-forgive-me-never-meant-wrong-tried-to-be-patient-but/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [Just once I wanted a task that required all the joy I had. Day after day I had noticed that if I waited long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/just-once-i-wanted-a-task-that-required-all-the-joy-i-had-day-after/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [I waited for a long time for a call-up for Les Bleus, but that call never came.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalidou-koulibaly/i-waited-for-a-long-time-for-a-call-up-for-les-bleus-but-that-call/) [Kalidou Koulibaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalidou-koulibaly/) > [I knew if I waited around long enough something like this would happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/i-knew-if-i-waited-around-long-enough-something-like-this-would-happen/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“Everything had its purpose. If you waited long enough, a useless thing would become useful again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-snyder/everything-had-its-purpose-if-you-waited-long-enough-a-useless-thing/) [Laurel Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-snyder/) > [I got married, I really waited a long time - three days after I graduated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/i-got-married-i-really-waited-a-long-time-three-days-after-i-graduated/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [On one hand, it seems like I've waited a long time for this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karrie-webb/on-one-hand-it-seems-like-i-ve-waited-a-long-time-for-this/) [Karrie Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karrie-webb/) > [Waited on you for so long Too many days since January Im still sitting here alone We shoulda did this already said I gotta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justice-garcia/waited-on-you-for-so-long-too-many-days-since-january-im-still/) [Justice Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justice-garcia/) ## More by Penny Mordaunt > [The simple truth is that unless you can control immigration you cannot govern because you cannot set a budget or plan public services.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/the-simple-truth-is-that-unless-you-can-control-immigration-you/) [Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/) > [We must not end up with further division by just reinforcing factions in the party, Parliament or the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/we-must-not-end-up-with-further-division-by-just-reinforcing-factions/) [Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/) > [We all want to see a world where a preventable and treatable disease no longer takes lives or prevents women and girls from attending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/we-all-want-to-see-a-world-where-a-preventable-and-treatable-disease/) [Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/) > [We must work together, across nations and sectors. Only then will we consign the hideous crime of slavery to the history books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/we-must-work-together-across-nations-and-sectors-only-then-will-we/) [Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/) > [As we prepare to leave the E.U. it is a good time to take stock of what we do on the global stage, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/as-we-prepare-to-leave-the-e-u-it-is-a-good-time-to-take-stock-of/) [Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/) > [London Fashion Week is always an exciting time because of the way it pushes boundaries, giving us a glimpse of what the future could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/london-fashion-week-is-always-an-exciting-time-because-of-the-way-it/) [Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/) > [The British people have a global outlook, they are generous, and when they see suffering and injustice they are motivated to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/the-british-people-have-a-global-outlook-they-are-generous-and-when/) [Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/) > [Our democracy should not be undermined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/our-democracy-should-not-be-undermined/) [Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/) > [By helping investors create jobs in Africa and Asia we will help lift millions out of poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/by-helping-investors-create-jobs-in-africa-and-asia-we-will-help-lift/) [Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/) > [We are not a superpower, but we have a legitimate need to protect and enhance our global interests. It is important that we maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/we-are-not-a-superpower-but-we-have-a-legitimate-need-to-protect-and/) [Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/) > [It's manifestly in everyone's interest if the U.K. leaves the E.U. in an orderly, friendly and constructive way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/it-s-manifestly-in-everyone-s-interest-if-the-u-k-leaves-the-e-u-in/) [Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/) > [Britain should not be held back by the E.U.'s protectionist stance which keeps so many developing countries from growing their economies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/britain-should-not-be-held-back-by-the-e-u-s-protectionist-stance/) [Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/) > [The fans of a football club are its greatest and most constant asset. Players, managers, owners come and go. The fans remain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/the-fans-of-a-football-club-are-its-greatest-and-most-constant-asset/) [Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/) > [When we hear the word 'slavery,' it can be easy to dismiss it as a relic, a crime from the history books, a shameful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/when-we-hear-the-word-slavery-it-can-be-easy-to-dismiss-it-as-a-relic/) [Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/) > [Discrimination, hate crime and worse are widespread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/discrimination-hate-crime-and-worse-are-widespread/) [Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/) [Explore all 100 Penny Mordaunt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/) ## More Armed forces quotes > [The terrorist attacks of September 11th and the courageous actions of our armed forces in Afghanistan and Iraq remind us that friends of tyranny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/the-terrorist-attacks-of-september-11th-and-the-courageous-actions-of/) [Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/) > [Recruitment and retention are critical to sustain our Armed Forces with the best men and women willing to stand in the gap and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/recruitment-and-retention-are-critical-to-sustain-our-armed-forces/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My father was in the military; he was a captain. His service was to quote-unquote integrate the Armed Forces overseas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/my-father-was-in-the-military-he-was-a-captain-his-service-was-to/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [I believe that homosexual acts between individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts. I do not believe that the Armed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-pace/i-believe-that-homosexual-acts-between-individuals-are-immoral-and/) [Peter Pace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-pace/) > [“The highest ranking Russian intelligence officer to defect from Russia, Stanislav Lunev, testified at a Congressional hearing held in California in January, 2000. Before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-price/the-highest-ranking-russian-intelligence-officer-to-defect-from/) [John Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-price/) > [A colonial war is a very dirty kind of war. You're not fighting armed forces. You're fighting mostly unarmed people. And to fight that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/a-colonial-war-is-a-very-dirty-kind-of-war-you-re-not-fighting-armed/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Scotland forms a crucial part of our Armed Forces which should not be jeopardised by rushed cuts or a rush to the exit from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-hammond/scotland-forms-a-crucial-part-of-our-armed-forces-which-should-not-be/) [Philip Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-hammond/) > [The people of Iraq are grateful for what the people of the United States of America and our armed forces and our coalition forces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-isakson/the-people-of-iraq-are-grateful-for-what-the-people-of-the-united/) [Johnny Isakson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-isakson/) > [I have deep respect for our armed forces and jawans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d-kumaraswamy/i-have-deep-respect-for-our-armed-forces-and-jawans/) [H. D. Kumaraswamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-d-kumaraswamy/) > [“The ultimate objective of all military operations is the destruction of the enemy’s armed forces and his will to fight.”\* This sums up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wylie/the-ultimate-objective-of-all-military-operations-is-the-destruction/) [J.C. Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wylie/) > [Relations between States, as between individuals, must be regulated not by armed force, but in accordance with...truth, justice and vigorous and sincere co-operation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-xxiii/relations-between-states-as-between-individuals-must-be-regulated-not/) [Pope John XXIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-xxiii/) > [Word to the Nation: Guard zealously your right to serve in the Armed Forces, for without them, there will be no other rights to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/word-to-the-nation-guard-zealously-your-right-to-serve-in-the-armed/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [If Congress grants permission, I would put armed forces in the streets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jair-bolsonaro/if-congress-grants-permission-i-would-put-armed-forces-in-the-streets/) [Jair Bolsonaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jair-bolsonaro/) > [To lead uninstructed people to war is to throw them away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-lead-uninstructed-people-to-war-is-to-throw-them-away/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Americans will forever be proud of the brave men and women of our armed forces who served in World War II, and we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/americans-will-forever-be-proud-of-the-brave-men-and-women-of-our/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) [Browse all 342 Armed forces quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armed-forces/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our Armed Forces, past and present have already waited too long for us to protect them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Penny Mordaunt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/our-armed-forces-past-and-present-have-already-waited-too-long-for-us/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Armed forces" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/our-armed-forces-past-and-present-have-already-waited-too-long-for-us/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/penny-mordaunt-5880_armed-forces_our-armed-forces-past-and-present-have-a_2428373.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/penny-mordaunt-5880_armed-forces_our-armed-forces-past-and-present-have-a_2428373.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/penny-mordaunt-5880_armed-forces_our-armed-forces-past-and-present-have-a_2428373.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Our Armed Forces, past and present have already waited too long for us to protect them.” — Penny Mordaunt", "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": "Penny Mordaunt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Our Armed Forces, past and present...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/our-armed-forces-past-and-present-have-already-waited-too-long-for-us/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/our-armed-forces-past-and-present-have-already-waited-too-long-for-us/#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 } } ] } ```