---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've thought for some time that the…"
description: "\"I've thought for some time that the answer to a lot of problems in the Middle East, including Iran, include an active role with Russia. And I think, in..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/120/rand-paul-606_active_i-ve-thought-for-some-time-that-the-answ_2128519.jpg"
---

#  I've thought for some time that the answer to a lot of…

![“I've thought for some time that the answer to a lot of problems in the Middle East, including Iran, include an active role with Russia. And I think, in some ways, we've taken show votes in the U.N. that are guaranteed to failure before we take them.” quote by Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/120/rand-paul-606_active_i-ve-thought-for-some-time-that-the-answ_2128519.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/120/rand-paul-606_active_i-ve-thought-for-some-time-that-the-answ_2128519.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/120/rand-paul-606_active_i-ve-thought-for-some-time-that-the-answ_2128519.jpg)

> “I've thought for some time that the answer to a lot of problems in the Middle East, including Iran, include an active role with Russia. And I think, in some ways, we've taken show votes in the U.N. that are guaranteed to failure before we take them.”

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

## 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 suggests a strategic partnership with Russia to address Middle East issues, noting UN vote challenges.

**In simple terms:** Proposes Russia partnership, warns of UN vote failures.

Key Takeaway

Consider strategic alliances despite diplomatic hurdles.

Themes

politics foreign policy strategy

Mood

analytical cautious

Type

political strategic

When to use this quote

- diplomacy
- policy planning
- international negotiations
- regional security

Key Concepts

realpolitik geopolitics

Questions to Reflect On

- What are the risks of aligning with Russia?
- How can UN reforms improve decision‑making?

A Different Perspective

Alliances may conflict with other national interests.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Active](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/active/) [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/east/) [Including](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/including/) [Including Iran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/including-iran-4214308/) [Iran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iran/) [Iran Include](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iran-include-4376014/) [Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle/) [Middle east](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-east/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Role Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/role-russia-3505548/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) [Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia/) [Russia Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia-think-1586814/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/)

## Related quotes

> [We have agreements with many countries including Iran, including Russia, including other countries that are about different things including armament. It's cooperation like any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/we-have-agreements-with-many-countries-including-iran-including/)

[Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/)

> [You can't have a discussion about Israel and the region without including Iran and their nuclear ambitions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mackay/you-can-t-have-a-discussion-about-israel-and-the-region-without/)

[Peter MacKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mackay/)

> [As for the eastern part of the former Soviet Union, the picture is rather uniform. Authoritarian structures prevail to differing extents. But we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/as-for-the-eastern-part-of-the-former-soviet-union-the-picture-is/)

[Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/)

> [Russia has lost an empire but not yet found a role. Russia has to decide what it wants to be. And as we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/russia-has-lost-an-empire-but-not-yet-found-a-role-russia-has-to/)

[Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/)

> [Freedom of navigation through international waterways is critical to the international community and to nations in the region, including Iran.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-stennis/freedom-of-navigation-through-international-waterways-is-critical-to/)

[John C. Stennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-stennis/)

> [We have variety of politicians in every country. And we have a variety of politicians in the United States. Some of them are saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitry-peskov/we-have-variety-of-politicians-in-every-country-and-we-have-a-variety/)

[Dmitry Peskov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitry-peskov/)

> [I wouldn't give up on Russia. I think they have legitimate security concerns from Islamic fundamentalism, not only on their border but in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/i-wouldn-t-give-up-on-russia-i-think-they-have-legitimate-security/)

[John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/)

> [Probably Romania and China and Russia. I think they're all working really hard to beat us right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-patterson/probably-romania-and-china-and-russia-i-think-they-re-all-working/)

[Carly Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-patterson/)

> [Why does the world dislike Russia? I do not think that we are unloved or considered to be ignorant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/why-does-the-world-dislike-russia-i-do-not-think-that-we-are-unloved/)

[Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/)

> [Putin is backing Assad - a person that's truly an evil person. And I think it's very bad for Russia. I think it's very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/putin-is-backing-assad-a-person-that-s-truly-an-evil-person-and-i/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [Everyone is from Russia. Sometimes I think I'm from Russia, too. All these new Ovas. I don't know anyone. I don't really recognise anyone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/everyone-is-from-russia-sometimes-i-think-i-m-from-russia-too-all/)

[Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/)

> [Basically, I see Iran as an authentic nation-state. And that authentic identity gives it cohesion, which most of the Middle East lacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/basically-i-see-iran-as-an-authentic-nation-state-and-that-authentic/)

[Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/)

> [I said in 2004,in fact a group was sent to me from the White House to try talk to me, because I was getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-said-in-2004-in-fact-a-group-was-sent-to-me-from-the-white-house-to/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [“The line in the sand that Carter drew along Iran’s Zagros Mountains now stretches from Central Asia through the Middle East and across the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-j-bacevich/the-line-in-the-sand-that-carter-drew-along-iran-s-zagros-mountains/)

[Andrew J. Bacevich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-j-bacevich/)

> [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/)

## More by Rand Paul

> [I have a question, a question for the president: Do you hate all rich people, or just rich people who don't contribute to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-have-a-question-a-question-for-the-president-do-you-hate-all-rich/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [I can tell you who's planning terroris attacks. The leaders of ISIL. And I can tell you where they're at. They're in Raqqa, Syria.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-can-tell-you-who-s-planning-terroris-attacks-the-leaders-of-isil/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [There comes a time, in the history of Nations when fear and forgetfulness cause a nation to hesitate, to waver and perhaps even to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/there-comes-a-time-in-the-history-of-nations-when-fear-and/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [As long as I sit at Henry Clay's desk, I will remember his lifelong desire to forge agreement, but I will also keep close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/as-long-as-i-sit-at-henry-clay-s-desk-i-will-remember-his-lifelong/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [I believe people ought to be treated fairly under the law. I see no reason why if the marriage contract conveys certain things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-believe-people-ought-to-be-treated-fairly-under-the-law-i-see-no/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [I think that, most importantly, when I see issues of war, I see them in a personal vein, and I am reluctant to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-that-most-importantly-when-i-see-issues-of-war-i-see-them-in/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [I would have handled it differently than the mayor of Baltimore, that's for sure. I think it's a mistake to say, hey, guys, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-would-have-handled-it-differently-than-the-mayor-of-baltimore-that/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [We have to think before we act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-have-to-think-before-we-act/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [I would introduce and support legislation to send Roe v. Wade back to the states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-would-introduce-and-support-legislation-to-send-roe-v-wade-back-to/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [President Obama, I think, wanted what was best for the country, but I think it didn't work well. I think we have the death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/president-obama-i-think-wanted-what-was-best-for-the-country-but-i/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [I think it's a mistake to downgrade and say surveillance is no big deal. It is a huge deal that we are collecting millions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-it-s-a-mistake-to-downgrade-and-say-surveillance-is-no-big/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [We need a revival in the country,” Paul said. “We need another Great Awakening with tent revivals of thousands of people saying, 'reform or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-need-a-revival-in-the-country-paul-said-we-need-another-great/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [We do not project power from bankruptcy court. We're borrowing a million dollars a minute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-do-not-project-power-from-bankruptcy-court-we-re-borrowing-a/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [I can use most of the tools that every American teenager can master. Maybe not all of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-can-use-most-of-the-tools-that-every-american-teenager-can-master/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

[Explore all 449 Rand Paul quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

## More Active quotes

> [Listening is a very active awareness of the coming together of at least two lives. Listening, as far as I'm concerned, is certainly a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/listening-is-a-very-active-awareness-of-the-coming-together-of-at/)

[Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/)

> [we need not avoid our active lives, but simply bring to them a new vision and shift of gravity. for in the center we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/we-need-not-avoid-our-active-lives-but-simply-bring-to-them-a-new/)

[Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/)

> [We in US need active intelligence: people being on the streets, people being able to stop and ask questions of individuals that they suspect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/we-in-us-need-active-intelligence-people-being-on-the-streets-people/)

[Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/)

> [Nothing is worse than active ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/nothing-is-worse-than-active-ignorance/)

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [I eat healthy most of the time. Whole foods are the best for you when you are super active, so I get plenty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witney-carson/i-eat-healthy-most-of-the-time-whole-foods-are-the-best-for-you-when/)

[Witney Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witney-carson/)

> [Art shows us how to see things that are constructive and good, and to be an active part of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/art-shows-us-how-to-see-things-that-are-constructive-and-good-and-to/)

[Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/)

> [Love, like truth and beauty, is concrete. Love is not fundamentally a sweet feeling; not, at heart, a matter of sentiment, attachment, or being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-heyward/love-like-truth-and-beauty-is-concrete-love-is-not-fundamentally-a/)

[Carter Heyward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-heyward/)

> [Studying Sol's interior by looking for analogous patterns on its incandescent face is known as helioseismology, an active - if largely unpronounceable - research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/studying-sol-s-interior-by-looking-for-analogous-patterns-on-its/)

[Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/)

> [Science manipulates things and gives up living in them. It makes its own limited models of things; operating upon these indices or variables to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-merleau-ponty/science-manipulates-things-and-gives-up-living-in-them-it-makes-its/)

[Maurice Merleau-Ponty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-merleau-ponty/)

> [I stayed in L.A. long enough to get on my feet, and then I moved back to New York. The reason I moved here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-pop/i-stayed-in-l-a-long-enough-to-get-on-my-feet-and-then-i-moved-back/)

[Iggy Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-pop/)

> [The answer to any challenge you are having has nothing to do with God's willingness to help. It has to do with your acceptance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/the-answer-to-any-challenge-you-are-having-has-nothing-to-do-with-god/)

[Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/)

> [Pete Townsend for me was a huge influence. Because essentially they were a three-piece band and the way he structured his chords and took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lifeson/pete-townsend-for-me-was-a-huge-influence-because-essentially-they/)

[Alex Lifeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lifeson/)

> [There is an enemy. There is an intelligent, active, malign force working against us. Step one is to recognize this. This recognition alone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/there-is-an-enemy-there-is-an-intelligent-active-malign-force-working/)

[Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/)

> [Few, if any, creatures are equally active all night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/few-if-any-creatures-are-equally-active-all-night/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [You need to enjoy yourself and just get into the routine of keeping fit and enjoying being active. That's always easier once you've made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-brownlee/you-need-to-enjoy-yourself-and-just-get-into-the-routine-of-keeping/)

[Alistair Brownlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-brownlee/)

[Browse all 2,212 Active quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/active/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I've thought for some time that the answer to a lot of problems in the Middle East, including Iran, include an active role with Russia. And I think, in some ways, we've taken show votes in the U.N. that are guaranteed to failure before we take them.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Rand Paul"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-ve-thought-for-some-time-that-the-answer-to-a-lot-of-problems-in/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Active"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-ve-thought-for-some-time-that-the-answer-to-a-lot-of-problems-in/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/120/rand-paul-606_active_i-ve-thought-for-some-time-that-the-answ_2128519.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/120/rand-paul-606_active_i-ve-thought-for-some-time-that-the-answ_2128519.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/120/rand-paul-606_active_i-ve-thought-for-some-time-that-the-answ_2128519.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I've thought for some time that the answer to a lot of problems in the Middle East, including Iran, include…” — Rand Paul",
                "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": "Rand Paul",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I've thought for some time that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-ve-thought-for-some-time-that-the-answer-to-a-lot-of-problems-in/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-ve-thought-for-some-time-that-the-answer-to-a-lot-of-problems-in/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
