--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Years ago I was asked this question: Do…" description: "\"Years ago I was asked this question: Do terrorists fear anything? I said, 'I suspect they would fear a morally strong America.' They would know that a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a4/ravi-zacharias-1158_america_years-ago-i-was-asked-this-question-do-t_48168.jpg" --- # Years ago I was asked this question: Do terrorists fear… ![“Years ago I was asked this question: Do terrorists fear anything? I said, 'I suspect they would fear a morally strong America.' They would know that a morally strong America would not be dislodged. You can always appeal to a point of vulnerability which would break a people up. [Terrorists] don't…” quote by Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a4/ravi-zacharias-1158_america_years-ago-i-was-asked-this-question-do-t_48168.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a4/ravi-zacharias-1158_america_years-ago-i-was-asked-this-question-do-t_48168.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a4/ravi-zacharias-1158_america_years-ago-i-was-asked-this-question-do-t_48168.jpg) > “Years ago I was asked this question: Do terrorists fear anything? I said, 'I suspect they would fear a morally strong America.' They would know that a morally strong America would not be dislodged. You can always appeal to a point of vulnerability which would break a people up. \[Terrorists\] don't fear so much the weaponry as the moral courage, and I think a morally strong America would be intimidating to them.” [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moral resolve and national character can deter terrorism more effectively than military force. **In simple terms:** Moral strength deters terror. Key Takeaway Courage outweighs weaponry. Themes Morality National identity Psychological warfare Deterrence Resilience Mood Defiant Inspirational Type Political Philosophical When to use this quote - Policy speeches - Counter‑terrorism strategy - Public morale building Key Concepts Moral courage Collective resolve Perceived vulnerability Practical Applications - National security messaging - Civic education Questions to Reflect On - How can a society cultivate moral strength without compromising freedoms? - What are the limits of moral deterrence against ideologically driven foes? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-courage/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Strong america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-america/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Vulnerability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vulnerability/) [Weaponry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weaponry/) ## Related quotes > [An America that is militarily and economically strong is not enough. The world must see an America that is morally strong with a creed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/an-america-that-is-militarily-and-economically-strong-is-not-enough/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [“We have talked about World War I and World War II, but could World War III be in our future? The war on terror…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-carson/we-have-talked-about-world-war-i-and-world-war-ii-but-could-world-war/) [Ben Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-carson/) > [I was talking to a friend about Santorum. He said, 'For all my years in the State Department, I know one thing. Terrorists, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/i-was-talking-to-a-friend-about-santorum-he-said-for-all-my-years-in/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [With her courage and determination, Malala has shown what terrorists fear most: a girl with a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/with-her-courage-and-determination-malala-has-shown-what-terrorists/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Education is the power terrorists fear most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/education-is-the-power-terrorists-fear-most/) [Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/) > [America remains the one indispensable nation. And the world needs a strong America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/america-remains-the-one-indispensable-nation-and-the-world-needs-a/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [When families are strong, America is strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/when-families-are-strong-america-is-strong/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [The world needs a strong America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mandelbaum/the-world-needs-a-strong-america/) [Michael Mandelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mandelbaum/) > [I believe in an America that is on the march - an America respected by all nations, friends and foes alike - an America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/i-believe-in-an-america-that-is-on-the-march-an-america-respected-by/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [In order to be able to fulfill our role in the world, America must be strong. America must lead. And for that to happen,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/in-order-to-be-able-to-fulfill-our-role-in-the-world-america-must-be/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [From education to broadband, from building roads and bridges to supporting the military, Barack Obama is delivering for North Carolina. And he is delivering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bev-perdue/from-education-to-broadband-from-building-roads-and-bridges-to/) [Bev Perdue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bev-perdue/) > [As we watch the world today, sometimes it seems that we're at the mercy of events instead of shaping events. And a strong America's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/as-we-watch-the-world-today-sometimes-it-seems-that-we-re-at-the/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Strong teeth for a strong America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vermin-supreme/strong-teeth-for-a-strong-america/) [Vermin Supreme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vermin-supreme/) > [“It goes right back to the idea of the Power of Positive Thinking, which is so strong in America because it fits in so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/it-goes-right-back-to-the-idea-of-the-power-of-positive-thinking/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [Not only is a healthy America a strong America - it's vital to our national defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/not-only-is-a-healthy-america-a-strong-america-it-s-vital-to-our/) [John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/) ## More by Ravi Zacharias > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“How do we build root systems capable of weathering every storm that seeks to draw us into the temporary and the profane?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/how-do-we-build-root-systems-capable-of-weathering-every-storm-that/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [You see misery, you see misfortune, you see pain, you see suffering. It's all part of the fatalistic way of looking at life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/you-see-misery-you-see-misfortune-you-see-pain-you-see-suffering-it-s/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Truth is not only a matter of offense, in that it makes certain assertions. It is also a matter of defense in that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/truth-is-not-only-a-matter-of-offense-in-that-it-makes-certain/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“We are his temple. We do not turn in a certain directlon to pray. We are not bound by having to go into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/we-are-his-temple-we-do-not-turn-in-a-certain-directlon-to-pray-we/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Sometimes in the shadows of one’s self lie the problems, and in the shadows of one’s shaping lie the answers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/sometimes-in-the-shadows-of-one-s-self-lie-the-problems-and-in-the/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [When you come to religion, you come to a place. When you come to Jesus Christ, you come to a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/when-you-come-to-religion-you-come-to-a-place-when-you-come-to-jesus/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Philosophically, you can believe anything, so long as you do not claim it to be true. Morally, you can practice anything, so long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/philosophically-you-can-believe-anything-so-long-as-you-do-not-claim/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [None of us like the concept of law because none of us like the restraints it puts on us. But when we understand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/none-of-us-like-the-concept-of-law-because-none-of-us-like-the/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“That truth, by the way, is why even the horror of hell is more the outcome of a heart that seeks to disown God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/that-truth-by-the-way-is-why-even-the-horror-of-hell-is-more-the/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [But life's joys are only joys if they can be shared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/but-life-s-joys-are-only-joys-if-they-can-be-shared/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Having the answers is not essential to living. What is essential is the sense of God's presence during dark seasons of questioning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/having-the-answers-is-not-essential-to-living-what-is-essential-is/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Only through repentance and faith in Christ can anyone be saved. No religious activity will be sufficient, only true faith in Jesus Christ alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/only-through-repentance-and-faith-in-christ-can-anyone-be-saved-no/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [In naturalism, man is actually very insignificant, but arrogates to himself stupendous power. In Christianity, man is actually the apex of created significance, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/in-naturalism-man-is-actually-very-insignificant-but-arrogates-to/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [A man rejects God neither because of intellectual demands nor because of the scarcity of evidence. A man rejects God because of a moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/a-man-rejects-god-neither-because-of-intellectual-demands-nor-because/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) [Explore all 279 Ravi Zacharias quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Years ago I was asked this question: Do terrorists fear anything? I said, 'I suspect they would fear a morally strong America.' They would know that a morally strong America would not be dislodged. You can always appeal to a point of vulnerability which would break a people up. [Terrorists] don't fear so much the weaponry as the moral courage, and I think a morally strong America would be intimidating to them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ravi Zacharias" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/years-ago-i-was-asked-this-question-do-terrorists-fear-anything-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/years-ago-i-was-asked-this-question-do-terrorists-fear-anything-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a4/ravi-zacharias-1158_america_years-ago-i-was-asked-this-question-do-t_48168.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a4/ravi-zacharias-1158_america_years-ago-i-was-asked-this-question-do-t_48168.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a4/ravi-zacharias-1158_america_years-ago-i-was-asked-this-question-do-t_48168.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Years ago I was asked this question: Do terrorists fear anything? I said, 'I suspect they would fear a…” — Ravi Zacharias", "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": "Ravi Zacharias", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Years ago I was asked this...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/years-ago-i-was-asked-this-question-do-terrorists-fear-anything-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/years-ago-i-was-asked-this-question-do-terrorists-fear-anything-i/#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 } } ] } ```