--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is hard for anyone born after 1945 to…" description: "\"It is hard for anyone born after 1945 to imagine a world where the oceans - the global commons - are not open for trade and commerce or where freedom o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/robert-c-o-brien-5596_born_it-is-hard-for-anyone-born-after-1945-to_654330.jpg" --- # It is hard for anyone born after 1945 to imagine a world… ![“It is hard for anyone born after 1945 to imagine a world where the oceans - the global commons - are not open for trade and commerce or where freedom of navigation is imperiled.” quote by Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/robert-c-o-brien-5596_born_it-is-hard-for-anyone-born-after-1945-to_654330.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/robert-c-o-brien-5596_born_it-is-hard-for-anyone-born-after-1945-to_654330.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/robert-c-o-brien-5596_born_it-is-hard-for-anyone-born-after-1945-to_654330.jpg) > “It is hard for anyone born after 1945 to imagine a world where the oceans - the global commons - are not open for trade and commerce or where freedom of navigation is imperiled.” [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights how post‑World‑War II generations struggle to envision a world without open seas for trade and navigation, underscoring the fragility of the global commons. **In simple terms:** People after 1945 find it hard to imagine closed oceans. Key Takeaway Recognize and protect open navigation. Themes maritime law global commons freedom of navigation Mood concerned reflective Type political analytical When to use this quote - policy debates - shipping industry - environmental advocacy - educational curricula Key Concepts International relations commons theory geopolitics Questions to Reflect On - How would global trade change if oceans were closed? - What policies best safeguard navigation freedoms? A Different Perspective Assumes all readers share the same historical perspective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Commerce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commerce/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ocean/) [Oceans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oceans/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [As the Navy gets smaller, the world's oceans are becoming more dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/as-the-navy-gets-smaller-the-world-s-oceans-are-becoming-more/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [We have reached a new milestone as a human family. With seven billion of us now inhabiting our planet, it is time to ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/we-have-reached-a-new-milestone-as-a-human-family-with-seven-billion/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Well managed and healthy oceans are vital to the survival of small island states, such as the Maldives. This important book shows how scientists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-nasheed/well-managed-and-healthy-oceans-are-vital-to-the-survival-of-small/) [Mohamed Nasheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-nasheed/) > [ Climate change has always been sort of my main focus. I think also with \[what happened in Fukushima, Japan\] there's still a lot to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/climate-change-has-always-been-sort-of-my-main-focus-i-think-also/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [“In the November 2006 issue of Science, a report by an international team of scientists studying a vast amount of data gathered between 1950…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-heller/in-the-november-2006-issue-of-science-a-report-by-an-international/) [Peter Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-heller/) > [Scientists say because of global warming they expect the world's oceans to rise four and a half feet. The scientists say this can mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/scientists-say-because-of-global-warming-they-expect-the-world-s/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [“The world's oceans are not only alive with life, but they are also alive with life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-t-hincks/the-world-s-oceans-are-not-only-alive-with-life-but-they-are-also/) [Anthony T. Hincks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-t-hincks/) > [None of the threats to the global commons will be solved by building walls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-g-stavridis/none-of-the-threats-to-the-global-commons-will-be-solved-by-building/) [James G. Stavridis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-g-stavridis/) > [Climate change is a global commons problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ottmar-edenhofer/climate-change-is-a-global-commons-problem/) [Ottmar Edenhofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottmar-edenhofer/) > [Aside from its importance to many branches of science, a knowledge of the oceans has a practical value for mankind. The intelligent development of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-j-h-schoemaker/aside-from-its-importance-to-many-branches-of-science-a-knowledge-of/) [Paul J. H. Schoemaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-j-h-schoemaker/) > [Remove the predators, and the whole ecosystem begins to crash like a house of cards. As the sharks disappear, the predator-prey balance dramatically shifts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-skerry/remove-the-predators-and-the-whole-ecosystem-begins-to-crash-like-a/) [Brian Skerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-skerry/) > [“He's crossed all the oceans all around the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/he-s-crossed-all-the-oceans-all-around-the-world/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [“My eyes remember oceans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-hazo/my-eyes-remember-oceans/) Samuel Hazo > [“I will cross hundreds of seas and oceans without sinking to reach you, see your eyes and sink completely into their depths.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/i-will-cross-hundreds-of-seas-and-oceans-without-sinking-to-reach-you/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [With no other choices open to us, we'd turned our gaze seaward. The oceans were our America: they reached farther than any prairie, untamed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carsten-jensen/with-no-other-choices-open-to-us-we-d-turned-our-gaze-seaward-the/) [Carsten Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carsten-jensen/) ## More by Robert C. O'Brien > [As the Navy gets smaller, the world's oceans are becoming more dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/as-the-navy-gets-smaller-the-world-s-oceans-are-becoming-more/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [When the Jewish state of Israel is strong, Jewish communities worldwide are also strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/when-the-jewish-state-of-israel-is-strong-jewish-communities/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [In World War II, America was the Arsenal of Democracy, providing war materiel to our Allies that ultimately led to victory over tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/in-world-war-ii-america-was-the-arsenal-of-democracy-providing-war/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [The American voter knows that we cannot protect the seas and our interests overseas unless we have ships that can fight and deliver Marines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/the-american-voter-knows-that-we-cannot-protect-the-seas-and-our/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [Well, free elections are the foundation of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/well-free-elections-are-the-foundation-of-our-democracy/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [I never wanted Mark Esper's job. I just wanted to see Mark Esper succeed and do a great job as secretary of Defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/i-never-wanted-mark-esper-s-job-i-just-wanted-to-see-mark-esper/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [The men appear to have a special blend of GOP DNA: Rubio and Cruz appeal to both the key social conservative and defense hawk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/the-men-appear-to-have-a-special-blend-of-gop-dna-rubio-and-cruz/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [By interacting with NATO vessels on E.U. anti-piracy duty, the Chinese are gaining valuable insights in to Western naval doctrine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/by-interacting-with-nato-vessels-on-e-u-anti-piracy-duty-the-chinese/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [The worst kidnapper of Americans is a nation state - Iran.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/the-worst-kidnapper-of-americans-is-a-nation-state-iran/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [No, I don't think there's systemic racism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/no-i-don-t-think-there-s-systemic-racism/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [The United States Navy is of critical importance to the defense of this country and to maintaining freedom of the seas internationally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/the-united-states-navy-is-of-critical-importance-to-the-defense-of/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [My job as the national security adviser is to distill and present to the president the views and options that come from the various…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/my-job-as-the-national-security-adviser-is-to-distill-and-present-to/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [Both Russia and the United States have had their homelands attacked by violent extremists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/both-russia-and-the-united-states-have-had-their-homelands-attacked/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [We're going to do everything we can to harden our systems, to make sure that our elections are free and fair and the will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/we-re-going-to-do-everything-we-can-to-harden-our-systems-to-make/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [First and foremost, the United States did not ratify the 1998 Rome Statute that founded the ICC. Successive administrations have stood by that decision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/first-and-foremost-the-united-states-did-not-ratify-the-1998-rome/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) [Explore all 99 Robert C. O'Brien quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) ## More Born quotes > [My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/my-mother-says-i-didn-t-open-my-eyes-for-eight-days-after-i-was-born/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [The real world out there isn't nearly as nice as some people prefer it to be, so don't swallow everything your high-born teachers tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-real-world-out-there-isn-t-nearly-as-nice-as-some-people-prefer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Anybody looking for a quiet life has picked the wrong century to born in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anybody-looking-for-a-quiet-life-has-picked-the-wrong-century-to-born/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was born and raised in Orlando, where the economy and culture has been powerfully shaped by tourism, and so I've long been interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-van-den-berg/i-was-born-and-raised-in-orlando-where-the-economy-and-culture-has/) [Laura van den Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-van-den-berg/) > [I know that in the rap game you've got a lot of people, that come from poverty, was born in poverty and if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-connor/i-know-that-in-the-rap-game-you-ve-got-a-lot-of-people-that-come-from/) [Jon Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-connor/) > [Nothing old is ever reborn but neither does it totally disappear. And that which has once been born, will always reappear in a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvar-aalto/nothing-old-is-ever-reborn-but-neither-does-it-totally-disappear-and/) [Alvar Aalto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvar-aalto/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Must I go bound while you go free Must I love a manwho doesn't love me Must I be born with so little art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/must-i-go-bound-while-you-go-free-must-i-love-a-manwho-doesn-t-love/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I'm not against gay people. I have a relative who is also gay. We can't help it if they were born that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/i-m-not-against-gay-people-i-have-a-relative-who-is-also-gay-we-can-t/) [Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/) > [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [For the glory born of Goodness Never dies, And its flag is not half-masted In the skies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/for-the-glory-born-of-goodness-never-dies-and-its-flag-is-not-half/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [There are two kinds of beauty; there is a beauty which God gives at birth, and which withers as a flower. And there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-kuyper/there-are-two-kinds-of-beauty-there-is-a-beauty-which-god-gives-at/) [Abraham Kuyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-kuyper/) > [If you can believe it, Hollywood wanted to change my birthdate. I was born after Valentine's Day, so they wanted to change it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-romero/if-you-can-believe-it-hollywood-wanted-to-change-my-birthdate-i-was/) [Cesar Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-romero/) Browse all 11,606 Born quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is hard for anyone born after 1945 to imagine a world where the oceans - the global commons - are not open for trade and commerce or where freedom of navigation is imperiled.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert C. O'Brien" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/it-is-hard-for-anyone-born-after-1945-to-imagine-a-world-where-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Born" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/it-is-hard-for-anyone-born-after-1945-to-imagine-a-world-where-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/robert-c-o-brien-5596_born_it-is-hard-for-anyone-born-after-1945-to_654330.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/robert-c-o-brien-5596_born_it-is-hard-for-anyone-born-after-1945-to_654330.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/robert-c-o-brien-5596_born_it-is-hard-for-anyone-born-after-1945-to_654330.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is hard for anyone born after 1945 to imagine a world where the oceans - the global commons - are not…” — Robert C. O'Brien", "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": "Robert C. O'Brien", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is hard for anyone born...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/it-is-hard-for-anyone-born-after-1945-to-imagine-a-world-where-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/it-is-hard-for-anyone-born-after-1945-to-imagine-a-world-where-the/#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 } } ] } ```