--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: On September 11, 2001, we thought we were…" description: "\"On September 11, 2001, we thought we were going to be attacked many, many times between then and now. We haven't been. I believe we had a president who..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e3/rudy-giuliani-958_believe_on-september-11-2001-we-thought-we-were_2545244.jpg" --- # On September 11, 2001, we thought we were going to be… ![“On September 11, 2001, we thought we were going to be attacked many, many times between then and now. We haven't been. I believe we had a president who made the right decision at the right time... to put us on offense against terrorists.” quote by Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e3/rudy-giuliani-958_believe_on-september-11-2001-we-thought-we-were_2545244.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e3/rudy-giuliani-958_believe_on-september-11-2001-we-thought-we-were_2545244.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e3/rudy-giuliani-958_believe_on-september-11-2001-we-thought-we-were_2545244.jpg) > “On September 11, 2001, we thought we were going to be attacked many, many times between then and now. We haven't been. I believe we had a president who made the right decision at the right time... to put us on offense against terrorists.” [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that the U.S. avoided further attacks because leadership chose an offensive stance against terrorism. **In simple terms:** Offensive policy prevented more attacks. Key Takeaway Adopt proactive security measures. Themes security leadership terrorism policy decision‑making Mood cautious reflective serious Type political analytical strategic When to use this quote - government planning - counter‑terrorism operations - public communication - international cooperation Key Concepts deterrence strategic offense national resilience Questions to Reflect On - What risks arise from always choosing offense? - How can balance be achieved between offense and diplomacy? A Different Perspective Assumes offense alone can stop threats; may overlook diplomatic solutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [2001 Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/2001-thought-1469618/) [Attacked Times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attacked-times-1469619/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-president-409620/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Offense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offense/) [Offense Terrorists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offense-terrorists-1469620/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Right decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-decision/) [Right time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-time/) [September](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/september/) [September 11](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/september-11/) [September 11 2001](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/september-11-2001/) [Terrorist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorist/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [We have to be on offense against terrorists, that we have to make it bipartisan, that it isn't about being a Democrat or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/we-have-to-be-on-offense-against-terrorists-that-we-have-to-make-it/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [Thank God we're safe. What I anticipated on Sept. 11 was that we would be attacked many times between then and now, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/thank-god-we-re-safe-what-i-anticipated-on-sept-11-was-that-we-would/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [When I get attacked, I always attack back, if I am attacked unfairly. I've been attacked many times and I don't do it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/when-i-get-attacked-i-always-attack-back-if-i-am-attacked-unfairly-i/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Five years from the date of the attack that changed our world, we've come back to remember the valor of those we lost-those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/five-years-from-the-date-of-the-attack-that-changed-our-world-we-ve/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [The city is going to survive, we are going to get through it, It's going to be very, very difficult time. I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/the-city-is-going-to-survive-we-are-going-to-get-through-it-it-s/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [I believe the president wants this bill, and I know he's taken some steps to bring it about, ... The reality is that with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lieberman/i-believe-the-president-wants-this-bill-and-i-know-he-s-taken-some/) [Joe Lieberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lieberman/) > [I think the voters believe that when you become president of the United States, you have a higher obligation and a higher standard than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/i-think-the-voters-believe-that-when-you-become-president-of-the/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [The president of the United States who has a history of firing people who get close to, you know, him and his allies like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-waters/the-president-of-the-united-states-who-has-a-history-of-firing-people/) [Maxine Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-waters/) > [I believe that every president wants to give everyone work but they can't; they want everyone to eat but they can't make it happen.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-allende/i-believe-that-every-president-wants-to-give-everyone-work-but-they/) [Salvador Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-allende/) > [I believe President Obama loves this country and wakes up every morning trying to do what is best for our nation, even if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/i-believe-president-obama-loves-this-country-and-wakes-up-every/) [Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/) > [I believe, President Trump is best for this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-cameron/i-believe-president-trump-is-best-for-this-country/) [Daniel Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-cameron/) > [When 25 percent of the population believe the President should be impeached and 51 percent of the population believe in UFOs, you may or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-reasoner/when-25-percent-of-the-population-believe-the-president-should-be/) [Harry Reasoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-reasoner/) > [I believe President Trump is more reasonable than he is generally perceived. President Trump uses strong rhetoric toward North Korea, but during the election…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moon-jae-in/i-believe-president-trump-is-more-reasonable-than-he-is-generally/) [Moon Jae-in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moon-jae-in/) > [It's hard to believe President George Bush gave a speech in New Orleans about disaster recovery and failed to mention the word 'farm' or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hightower/it-s-hard-to-believe-president-george-bush-gave-a-speech-in-new/) [Jim Hightower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hightower/) > [I'm used to people not paying me a whole lot of attention and underestimating me and, frankly, for me a big challenge is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-moseley-braun/i-m-used-to-people-not-paying-me-a-whole-lot-of-attention-and/) [Carol Moseley Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-moseley-braun/) ## More by Rudy Giuliani > [On the one hand, you don't want to disrupt the nation with what might look like a vindictive prosecution, even though it might not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/on-the-one-hand-you-don-t-want-to-disrupt-the-nation-with-what-might/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [We want everyone to prepare themselves for the reality that we are not going to be able to recover significant numbers of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/we-want-everyone-to-prepare-themselves-for-the-reality-that-we-are/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [I'd rather have a genius like Donald Trump running America than someone like Hillary Clinton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/i-d-rather-have-a-genius-like-donald-trump-running-america-than/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [The rule is, you can protest all you want. Make all the noise you want. Carry all the signs you want. The minute you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/the-rule-is-you-can-protest-all-you-want-make-all-the-noise-you-want/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [The way you get through tragedy is to look at the good things in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/the-way-you-get-through-tragedy-is-to-look-at-the-good-things-in-life/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [I'm looking for a president that'll be like a Ronald Reagan to a Jimmy Carter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/i-m-looking-for-a-president-that-ll-be-like-a-ronald-reagan-to-a/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [There are terrible, terrible memories of September 11th, things that I saw, people that I lost, the devastation, the identification of bodies. I mean,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/there-are-terrible-terrible-memories-of-september-11th-things-that-i/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [You've got to be who you are. You've got to be honest with people. If your views change on something, you've got to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/you-ve-got-to-be-who-you-are-you-ve-got-to-be-honest-with-people-if/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life. And,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/what-children-need-most-are-the-essentials-that-grandparents-provide/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [A lot of the people that are poor take advantage of loopholes and pay no taxes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/a-lot-of-the-people-that-are-poor-take-advantage-of-loopholes-and-pay/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [The most visible symbol in New York is the spirit of a free people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/the-most-visible-symbol-in-new-york-is-the-spirit-of-a-free-people/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [God bless every soul that we lost. God bless the families who have to endure that loss, and God guide us to our reunion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/god-bless-every-soul-that-we-lost-god-bless-the-families-who-have-to/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [ I know both Secretary \[Hillary\] Clinton and President \[Barack\] Obama were very gracious and I respect that a lot in the way they handled… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/i-know-both-secretary-hillary-clinton-and-president-barack-obama-were/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [ My advice would be the same advice that I gave President \[George W.\] Bush when he won in '04, and, kind of, wasn't followed.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/my-advice-would-be-the-same-advice-that-i-gave-president-george-w/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [Now, people have a hard time understanding how taxes work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/now-people-have-a-hard-time-understanding-how-taxes-work/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) [Explore all 320 Rudy Giuliani quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. 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Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "On September 11, 2001, we thought we were going to be attacked many, many times between then and now. We haven't been. 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