--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the United States of America does…" description: "\"When the United States of America does things in its best interests, it is hated. I'm sorry, that just ticks me off.\" — Rush Limbaugh" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/rush-limbaugh-28_america_when-the-united-states-of-america-does-t_388617.jpg" --- # When the United States of America does things in its best… ![“When the United States of America does things in its best interests, it is hated. I'm sorry, that just ticks me off.” quote by Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/rush-limbaugh-28_america_when-the-united-states-of-america-does-t_388617.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/rush-limbaugh-28_america_when-the-united-states-of-america-does-t_388617.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/rush-limbaugh-28_america_when-the-united-states-of-america-does-t_388617.jpg) > “When the United States of America does things in its best interests, it is hated. I'm sorry, that just ticks me off.” [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When the U.S. acts in its own interest, it often draws criticism, highlighting tension between self‑interest and global perception. **In simple terms:** Self‑interest invites resentment. Key Takeaway Balance national goals with global empathy. Themes politics national interest public perception Mood analytical critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - diplomacy - public communication - leadership Key Concepts international relations realpolitik media framing Questions to Reflect On - What are the costs of being perceived as self‑serving? - How can nations act responsibly while protecting interests? A Different Perspective Critics may overlook benefits of self‑serving actions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [United states of america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states-of-america/) ## Related quotes > [The United States of America does not have friends; it has interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-foster-dulles/the-united-states-of-america-does-not-have-friends-it-has-interests/) [John Foster Dulles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-foster-dulles/) > [There is an irreplaceable ally. It's called the United States of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-netanyahu/there-is-an-irreplaceable-ally-it-s-called-the-united-states-of/) [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-netanyahu/) > [God bless the United States of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-pence/god-bless-the-united-states-of-america/) [Karen Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-pence/) > [The United States of America have taken their name from the United States of the Netherlands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-low/the-united-states-of-america-have-taken-their-name-from-the-united/) [Seth Low](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-low/) > [No one in the United States of America should ever be targeted because of who they are, what they look like, or how they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/no-one-in-the-united-states-of-america-should-ever-be-targeted/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Some day, following the example of the United States of America, there will be a United States of Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/some-day-following-the-example-of-the-united-states-of-america-there/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [I have to tell you that the innovation and the technology and the entrepreneurship of the world still lies in the United States of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-gramm/i-have-to-tell-you-that-the-innovation-and-the-technology-and-the/) [Phil Gramm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-gramm/) > [This is the United States of America and it's always a busy time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-schmidt/this-is-the-united-states-of-america-and-it-s-always-a-busy-time/) Jean Schmidt > [The most frustrated and most stymied it is the fact that the United States of America is the one advanced nation on earth in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-most-frustrated-and-most-stymied-it-is-the-fact-that-the-united/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“The United States of America is one of the most studied but least understood nations in the contemporary world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-singh/the-united-states-of-america-is-one-of-the-most-studied-but-least/) Robert Singh > [As much as I love the Dallas Cowboys, I love the United States of America more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cain/as-much-as-i-love-the-dallas-cowboys-i-love-the-united-states-of/) [Will Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cain/) > [The first society in history whose leaders were neither Attilas nor Witch Doctors, a society led, dominated and created by the Producers, was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/the-first-society-in-history-whose-leaders-were-neither-attilas-nor/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [And the United States of America should have been at the front of that line. And was not. ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberley-strassel/and-the-united-states-of-america-should-have-been-at-the-front-of/) Kimberley Strassel > [I'm glad I get to live in the United States of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-feld/i-m-glad-i-get-to-live-in-the-united-states-of-america/) [Brad Feld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-feld/) > [Satan has his sights on the United States of America!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/satan-has-his-sights-on-the-united-states-of-america/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) ## More by Rush Limbaugh > [You can criticize Trump and his wealth all day long, but you can't say he hasn't worked. You can say that about the Clintons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/you-can-criticize-trump-and-his-wealth-all-day-long-but-you-can-t-say/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ I guarantee you \[Hillary Clinton\] is smoking in humiliation over the idea that she needs to heal and that \[Donald\] Trump's the guy to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-guarantee-you-hillary-clinton-is-smoking-in-humiliation-over-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [How do you, on the one hand, not object to Hillary Clinton being elected, and then, on the other hand, tell people, "Elect me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/how-do-you-on-the-one-hand-not-object-to-hillary-clinton-being/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ The real leadership of the opposition is never, ever gonna do anything but continue to ramp up efforts to stop \[Donald\] Trump or destroy… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-real-leadership-of-the-opposition-is-never-ever-gonna-do-anything/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I can't see the Democrats working with Donald Trump on tax reform unless the rich get soaked. The thing about this that should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-can-t-see-the-democrats-working-with-donald-trump-on-tax-reform/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [We know from this book entitled... What is it? Surrendered? Succumbed? I can never remember the title perform. And we learn from this book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-know-from-this-book-entitled-what-is-it-surrendered-succumbed-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Once you convince people that they're victims, you really own them because you've just told them that whatever problems they have in life, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/once-you-convince-people-that-they-re-victims-you-really-own-them/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [We're in more wars today under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton than under George W. Bush or Ronald Reagan. Yet they tell you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-re-in-more-wars-today-under-barack-obama-and-hillary-clinton-than/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [People from all over the world came to America and assimilated into a single culture rooted in the founding, which is rooted in individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/people-from-all-over-the-world-came-to-america-and-assimilated-into-a/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The left wants to transform America away from founding ideals, and this is it. And they know it. And they're doing everything they, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-left-wants-to-transform-america-away-from-founding-ideals-and/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [There's such cultural rot taking place, such a disintegration throughout our culture. Values, morality, you name it. Standards have been relaxed, and people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-s-such-cultural-rot-taking-place-such-a-disintegration/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [There is an all-out assault now on the Christian community in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-is-an-all-out-assault-now-on-the-christian-community-in-this/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [It doesn't matter to me where Barack Obama goes. If he wants to go to Hawaii because it's his home state, fine! Hunky-dory. Plastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/it-doesn-t-matter-to-me-where-barack-obama-goes-if-he-wants-to-go-to/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ Four states where \[Democrats\] have the governorship and both houses of the legislature. That's it. They have lost seats. They are not gonna win… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/four-states-where-democrats-have-the-governorship-and-both-houses-of/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) [Explore all 2,819 Rush Limbaugh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## 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": "When the United States of America does things in its best interests, it is hated. I'm sorry, that just ticks me off.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rush Limbaugh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/when-the-united-states-of-america-does-things-in-its-best-interests/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/when-the-united-states-of-america-does-things-in-its-best-interests/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/rush-limbaugh-28_america_when-the-united-states-of-america-does-t_388617.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/rush-limbaugh-28_america_when-the-united-states-of-america-does-t_388617.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/rush-limbaugh-28_america_when-the-united-states-of-america-does-t_388617.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When the United States of America does things in its best interests, it is hated. I'm sorry, that just ticks…” — Rush Limbaugh", "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": "Rush Limbaugh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When the United States of America...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/when-the-united-states-of-america-does-things-in-its-best-interests/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/when-the-united-states-of-america-does-things-in-its-best-interests/#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 } } ] } ```