--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the U.S. is going to defend itself…" description: "\"If the U.S. is going to defend itself, why shouldn't we do the same? We only want to be treated equally, nothing more.\" — Salvador Allende" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59e/salvador-allende-26466_defend_if-the-u-s-is-going-to-defend-itself-why_321257.jpg" --- # If the U.S. is going to defend itself, why shouldn't we do… ![“If the U.S. is going to defend itself, why shouldn't we do the same? We only want to be treated equally, nothing more.” quote by Salvador Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59e/salvador-allende-26466_defend_if-the-u-s-is-going-to-defend-itself-why_321257.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59e/salvador-allende-26466_defend_if-the-u-s-is-going-to-defend-itself-why_321257.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59e/salvador-allende-26466_defend_if-the-u-s-is-going-to-defend-itself-why_321257.jpg) > “If the U.S. is going to defend itself, why shouldn't we do the same? We only want to be treated equally, nothing more.” [Salvador Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-allende/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Equality demands reciprocal defense; if a nation protects itself, others should do the same for fairness. **In simple terms:** Treat others as you wish to be treated. Key Takeaway Advocate mutual defense. Themes justice equality politics Mood determined hopeful Type political inspirational When to use this quote - diplomacy - human rights negotiations - defense policy Key Concepts reciprocity sovereignty international law Questions to Reflect On - Is equal treatment achievable in global politics? - What are the risks of reciprocal defense? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [I've had my own anecdotals with old friends, here's a gentleman quoted in the Times about, "I believe my government is suppose to protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/i-ve-had-my-own-anecdotals-with-old-friends-here-s-a-gentleman-quoted/) [Chuck Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-todd/) > [Listen, I'm always going to defend my character, even when she's doing something that I don't approve of, because that's what you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-brandt/listen-i-m-always-going-to-defend-my-character-even-when-she-s-doing/) [Betsy Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-brandt/) > [I am not going to sit on my ass as the events that affect me unfold to determine the course of my life. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hughes/i-am-not-going-to-sit-on-my-ass-as-the-events-that-affect-me-unfold/) [John Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hughes/) > [I'm not really going to defend anyone's lyrics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzee-rascal/i-m-not-really-going-to-defend-anyone-s-lyrics/) [Dizzee Rascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzee-rascal/) > [Equal protection under the law mandates that similarly situated criminal defendants be treated equally, regardless of financial means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sununu/equal-protection-under-the-law-mandates-that-similarly-situated/) [Chris Sununu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sununu/) > [Net Neutrality - a guiding principle of the Internet since its beginning - means that content is all treated equally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/net-neutrality-a-guiding-principle-of-the-internet-since-its/) [Chellie Pingree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/) > [I grew up in a time when many people believed that men and women should not always be treated equally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-bailey-hutchison/i-grew-up-in-a-time-when-many-people-believed-that-men-and-women/) [Kay Bailey Hutchison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-bailey-hutchison/) > [The proposal that men and women should be treated equally under the law is hardly a controversial concept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-maloney/the-proposal-that-men-and-women-should-be-treated-equally-under-the/) [Carolyn Maloney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-maloney/) > [I think that whatever nationality you are, you should be treated equally, otherwise you don't have equality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-vera-cruz/i-think-that-whatever-nationality-you-are-you-should-be-treated/) Philip Vera Cruz > [You become tyrannized by this notion that women must not only be treated equally, but they must never fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/you-become-tyrannized-by-this-notion-that-women-must-not-only-be/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [My father made sure I was treated equally with my brothers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-banda/my-father-made-sure-i-was-treated-equally-with-my-brothers/) [Joyce Banda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-banda/) > [No matter what you look like, what you believe in, everyone should be treated equally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/breanna-stewart/no-matter-what-you-look-like-what-you-believe-in-everyone-should-be/) [Breanna Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/breanna-stewart/) > [Aren't we all human? Don't we all deserve to be respected and treated equally?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-stuart/aren-t-we-all-human-don-t-we-all-deserve-to-be-respected-and-treated/) [Madeline Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-stuart/) > [We want to be treated equally and not judged off our skin color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-wallace/we-want-to-be-treated-equally-and-not-judged-off-our-skin-color/) [Bubba Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-wallace/) > [I want to live in a society where everyone is treated equally and not defined by their race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxime-bernier/i-want-to-live-in-a-society-where-everyone-is-treated-equally-and-not/) [Maxime Bernier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxime-bernier/) ## More by Salvador Allende > [Every country has its own reality and its own leaders, and the leaders act in accordance with their reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-allende/every-country-has-its-own-reality-and-its-own-leaders-and-the-leaders/) [Salvador Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-allende/) > [I have experience and I am employing it in the service of a Chilean road for Chile's problems. We always take advantage of experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-allende/i-have-experience-and-i-am-employing-it-in-the-service-of-a-chilean/) [Salvador Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-allende/) > [People can come and see me, and I have the pleasure of being able to talk to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-allende/people-can-come-and-see-me-and-i-have-the-pleasure-of-being-able-to/) [Salvador Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-allende/) > [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 have always said to workers that they have to work hard, to produce more and better. In Chile, we need to achieve an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-allende/i-have-always-said-to-workers-that-they-have-to-work-hard-to-produce/) [Salvador Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-allende/) > [I can't spend my whole day talking to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-allende/i-can-t-spend-my-whole-day-talking-to-people/) [Salvador Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-allende/) > [Fidel Castro is a man with a great sense of self-criticism and respect for his political friends. He is not going to give me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-allende/fidel-castro-is-a-man-with-a-great-sense-of-self-criticism-and/) [Salvador Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-allende/) > [It's much harder to bring about socialism through legal means, because there are so many possibilities for opposition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-allende/it-s-much-harder-to-bring-about-socialism-through-legal-means-because/) [Salvador Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-allende/) > [This is an instrument in the hands of the people for fighting the fascist saboteurs, because the Chilean armed forces are a guarantee of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-allende/this-is-an-instrument-in-the-hands-of-the-people-for-fighting-the/) [Salvador Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-allende/) > [The Popular Unity government represented the first attempt anywhere to build a genuinely democratic transition to socialism - a socialism that, owing to its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-allende/the-popular-unity-government-represented-the-first-attempt-anywhere/) [Salvador Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-allende/) > [There can be leftist groups that have not matured politically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-allende/there-can-be-leftist-groups-that-have-not-matured-politically/) [Salvador Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-allende/) > [First fulfill your academic obligations and then you will have the right to call yourself a leader of the left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-allende/first-fulfill-your-academic-obligations-and-then-you-will-have-the/) [Salvador Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-allende/) > [People can progress only by working and producing more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-allende/people-can-progress-only-by-working-and-producing-more/) [Salvador Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-allende/) > [Only an organized and conscious people can bring about a different kind of society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-allende/only-an-organized-and-conscious-people-can-bring-about-a-different/) [Salvador Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-allende/) > [I have been to Cuba many times. I have spoken many times with Fidel Castro and got to know Commander Ernesto Guevara well enough.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-allende/i-have-been-to-cuba-many-times-i-have-spoken-many-times-with-fidel/) [Salvador Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-allende/) [Explore all 21 Salvador Allende quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-allende/) ## More Defend quotes > [My first Olympics memory was watching Haile Gebrselassie in Sydney 2000. His sprint finish to defend his title really moved me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-farah/my-first-olympics-memory-was-watching-haile-gebrselassie-in-sydney/) [Mo Farah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-farah/) > [We fight to defend our democratic ideals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/we-fight-to-defend-our-democratic-ideals/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [The pop culture has become more frenetic. There are more forces at work that are far more invasive. However, I think it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-gibson/the-pop-culture-has-become-more-frenetic-there-are-more-forces-at/) [Mel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-gibson/) > [I don't need a perfect person. I just need someone who will defend me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-need-a-perfect-person-i-just-need-someone-who-will-defend-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Swearing's my release. It's the one weapon I have to defend myself against destiny when it elects to strike without pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-pirlo/swearing-s-my-release-it-s-the-one-weapon-i-have-to-defend-myself/) [Andrea Pirlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-pirlo/) > [Having kids is the deal-breaker on shyness! Once you have a baby, you learn to speak up loud and clear to protect them, defend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-foster/having-kids-is-the-deal-breaker-on-shyness-once-you-have-a-baby-you/) [Lori Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-foster/) > [We will defend ourselves, and we have full rights to do so. If the authorities try to destroy us, we have the right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-udaltsov/we-will-defend-ourselves-and-we-have-full-rights-to-do-so-if-the/) Sergei Udaltsov > [I definitely want to defend my 145 belt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-nunes/i-definitely-want-to-defend-my-145-belt/) [Amanda Nunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-nunes/) > [In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were exterminated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wurzelbacher/in-1911-turkey-established-gun-control-from-1915-to-1917-1-5-million/) [Joe Wurzelbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wurzelbacher/) > [“There are always those who take it upon themselves to defend God, as if Ultimate Reality, as if the sustaining frame of existence were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/there-are-always-those-who-take-it-upon-themselves-to-defend-god-as/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [“defend women’s right to be wrong, at least occasionally.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/defend-women-s-right-to-be-wrong-at-least-occasionally/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [There are a lot of things you can practise to unsettle teams that defend deep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/didier-deschamps/there-are-a-lot-of-things-you-can-practise-to-unsettle-teams-that/) [Didier Deschamps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/didier-deschamps/) > [The more you defend a lie, the angrier you become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/the-more-you-defend-a-lie-the-angrier-you-become/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [I'm very willing to defend creative things that I believe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-schneider/i-m-very-willing-to-defend-creative-things-that-i-believe-in/) [Dan Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-schneider/) > [Sometimes it is difficult to play against teams who just drop back and try to defend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadio-mane/sometimes-it-is-difficult-to-play-against-teams-who-just-drop-back/) [Sadio Mane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadio-mane/) Browse all 993 Defend quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If the U.S. is going to defend itself, why shouldn't we do the same? 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