---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The way governments treat their own…"
description: "\"The way governments treat their own citizens matters; it matters because it can have a direct impact on international peace and security - and on our r..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bce/samantha-power-3969_cybersecurity_the-way-governments-treat-their-own-citi_1506734.jpg"
---

#  The way governments treat their own citizens matters; it…

![“The way governments treat their own citizens matters; it matters because it can have a direct impact on international peace and security - and on our respective national security interests.” quote by Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bce/samantha-power-3969_cybersecurity_the-way-governments-treat-their-own-citi_1506734.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bce/samantha-power-3969_cybersecurity_the-way-governments-treat-their-own-citi_1506734.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bce/samantha-power-3969_cybersecurity_the-way-governments-treat-their-own-citi_1506734.jpg)

> “The way governments treat their own citizens matters; it matters because it can have a direct impact on international peace and security - and on our respective national security interests.”

[Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A government’s treatment of its people directly influences global peace and national security interests.

**In simple terms:** How a state treats its citizens affects worldwide stability.

Key Takeaway

Ensure domestic policies support international security.

Themes

governance human rights security

Mood

analytical concerned

Type

policy strategic

When to use this quote

- policy drafting
- humanitarian aid
- diplomatic negotiations
- public advocacy

Key Concepts

state responsibility peace studies national interest

Questions to Reflect On

- How can citizen welfare be linked to diplomatic goals?
- What policies best balance internal rights with external security?

A Different Perspective

Domestic reforms may face political resistance; impact isn immediate.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Governments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governments/) [Impact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impact/) [International peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international-peace/) [National security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-security/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Peace and security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace-and-security/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/)

## Related quotes

> [Canada has no closer friend, partner, and ally than the United States. We look forward to working very closely with President-elect Trump, his administration,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-trudeau/canada-has-no-closer-friend-partner-and-ally-than-the-united-states/)

[Justin Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-trudeau/)

> [...the world needs to face up to the challenge of climate change, and to do so now. It is clear that climate change poses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/the-world-needs-to-face-up-to-the-challenge-of-climate-change-and-to/)

[Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/)

> [It's a moral imperative, it's an economic imperative, and it is a security imperative. For we've seen how spikes in food prices can plunge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-a-moral-imperative-it-s-an-economic-imperative-and-it-is-a/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [No one should have to go to bed hungry. It really is a moral issue that we believe the Security Council has to pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-thomas-greenfield/no-one-should-have-to-go-to-bed-hungry-it-really-is-a-moral-issue/)

[Linda Thomas-Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-thomas-greenfield/)

> [Terrorism gravely threatens international peace and security, and as a solution, the power and apparent finality of force are seductive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kennedy/terrorism-gravely-threatens-international-peace-and-security-and-as-a/)

[Charles Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kennedy/)

> [The Charter of the United Nations expresses the noblest aspirations of man: abjuration of force in the settlement of disputes between states; the assurance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie/the-charter-of-the-united-nations-expresses-the-noblest-aspirations-2/)

[Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/)

> [The work of U.N. peacekeepers is critical to maintaining international peace and security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-thomas-greenfield/the-work-of-u-n-peacekeepers-is-critical-to-maintaining-international/)

[Linda Thomas-Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-thomas-greenfield/)

> [“International organizations are to a large extent dependent upon these territorial entities and the willingness of their governments to support them. Only states can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/international-organizations-are-to-a-large-extent-dependent-upon/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Within a few weeks the organization for the maintenance of international peace and security, established by the San Francisco Charter, will be formally launched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cordell-hull/within-a-few-weeks-the-organization-for-the-maintenance-of/)

[Cordell Hull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cordell-hull/)

> [As one of the leading troop-contributing countries, Ethiopia attaches great importance to strengthening the role of United Nations peacekeeping to address challenges to international…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hailemariam-desalegn/as-one-of-the-leading-troop-contributing-countries-ethiopia-attaches/)

[Hailemariam Desalegn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hailemariam-desalegn/)

> [Challenging the integrity of the non-proliferation regime is a matter which can affect international peace and security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/challenging-the-integrity-of-the-non-proliferation-regime-is-a-matter/)

[Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/)

> [The Security Council should be seen as the executive committee of the global security system set up after World War II. Its members, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/the-security-council-should-be-seen-as-the-executive-committee-of-the/)

[Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/)

> [I believe that the topic of chemical weapons is critically important for international peace and security, and I take note of the ongoing debate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/i-believe-that-the-topic-of-chemical-weapons-is-critically-important/)

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

> [Some might complain that nuclear disarmament is little more than a dream. But that ignores the very tangible benefits disarmament would bring for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/some-might-complain-that-nuclear-disarmament-is-little-more-than-a/)

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

> [Today's global landscape is increasingly interconnected. China and the Middle East play critical roles towards international peace and security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-larsen/today-s-global-landscape-is-increasingly-interconnected-china-and-the/)

[Rick Larsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-larsen/)

## More by Samantha Power

> [There are something like 300 anti-genocide chapters on college campuses around the country. It's bigger than the anti-apartheid movement. There are something like 500…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/there-are-something-like-300-anti-genocide-chapters-on-college/)

[Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/)

> [Virtually all of Darfur's six million residents are Muslim, and, because of decades of intermarriage, almost everyone has dark skin and African features.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/virtually-all-of-darfur-s-six-million-residents-are-muslim-and/)

[Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/)

> [There is a fair amount of competition, obviously, with ISIL and the terrorist networks around the world, China also posing a different kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/there-is-a-fair-amount-of-competition-obviously-with-isil-and-the/)

[Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/)

> [All we talk about is 'Islamic terrorism.' If the two words are associated for long enough it's obviously going to have an effect on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/all-we-talk-about-is-islamic-terrorism-if-the-two-words-are/)

[Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/)

> [In the '90s, there was scant presidential leadership and insufficient domestic political mobilization for foreign policy grounded in human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/in-the-90s-there-was-scant-presidential-leadership-and-insufficient/)

[Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/)

> [Initially, I tried to become an aid worker and someone who could help people, but I was unsuccessful in convincing anyone that I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/initially-i-tried-to-become-an-aid-worker-and-someone-who-could-help/)

[Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/)

> [I tell young people: If you make a job choice on the basis of something other than your nose or your gut, it's unlikely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/i-tell-young-people-if-you-make-a-job-choice-on-the-basis-of/)

[Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/)

> [I was extremely close to my father, inseparable. Where we hung out most of the time was the pub.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/i-was-extremely-close-to-my-father-inseparable-where-we-hung-out-most/)

[Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/)

> [When I wake up in the morning, I think about Syria.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/when-i-wake-up-in-the-morning-i-think-about-syria/)

[Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/)

> [President Reagan, of course, did more than any other person to entrench the Republican reputation for toughness on national security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/president-reagan-of-course-did-more-than-any-other-person-to-entrench/)

[Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/)

> [American decision-makers must understand how damaging a foreign policy that privileges order and profit over justice really is in the long term.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/american-decision-makers-must-understand-how-damaging-a-foreign/)

[Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/)

> [I have only so many foreign-language neurons. When I learned Spanish, that displaced whatever Irish was left, and then I learned German, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/i-have-only-so-many-foreign-language-neurons-when-i-learned-spanish/)

[Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/)

> [In many college classes, laptops depict split screens - notes from a class, and then a range of parallel stimulants: NBA playoff statistics on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/in-many-college-classes-laptops-depict-split-screens-notes-from-a/)

[Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/)

> [America needs a sensible, sustainable Iran policy that can meet U.S. security and economic interests, command international support and withstand the shifting Middle Eastern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/america-needs-a-sensible-sustainable-iran-policy-that-can-meet-u-s/)

[Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/)

> [The U.S. government engages with many countries around the world in official dialogues on human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/the-u-s-government-engages-with-many-countries-around-the-world-in/)

[Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/)

[Explore all 118 Samantha Power quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/)

## More Citizens quotes

> [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/)

[Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/)

> [I will be a model prisoner, as I have been a model citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-edwards/i-will-be-a-model-prisoner-as-i-have-been-a-model-citizen/)

[Edwin Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-edwards/)

> [The language we share is at the core of our identity as citizens, and our ticket to full participation in American political life. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/the-language-we-share-is-at-the-core-of-our-identity-as-citizens-and/)

[S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/)

> [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/)

[Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/)

> [“The police ultimately pay the price for poor customer service when citizens become fearful of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-police-ultimately-pay-the-price-for-poor-customer-service-when/)

[Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/)

> [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/worship-isn-t-destructive-martin-i-know-that-i-don-t-i-only-know-it-s/)

[Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/)

> [No greater victory can be won by citizens or soldiers than to transform temporary foes into permanent friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/no-greater-victory-can-be-won-by-citizens-or-soldiers-than-to/)

[William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/)

> [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/)

[Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/)

> [My dreams were always small and puny. All I ever needed was a little house with a little picket fence by the sea. Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-marcos/my-dreams-were-always-small-and-puny-all-i-ever-needed-was-a-little/)

[Imelda Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-marcos/)

> [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/)

[Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/)

> [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/)

[Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/)

> [Without the ability to talk about government power, there's no way for citizens to make sure this power isn't being misused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/without-the-ability-to-talk-about-government-power-there-s-no-way-for/)

[Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/)

> [Consequently, citizen legislators, rotating back to their communities after a short period of public service—considered an indispensable and routine characteristic and design of representative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/consequently-citizen-legislators-rotating-back-to-their-communities/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [What I will stand up for is what I think is right and for the best interests of the citizens of the state of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-judge/what-i-will-stand-up-for-is-what-i-think-is-right-and-for-the-best/)

[Patty Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-judge/)

Browse all 4,189 Citizens quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The way governments treat their own citizens matters; it matters because it can have a direct impact on international peace and security - and on our respective national security interests.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Samantha Power"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/the-way-governments-treat-their-own-citizens-matters-it-matters/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Citizens"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/the-way-governments-treat-their-own-citizens-matters-it-matters/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bce/samantha-power-3969_cybersecurity_the-way-governments-treat-their-own-citi_1506734.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bce/samantha-power-3969_cybersecurity_the-way-governments-treat-their-own-citi_1506734.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bce/samantha-power-3969_cybersecurity_the-way-governments-treat-their-own-citi_1506734.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The way governments treat their own citizens matters; it matters because it can have a direct impact on…” — Samantha Power",
                "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": "Samantha Power",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The way governments treat their own...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/the-way-governments-treat-their-own-citizens-matters-it-matters/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/the-way-governments-treat-their-own-citizens-matters-it-matters/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
