--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whatever its flaws, the United Nations is…" description: "\"Whatever its flaws, the United Nations is still the only institution that brings together all the countries of the world. And it is the best forum for ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f1/samantha-power-3969_best_whatever-its-flaws-the-united-nations-is_873950.jpg" --- # Whatever its flaws, the United Nations is still the only… ![“Whatever its flaws, the United Nations is still the only institution that brings together all the countries of the world. And it is the best forum for the United States to spur countries to act - and to hold them accountable when they don't.” quote by Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f1/samantha-power-3969_best_whatever-its-flaws-the-united-nations-is_873950.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f1/samantha-power-3969_best_whatever-its-flaws-the-united-nations-is_873950.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f1/samantha-power-3969_best_whatever-its-flaws-the-united-nations-is_873950.jpg) > “Whatever its flaws, the United Nations is still the only institution that brings together all the countries of the world. And it is the best forum for the United States to spur countries to act - and to hold them accountable when they don't.” [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. The UN, despite imperfections, remains the sole global platform where every nation convenes, making it essential for U.S. diplomatic influence and accountability enforcement. **In simple terms:** The UN is the only world-wide meeting place for all countries, useful for U.S. leadership and holding nations accountable. Key Takeaway Leverage the UN for multilateral action and oversight. Themes diplomacy global governance accountability Mood optimistic strategic Type political inspirational When to use this quote - U.S. foreign policy negotiations - climate accords - human rights enforcement - global health initiatives Key Concepts International relations multilateralism soft power Questions to Reflect On - How can the U.S. improve effectiveness within the UN? - What reforms could reduce the UN’s inefficiencies? A Different Perspective The UN’s consensus‑driven process can stall urgent action and dilute commitments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) [Brings Countries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brings-countries-982489/) [Countries World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/countries-world-258298/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Nations Institution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations-institution-982488/) [Spur Countries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spur-countries-982490/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [United nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-nations/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [You could be in the United Nations office all night every night and still feel like you were not making a sufficient dent in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/you-could-be-in-the-united-nations-office-all-night-every-night-and/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) > [There's something beautiful about working in the one place in the world where the world is present, like United Nations. Otherwise, one would have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/there-s-something-beautiful-about-working-in-the-one-place-in-the/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) > [Changing the DNA of a large, multilateral organization such as the United Nations to deal effectively with modern threats is not easy. Indeed, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/changing-the-dna-of-a-large-multilateral-organization-such-as-the/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) > [There are few countries in the world where you can go in one generation from immigrant to parliamentarian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemi-badenoch/there-are-few-countries-in-the-world-where-you-can-go-in-one/) [Kemi Badenoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemi-badenoch/) > [This is one of the best countries in the world to be a black person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemi-badenoch/this-is-one-of-the-best-countries-in-the-world-to-be-a-black-person/) [Kemi Badenoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemi-badenoch/) > [We are the envy of Europe and in a few years time we are going to be one of the top countries in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-luis-rodriguez-zapatero/we-are-the-envy-of-europe-and-in-a-few-years-time-we-are-going-to-be/) [Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-luis-rodriguez-zapatero/) > [The current total of countries in the world with First Amendments is one. You have guaranteed freedom of speech. Other countries don't have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-current-total-of-countries-in-the-world-with-first-amendments-is/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You have 60 countries in the world with a terrorist problem. That's two-thirds of the world. We have this group in Basilan, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-macapagal-arroyo/you-have-60-countries-in-the-world-with-a-terrorist-problem-that-s/) [Gloria Macapagal Arroyo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-macapagal-arroyo/) > [Compared to the United States and certainly a lot of other countries around the world... per year, Australians do see more films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-pratt/compared-to-the-united-states-and-certainly-a-lot-of-other-countries/) [David Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-pratt/) > [I was lucky to play with different people from all different countries in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-di-canio/i-was-lucky-to-play-with-different-people-from-all-different/) [Paolo di Canio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-di-canio/) > [Freedom means the U.S. government not being the main threat to countries around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/freedom-means-the-u-s-government-not-being-the-main-threat-to/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [This is just the United States. All the rest of the countries, all over the world, are proud of Michael. It's here we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-jackson/this-is-just-the-united-states-all-the-rest-of-the-countries-all-over/) [Joseph Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-jackson/) > [Britain has no divine right to be one of the richest countries in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/britain-has-no-divine-right-to-be-one-of-the-richest-countries-in-the/) [George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/) > [First of all, I think all countries in the world have agreed it is not in anyone's interest to test-fire a missile, or whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-myung-bak/first-of-all-i-think-all-countries-in-the-world-have-agreed-it-is-not/) [Lee Myung-bak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-myung-bak/) ## 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.' 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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 Best quotes > [Failures happen. 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A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [Life is where you love people and use things not use people and love things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/life-is-where-you-love-people-and-use-things-not-use-people-and-love/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [With every product, the delta between the brand and the reality determines its power over the minds of consumers, and with Trump, that delta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/with-every-product-the-delta-between-the-brand-and-the-reality/) [Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/) > [The human element should be the two players on the court, not the officials. 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