--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We had the courage to face the…" description: "\"We had the courage to face the superpowers that wanted a military triumph for each side they supported in Central America. We told them, 'No,' and pres..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cd/scar-arias-8677_america_we-had-the-courage-to-face-the-superpowe_1128600.jpg" --- # We had the courage to face the superpowers that wanted a… ![“We had the courage to face the superpowers that wanted a military triumph for each side they supported in Central America. We told them, 'No,' and presented a peace plan.” quote by Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cd/scar-arias-8677_america_we-had-the-courage-to-face-the-superpowe_1128600.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cd/scar-arias-8677_america_we-had-the-courage-to-face-the-superpowe_1128600.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cd/scar-arias-8677_america_we-had-the-courage-to-face-the-superpowe_1128600.jpg) > “We had the courage to face the superpowers that wanted a military triumph for each side they supported in Central America. We told them, 'No,' and presented a peace plan.” [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He resisted external pressures for proxy wars, choosing diplomacy over conflict. **In simple terms:** He chose peace over war. Key Takeaway Prioritize dialogue over aggression. Themes peace diplomacy conflict resolution leadership Mood determined hopeful Type political inspirational When to use this quote - government negotiations - international mediation - civil society advocacy Key Concepts Cold War dynamics proxy wars regional stability Questions to Reflect On - How can small nations influence superpower agendas? - What safeguards ensure peace proposals are taken seriously? A Different Perspective Peace plans can be ignored by powerful interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Face](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/face/) [Military Triumph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military-triumph-3089483/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Peace Plan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace-plan-555940/) [Presented Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presented-peace-3089482/) [Superpowers Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superpowers-wanted-3089484/) [Triumph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/triumph/) ## Related quotes > [We were so shocked by how fast that war went that President Bush did not have a plan, a peace plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/we-were-so-shocked-by-how-fast-that-war-went-that-president-bush-did/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [Our approach is very simple we have nothing to negotiate ... We have the Minsk format and we need immediately just a ceasefire and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petro-poroshenko/our-approach-is-very-simple-we-have-nothing-to-negotiate-we-have-the/) [Petro Poroshenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petro-poroshenko/) > [Almost every peace process that has gone on between the Arab side and Israel, the United States has been somewhat isolated because most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/almost-every-peace-process-that-has-gone-on-between-the-arab-side-and/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [The proposed liberal solution was always negotiation. Just as they believed in nuclear arms negotiations for their own sake, they believe in a "peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mona-charen/the-proposed-liberal-solution-was-always-negotiation-just-as-they/) [Mona Charen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mona-charen/) > [Being single doesn't mean your open to any dumb ass that comes your way. It means TIME TO PUT YOUR LIFE TOGETHER AND TRIUMPH…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osvaldo-m/being-single-doesn-t-mean-your-open-to-any-dumb-ass-that-comes-your/) [Osvaldo M](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osvaldo-m/) > [Triumph belongs to thought. Change your thinking and you change your life! You become new!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-jp-vaswani/triumph-belongs-to-thought-change-your-thinking-and-you-change-your/) [Dada JP Vaswani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-jp-vaswani/) > [The dictatorship of the proletariat and the leadership of the Marxist-Leninist party are indispensable conditions for the triumph of the Socialist revolution and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-khrushchev/the-dictatorship-of-the-proletariat-and-the-leadership-of-the-marxist/) [Nikita Khrushchev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikita-khrushchev/) > [In the particular dwells the tawdry. In the conceptual dwells the grand, the transcendent, the everlasting. Earthly countries and single malignant boys can go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/in-the-particular-dwells-the-tawdry-in-the-conceptual-dwells-the/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [“One who never turned his back but marched breast forward, never doubted clouds would break, never dreamed, though right were worsted, wrong would triumph.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-browning/one-who-never-turned-his-back-but-marched-breast-forward-never/) [Robert Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-browning/) > [Used with due abstinence, hope acts as a healthful tonic; intemperately indulged, as an enervating opiate. The visions of future triumph, which at first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fitzjames-stephen/used-with-due-abstinence-hope-acts-as-a-healthful-tonic-intemperately/) [James Fitzjames Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fitzjames-stephen/) > [My God", he whispered. What have I done to her? He thought, humbled. The spell was broken, but it wasn't sealed, and her soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/my-god-he-whispered-what-have-i-done-to-her-he-thought-humbled-the/) [Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/) > [ The parts of the \[Civil Right\] Movement we recognize so well now were not born from a single decision, but were a complicated and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-aydin/the-parts-of-the-civil-right-movement-we-recognize-so-well-now-were/) [Andrew Aydin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-aydin/) > [It clearly follows that to make men moral it is necessary to make their social environment moral. And that can be done in only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bakunin/it-clearly-follows-that-to-make-men-moral-it-is-necessary-to-make/) [Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bakunin/) > [Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this \[step by step, from humans to apes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us-with-so-extraordinary-a/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) ## More by Óscar Arias > [The 20th century has been marked by cynicism, selfishness, greed, and the desire to please, all without changing the status quo. In the 21st…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/the-20th-century-has-been-marked-by-cynicism-selfishness-greed-and/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [War, and the preparation for war, are the two greatest obstacles to human progress, fostering a vicious cycle of arms buildups, violence and poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/war-and-the-preparation-for-war-are-the-two-greatest-obstacles-to/) [Oscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [On Dec. 1, 1948, after the triumph of the revolution, which insured the final victory of the will of the people expressed through elections,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/on-dec-1-1948-after-the-triumph-of-the-revolution-which-insured-the/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [“It is essential that justice be done, it is equally vital that justice not be confused with revenge, for the two are wholly different.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/it-is-essential-that-justice-be-done-it-is-equally-vital-that-justice/) [Oscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [The best way to perpetuate poverty is by spending on arms and military, and the best way to fight terrorism is by fighting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/the-best-way-to-perpetuate-poverty-is-by-spending-on-arms-and/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [India, Pakistan, China, Singapore and South Korea are heavily investing in nuclear arms. Since 21st century is the century of Asia, Asian countries should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/india-pakistan-china-singapore-and-south-korea-are-heavily-investing/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [Peace consists, very largely, in the fact of desiring it with all one's soul. The inhabitants of my small country, Costa Rica, have realized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/peace-consists-very-largely-in-the-fact-of-desiring-it-with-all-one-s/) [Oscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [During my administration, our desire has been to strengthen the civilian spirit of our people. Thus, we have eliminated military ranks and salutes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/during-my-administration-our-desire-has-been-to-strengthen-the/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [Our world is certainly dangerous, but it is made more dangerous, not less, by those who value profits over peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/our-world-is-certainly-dangerous-but-it-is-made-more-dangerous-not/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [It's clear to me that many weapons sales are very short-sighted. The U.S. and other arms-producing countries sell weapons for a variety of reasons,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/it-s-clear-to-me-that-many-weapons-sales-are-very-short-sighted-the-u/) [Oscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [To demilitarize the country means to make a profound decision. It is not enough to change the name of the armed forces. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/to-demilitarize-the-country-means-to-make-a-profound-decision-it-is/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [We seek in Central America not peace alone, not peace to be followed someday by political progress, but peace and democracy, together, indivisible, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/we-seek-in-central-america-not-peace-alone-not-peace-to-be-followed/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [Free trade will go a long way toward alleviating poverty in Central America. Yet trade alone is not enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/free-trade-will-go-a-long-way-toward-alleviating-poverty-in-central/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [Many developing countries continue to be burdened by high percentages of their population living in poverty. Yet, instead of addressing this root cause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/many-developing-countries-continue-to-be-burdened-by-high-percentages/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [If there is no peace in Central America, it will not be because Costa Rica, and myself as president, have not done what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/if-there-is-no-peace-in-central-america-it-will-not-be-because-costa/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) [Explore all 79 Óscar Arias quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) ## 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? 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