--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think no one knows what humanitarian…" description: "\"I think no one knows what humanitarian intervention means. If I were a person who was non-American, I would think humanitarian intervention is just ano..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3a/stanley-hauerwas-2675_another_i-think-no-one-knows-what-humanitarian-i_2167289.png" --- # I think no one knows what humanitarian intervention means… ![“I think no one knows what humanitarian intervention means. If I were a person who was non-American, I would think humanitarian intervention is just another name for United States imperialism.” quote by Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3a/stanley-hauerwas-2675_another_i-think-no-one-knows-what-humanitarian-i_2167289.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3a/stanley-hauerwas-2675_another_i-think-no-one-knows-what-humanitarian-i_2167289.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3a/stanley-hauerwas-2675_another_i-think-no-one-knows-what-humanitarian-i_2167289.png) > “I think no one knows what humanitarian intervention means. If I were a person who was non-American, I would think humanitarian intervention is just another name for United States imperialism.” [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights skepticism that humanitarian intervention can be perceived as a cover for U.S. imperialism, especially by non‑Americans. **In simple terms:** People may see aid as a power move. Key Takeaway Question motives behind aid. Themes ethics politics imperialism humanitarianism Mood critical skeptical Type analytical political When to use this quote - foreign policy analysis - NGO strategy - public opinion - media framing Key Concepts sovereignty power dynamics moral responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can aid be both ethical and effective? - What safeguards prevent abuse? A Different Perspective The critique may overlook genuine humanitarian needs and successes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/another/) [Humanitarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanitarian/) [Humanitarian intervention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanitarian-intervention/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Imperialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imperialism/) [Intervention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intervention/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means/) [Name](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/name/) [Non American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/non-american-1846895/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [States Imperialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states-imperialism-3593304/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Humanitarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-humanitarian-3593305/) [United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [Were](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/were/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/) ## Related quotes > [If I were a person who was non-American, I would think humanitarian intervention is just another name for United States imperialism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/if-i-were-a-person-who-was-non-american-i-would-think-humanitarian/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [I like to think of myself as a humanitarian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seal/i-like-to-think-of-myself-as-a-humanitarian/) [Seal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seal/) > [I think humanitarian organizations should acknowledge the progress more than they do. I think that one reason people are reluctant to provide more help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/i-think-humanitarian-organizations-should-acknowledge-the-progress/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [“O my brave Almighty Human, with the ever-effulgent flow of courage, conscience and compassion, turn yourself into a vivacious humanizer, and start walking with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/o-my-brave-almighty-human-with-the-ever-effulgent-flow-of-courage/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Sentiments that glorify humanity know no racial distinction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/sentiments-that-glorify-humanity-know-no-racial-distinction/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“We don't have the luxury to say that, there is no hope for reform in Islam, because by saying this, we would be disavowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/we-don-t-have-the-luxury-to-say-that-there-is-no-hope-for-reform-in/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“If you really, truly, genuinely care about the people around you, then throw away all that vengeance and hatred, and say to yourself -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-you-really-truly-genuinely-care-about-the-people-around-you-then/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [The Great Seal was an early proclamation of 'humanitarian intervention,' to use the currently fashionable phrase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-great-seal-was-an-early-proclamation-of-humanitarian-intervention/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [On humanitarian intervention in general, I guess my view is not unlike the view that was attributed to Gandhi, accurately or not, when he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/on-humanitarian-intervention-in-general-i-guess-my-view-is-not-unlike/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“In the biological sense, race does not exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/in-the-biological-sense-race-does-not-exist/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [I refer to calls for humanitarian intervention in the affairs of another state - a new idea, this - even when they are made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-yeltsin/i-refer-to-calls-for-humanitarian-intervention-in-the-affairs-of/) [Boris Yeltsin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-yeltsin/) > [“Give me your soul and I will give you a unified humanity replete with courage, conscience and compassion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/give-me-your-soul-and-i-will-give-you-a-unified-humanity-replete-with/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“I am no God. I am no Messiah. I am no divine incarnation. I am but a human in the service of humans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/i-am-no-god-i-am-no-messiah-i-am-no-divine-incarnation-i-am-but-a/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [All these wars are similar in the way ideology is being used. It's the ideology of so-called humanitarian intervention. We don't want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/all-these-wars-are-similar-in-the-way-ideology-is-being-used-it-s-the/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [“Call up the ever-pure, the effulgent and the ever-radiant character of true humanism in yourself and in others, and no racism shall have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/call-up-the-ever-pure-the-effulgent-and-the-ever-radiant-character-of/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) ## More by Stanley Hauerwas > [Advent is patience it's how God has made us a people of promise, in a world of impatience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/advent-is-patience-it-s-how-god-has-made-us-a-people-of-promise-in-a/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [It turns out that the God whose word will stand forever does not exist to insure our fantasies that we will not have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/it-turns-out-that-the-god-whose-word-will-stand-forever-does-not/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [I have come to think that the challenge confronting Christians is not that we do not believe what we say, though that can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/i-have-come-to-think-that-the-challenge-confronting-christians-is-not/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [Though the world may often appear to be more charitable than the church, it is crucial to remember that, for the church, the care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/though-the-world-may-often-appear-to-be-more-charitable-than-the/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [God knows we are subtle creatures who are more than able to use candour to avoid acknowledging our deceptions of others and ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/god-knows-we-are-subtle-creatures-who-are-more-than-able-to-use/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [When love becomes what Christianity is all about, we can make no sense of Jesus's death and resurrection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/when-love-becomes-what-christianity-is-all-about-we-can-make-no-sense/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [To try to turn Iraq into a liberal democracy is absolutely crazy. Islam has no understanding of the separation between church and state because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/to-try-to-turn-iraq-into-a-liberal-democracy-is-absolutely-crazy/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [Our sin is exactly the presumption that we can know God or ourselves through our own capacities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/our-sin-is-exactly-the-presumption-that-we-can-know-god-or-ourselves/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [The heart of the gospel is that you don't know Jesus without the witness of the church. It's always mediated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/the-heart-of-the-gospel-is-that-you-don-t-know-jesus-without-the/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [I have no doubt that for some to become a Christian may involve an experience of ecstasy. Yet I do not think such an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/i-have-no-doubt-that-for-some-to-become-a-christian-may-involve-an/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [The Gospel of John makes explicit what all the Gospels assume - that is, the cross is not a defeat, but the victory of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/the-gospel-of-john-makes-explicit-what-all-the-gospels-assume-that-is/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [One of the challenges Christians confront is how the politics we helped create has made it difficult to sustain the material practices constitutive of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/one-of-the-challenges-christians-confront-is-how-the-politics-we/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > ['The Chronicles of Narnia' are war-determined stories. I do not think Lewis could have written well or truthfully if he had tried to avoid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/the-chronicles-of-narnia-are-war-determined-stories-i-do-not-think/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [I should like to think how we write as theologians would reflect our confidence in the One who makes that writing possible. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/i-should-like-to-think-how-we-write-as-theologians-would-reflect-our/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [Many who become theologians in our time think their task is to try to determine how much of what has passed for Christianity they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/many-who-become-theologians-in-our-time-think-their-task-is-to-try-to/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) [Explore all 155 Stanley Hauerwas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) ## More Another quotes > [I guess I've never really wanted to be anything else. I've never even thought about having another job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-farrell/i-guess-i-ve-never-really-wanted-to-be-anything-else-i-ve-never-even/) [Owen Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-farrell/) > [I take the responsibility of playing another ethnicity very, very seriously, and I promise myself and those people that I will represent them with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-curtis/i-take-the-responsibility-of-playing-another-ethnicity-very-very/) [Cliff Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cliff-curtis/) > [I write the way you might arrange flowers. Not every try works, but each one launches another. Every constraint, even dullness, frees up a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/i-write-the-way-you-might-arrange-flowers-not-every-try-works-but/) [Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/) > [I have to mention that Taapsee and Ayushmann are my favorite actors - or stars, whatever you call them. I love them. Our thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anubhav-sinha/i-have-to-mention-that-taapsee-and-ayushmann-are-my-favorite-actors/) [Anubhav Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anubhav-sinha/) > [When a person partners with God in delivering a miracle to another person, they have done what they were supposed to do; God can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-wilkinson/when-a-person-partners-with-god-in-delivering-a-miracle-to-another/) [Bruce Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-wilkinson/) > [I went through a string of A&R men who all thought I should be doing something different. One thought I should be a dance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/i-went-through-a-string-of-a-r-men-who-all-thought-i-should-be-doing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [New York is so serious about the creation of work. Everything is happening so fast, it feels like there's another studio, another session on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/new-york-is-so-serious-about-the-creation-of-work-everything-is/) [Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/) > [The fact of the matter is that the Internet has brought together millions of people who trust one another for reasons that are unknown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-huh/the-fact-of-the-matter-is-that-the-internet-has-brought-together/) [Ben Huh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-huh/) > [Everything about Washington is inconsistent, because they say one thing and do another, which is what my opponent, Claire McCaskill, is very, very good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-steelman/everything-about-washington-is-inconsistent-because-they-say-one/) [Sarah Steelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-steelman/) > [In Tunisia, the so-called Yasmin revolution has led to the installation of a relatively moderate Islamic government. Whether or not that means democracy will,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-creveld/in-tunisia-the-so-called-yasmin-revolution-has-led-to-the/) [Martin Van Creveld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-creveld/) > [I refuse to be one of those artists who, 10 years from now, they're bitter about the rise and the fall of their career.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/i-refuse-to-be-one-of-those-artists-who-10-years-from-now-they-re/) [Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/) > [One death to a man is a serious thing: a dozen neutralize one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/one-death-to-a-man-is-a-serious-thing-a-dozen-neutralize-one-another/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [I don't know one note from another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams/i-don-t-know-one-note-from-another/) [Hank Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams/) > [I like to watch the Fox News Network. I like 'Nightline.' I like to watch 'The Sopranos,' of course. That is one of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-estrada/i-like-to-watch-the-fox-news-network-i-like-nightline-i-like-to-watch/) [Erik Estrada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-estrada/) > [When you write a book, people legitimise it by actually reading the book and so it's almost okay to write another one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-macken/when-you-write-a-book-people-legitimise-it-by-actually-reading-the/) [Eoin Macken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-macken/) [Browse all 2,784 Another quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/another/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think no one knows what humanitarian intervention means. If I were a person who was non-American, I would think humanitarian intervention is just another name for United States imperialism.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stanley Hauerwas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/i-think-no-one-knows-what-humanitarian-intervention-means-if-i-were-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Another" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/i-think-no-one-knows-what-humanitarian-intervention-means-if-i-were-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3a/stanley-hauerwas-2675_another_i-think-no-one-knows-what-humanitarian-i_2167289.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3a/stanley-hauerwas-2675_another_i-think-no-one-knows-what-humanitarian-i_2167289.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3a/stanley-hauerwas-2675_another_i-think-no-one-knows-what-humanitarian-i_2167289.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think no one knows what humanitarian intervention means. If I were a person who was non-American, I would…” — Stanley Hauerwas", "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": "Stanley Hauerwas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think no one knows what...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/i-think-no-one-knows-what-humanitarian-intervention-means-if-i-were-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/i-think-no-one-knows-what-humanitarian-intervention-means-if-i-were-a/#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 } } ] } ```