--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't have any problem with the United…" description: "\"I don't have any problem with the United States acting on behalf of its own interests. That's what big powers do; that's what all countries do. I would..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a1/stephen-kinzer-2514_acting_i-don-t-have-any-problem-with-the-united_2430322.jpg" --- # I don't have any problem with the United States acting on… ![“I don't have any problem with the United States acting on behalf of its own interests. That's what big powers do; that's what all countries do. I would just like to see us analyze in a serious way what really is in our interest. Sometimes we intervene in foreign countries in ways that seem…” quote by Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a1/stephen-kinzer-2514_acting_i-don-t-have-any-problem-with-the-united_2430322.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a1/stephen-kinzer-2514_acting_i-don-t-have-any-problem-with-the-united_2430322.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a1/stephen-kinzer-2514_acting_i-don-t-have-any-problem-with-the-united_2430322.jpg) > “I don't have any problem with the United States acting on behalf of its own interests. That's what big powers do; that's what all countries do. I would just like to see us analyze in a serious way what really is in our interest. Sometimes we intervene in foreign countries in ways that seem successful at first. In the end, however, we wind up with unpredicted consequences that make us regret those operations.” [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He acknowledges that great powers act in self‑interest, but warns that interventions often have unforeseen negative outcomes. **In simple terms:** Powerful nations pursue their own goals, yet interventions can backfire. Key Takeaway Critically evaluate national interests before acting. Themes politics intervention consequences Mood cautious analytical Type policy philosophical When to use this quote - policy planning - military action - humanitarian aid - diplomatic negotiations Key Concepts realism ethical foreign policy Questions to Reflect On - What hidden costs might a policy have? - How can nations balance self‑interest with global responsibility? A Different Perspective Short‑term gains may mask long‑term costs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Behalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-behalf-273098/) [Behalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behalf/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Foreign countries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foreign-countries/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Intervene Foreign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intervene-foreign-273097/) [Operations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/operations/) [Powers Countries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powers-countries-273100/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Really Intervene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-intervene-273101/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Serious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serious/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [States Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states-acting-273099/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wind/) ## Related quotes > [As a person, I am not really someone who would intervene and tell you to do the right thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rithvik-dhanjani/as-a-person-i-am-not-really-someone-who-would-intervene-and-tell-you/) [Rithvik Dhanjani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rithvik-dhanjani/) > [I am a soldier, convinced that I am acting on behalf of soldiers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegfried-sassoon/i-am-a-soldier-convinced-that-i-am-acting-on-behalf-of-soldiers/) [Siegfried Sassoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegfried-sassoon/) > [When Theresa May asked me to resolve policy disagreements between ministers, my power to do that depended on the fact that I was acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/when-theresa-may-asked-me-to-resolve-policy-disagreements-between/) [David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/) > [American press, like the press in many countries, acts like a cheerleader to our government rather than a critical observer. 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He summoned Ambassador Franks and told him that the United States resolutely opposed “the use of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/acheson-immediately-understood-the-urgency-of-this-message-he/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [During the 1980s, international interest in the Nicaraguan war was intense. No conflict since the Spanish civil war had provoked such passion around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/during-the-1980s-international-interest-in-the-nicaraguan-war-was/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [As long as Iran believes that its security will be increased by having a nuclear program, it's going to pursue its program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/as-long-as-iran-believes-that-its-security-will-be-increased-by/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [Countries that control water are likely to be the big winners of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/countries-that-control-water-are-likely-to-be-the-big-winners-of-the/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [“It is a great tool of dictators and tyrants, who want to get masses of people to do what they want, to make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/it-is-a-great-tool-of-dictators-and-tyrants-who-want-to-get-masses-of/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [No offense to Iceland, but Latin America is where the fugitive leaker Edward Snowden should settle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/no-offense-to-iceland-but-latin-america-is-where-the-fugitive-leaker/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [Castro has lived almost his entire life as a clandestine revolutionary. To such figures, truth is always malleable, always subservient to political goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/castro-has-lived-almost-his-entire-life-as-a-clandestine/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Latin America moved decisively away from military rule and toward civilian democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/during-the-late-1970s-and-early-1980s-latin-america-moved-decisively/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) [Explore all 163 Stephen Kinzer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. 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