--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think we should be engaged in…" description: "\"I don't think we should be engaged in nation-building. It's not our job to turn foreign nations into democratic utopias, to try to turn Iraq into Switz..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d83/ted-cruz-487_american-citizens_i-don-t-think-we-should-be-engaged-in-na_1318893.png" --- # I don't think we should be engaged in nation-building… ![“I don't think we should be engaged in nation-building. It's not our job to turn foreign nations into democratic utopias, to try to turn Iraq into Switzerland. It is the military's job to hunt down and kill our enemies, to kill ISIS before they murder American citizens and they wage jihad.” quote by Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d83/ted-cruz-487_american-citizens_i-don-t-think-we-should-be-engaged-in-na_1318893.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d83/ted-cruz-487_american-citizens_i-don-t-think-we-should-be-engaged-in-na_1318893.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d83/ted-cruz-487_american-citizens_i-don-t-think-we-should-be-engaged-in-na_1318893.png) > “I don't think we should be engaged in nation-building. It's not our job to turn foreign nations into democratic utopias, to try to turn Iraq into Switzerland. It is the military's job to hunt down and kill our enemies, to kill ISIS before they murder American citizens and they wage jihad.” [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The U.S. should not impose its political system on other nations; its role is defense, not nation‑building. **In simple terms:** Avoid foreign nation‑building; focus on security. Key Takeaway Prioritize protecting citizens over reshaping governments. Themes foreign policy military sovereignty Mood cautious critical Type political analytical When to use this quote - policy debates - military planning - diplomatic negotiations - public discourse Key Concepts realism interventionism Questions to Reflect On - Is non‑intervention always ethical? - How to balance security with global responsibility? A Different Perspective Complex crises may require humanitarian aid beyond military action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-citizens/) [Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Democratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic/) [Down and](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down-and/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Engaged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engaged/) [Foreign Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foreign-nations-1027722/) [Hunts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunts/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Isis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/isis/) [Jihad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jihad/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Kill Isis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill-isis-983100/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder/) [Nation building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation-building/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Nations Democratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations-democratic-4389104/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Switzerland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/switzerland/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Turn Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turn-iraq-1088563/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Utopia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/utopia/) ## Related quotes > [You would carpet bomb where ISIS is, not a city, but the location of the troops. You use air power directed - and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/you-would-carpet-bomb-where-isis-is-not-a-city-but-the-location-of/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Instead of being a Woodrow Wilson democracy promoter we ought to hunt down our enemies and kill ISIS rather than creating opportunities for ISIS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/instead-of-being-a-woodrow-wilson-democracy-promoter-we-ought-to-hunt/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [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/) > [ We made this inexplicable turn into Iraq, where we've lost lives, money, honour and the coalition on \[George\] Bush's watch. Surely he's not suggesting… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-made-this-inexplicable-turn-into-iraq-where-we-ve-lost-lives-money/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [I close with two words, ‘Kill ISIS!’ God bless you all!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-levin/i-close-with-two-words-kill-isis-god-bless-you-all/) [Mark Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-levin/) > [It's not the job of the U.S. military to do nation-building or produce democratic utopias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/it-s-not-the-job-of-the-u-s-military-to-do-nation-building-or-produce/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations, is in extending our commercial relations to have as little political connection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-great-rule-of-conduct-for-us-in-regard-to-foreign-nations-is-in/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [I have ever deemed it fundamental for the United States never to take active part in the quarrels of Europe. Their political interests are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-have-ever-deemed-it-fundamental-for-the-united-states-never-to-take-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Obviously, we shouldn't be having any American officeholder or any American candidate looking for foreign nations to come in and be involved in U.S.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-sasse/obviously-we-shouldn-t-be-having-any-american-officeholder-or-any/) [Ben Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-sasse/) > [Its objects are CONTRACTS with foreign nations which have the force of law, but derive it from the obligations of good faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/its-objects-are-contracts-with-foreign-nations-which-have-the-force/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Those who visit foreign nations, but who associate only with their own countrymen, change their climate, but not their customs 'caelum non animum mutant':…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/those-who-visit-foreign-nations-but-who-associate-only-with-their-own/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [The United States can no longer rely upon foreign nations such as China to bail us out of our economic irresponsibility. We must live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/the-united-states-can-no-longer-rely-upon-foreign-nations-such-as/) [Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/) > [There is nothing perhaps more adverse to nature and reason than to hold in obedience remote countries and foreign nations, in opposition to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/there-is-nothing-perhaps-more-adverse-to-nature-and-reason-than-to/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Those who visit foreign nations, but associate only with their own country-men, change their climate, but not their customs. They see new meridians, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/those-who-visit-foreign-nations-but-associate-only-with-their-own/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [My general plan would be to make the States one as to everything connected with foreign nations and several as to everything purely domestic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/my-general-plan-would-be-to-make-the-states-one-as-to-everything/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More by Ted Cruz > [I was born in Cuba. At the age of 14 years of age I was involved in a revolution. We were suffering from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-was-born-in-cuba-at-the-age-of-14-years-of-age-i-was-involved-in-a/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [ Donald Trump has opened \[ politically correct enforcement\] up wide. He's made a very bold statement and he's backed it back just a little… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/donald-trump-has-opened-politically-correct-enforcement-up-wide-he-s/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [I get that the media wants us to play theater critics and critique every other proposal. What I'm focusing on are my own policy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-get-that-the-media-wants-us-to-play-theater-critics-and-critique/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [We need to remain a nation that doesn't just welcome but that celebrates legal immigrants who come here seeking to pursue the American Dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/we-need-to-remain-a-nation-that-doesn-t-just-welcome-but-that/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Donald Trump threatened to file a defamation suit against me for running a TV ad that consisted only entirely of his own words on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/donald-trump-threatened-to-file-a-defamation-suit-against-me-for/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The immigrant experience of all of us is what makes us Americans, because we value in our DNA liberty and opportunity above all else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-immigrant-experience-of-all-of-us-is-what-makes-us-americans/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The First Amendment exists to protect our religious liberty--to ensure that all Americans are able to seek out worship God with all our hearts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-first-amendment-exists-to-protect-our-religious-liberty-to-ensure/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [It is my hope that all of the Republicans who recognize that nominating a candidate who agrees with Hillary Clinton on a host of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/it-is-my-hope-that-all-of-the-republicans-who-recognize-that/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The Senate Majority Leader has the unilateral ability to stand up and say, 'If you defy Congress, if you defy the Constitution, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-senate-majority-leader-has-the-unilateral-ability-to-stand-up-and/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [You can't get to a balanced budget and begin to pay down debt and thus create jobs in this country if you don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/you-can-t-get-to-a-balanced-budget-and-begin-to-pay-down-debt-and/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [That's what actually caused me to run for office is, you know, my family story, the experience of growing up in a family where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/that-s-what-actually-caused-me-to-run-for-office-is-you-know-my/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [When you subpoena one pastor, you subpoena every pastor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/when-you-subpoena-one-pastor-you-subpoena-every-pastor/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [One of the things we've seen here is how easy it is for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to get distracted from dealing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/one-of-the-things-we-ve-seen-here-is-how-easy-it-is-for-barack-obama/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Imagine a legal immigration system that welcomes and celebrates those who come to achieve the American dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/imagine-a-legal-immigration-system-that-welcomes-and-celebrates-those/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The court follows elite opinion, not public opinion. And Democratic leaders in Congress and Republican leaders in Congress follow elite opinion as well. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-court-follows-elite-opinion-not-public-opinion-and-democratic/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) [Explore all 523 Ted Cruz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) ## More American citizens quotes > [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/) > [Think about it: we went into slavery pagans; we came out Christians. We went into slavery pieces of property; we came out American citizens.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/think-about-it-we-went-into-slavery-pagans-we-came-out-christians-we/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [I want to say unequivocally that while I cherish every person who comes from anywhere, who comes here legally and seeks to pursue happiness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/i-want-to-say-unequivocally-that-while-i-cherish-every-person-who/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [There's been a systematic propagandizing of American citizens for 30 years to make us forget what America is supposed to be and what our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/there-s-been-a-systematic-propagandizing-of-american-citizens-for-30/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) > [We have a bunch of American citizens who step up because that's what we do. We'll step up and go across the world to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-reed/we-have-a-bunch-of-american-citizens-who-step-up-because-that-s-what/) [Ed Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-reed/) > [Having spent 37 years of my life in the military as a reservist, and never having met a gay in all of that time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/having-spent-37-years-of-my-life-in-the-military-as-a-reservist-and/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [“I am a citizen of this country,” I declare, “and Mr. Mayor, tonight I will be a citizen of this city when I put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-ash/i-am-a-citizen-of-this-country-i-declare-and-mr-mayor-tonight-i-will/) [Jerry Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-ash/) > [Think of the undying glory that hangs around the ancient name of Africa and forget not that you are native-born American citizens, and as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-highland-garnet/think-of-the-undying-glory-that-hangs-around-the-ancient-name-of/) [Henry Highland Garnet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-highland-garnet/) > [A large portion of American citizens, especially people of color, have lost confidence in our criminal justice system. Many have called for appointing special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/a-large-portion-of-american-citizens-especially-people-of-color-have/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [Our Navy was very largely sunk. And we were at war in no time at all. I share, in retrospect, the distress we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-rusher/our-navy-was-very-largely-sunk-and-we-were-at-war-in-no-time-at-all-i/) [William A. Rusher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-rusher/) > [As long as my record stands in federal court, any American citizen can be held in prison or concentration camps without trial or hearing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-korematsu/as-long-as-my-record-stands-in-federal-court-any-american-citizen-can/) [Fred Korematsu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-korematsu/) > [“It may sound reactionary, I know. But we can all feel it. We've changed the way we think of ourselves as citizens. We don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/it-may-sound-reactionary-i-know-but-we-can-all-feel-it-we-ve-changed/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [So after a long time of utilizing the American propaganda machine, along with official statements of lies, distortion and falsehood, the focus was basically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naji-sabri/so-after-a-long-time-of-utilizing-the-american-propaganda-machine/) [Naji Sabri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naji-sabri/) > [You are an American, so you're hurt that other American citizens have been hurt, but you end up having to shoulder the shame for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/you-are-an-american-so-you-re-hurt-that-other-american-citizens-have/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [Now, how do you explain Obama's claim, that he can kill American citizens without due process? Well, he has his attorney general get up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/now-how-do-you-explain-obama-s-claim-that-he-can-kill-american/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) [Browse all 242 American citizens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-citizens/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think we should be engaged in nation-building. It's not our job to turn foreign nations into democratic utopias, to try to turn Iraq into Switzerland. 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