--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is a responsibility as president to…" description: "\"There is a responsibility as president to choose your words carefully, especially on foreign policy, and to speak as clearly as possible.\" — Todd Young" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/todd-young-6633_foreign-policy_there-is-a-responsibility-as-president-t_102752.jpg" --- # There is a responsibility as president to choose your… ![“There is a responsibility as president to choose your words carefully, especially on foreign policy, and to speak as clearly as possible.” quote by Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/todd-young-6633_foreign-policy_there-is-a-responsibility-as-president-t_102752.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/todd-young-6633_foreign-policy_there-is-a-responsibility-as-president-t_102752.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/todd-young-6633_foreign-policy_there-is-a-responsibility-as-president-t_102752.jpg) > “There is a responsibility as president to choose your words carefully, especially on foreign policy, and to speak as clearly as possible.” [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A leader, especially a head of state, must choose language deliberately, prioritizing clarity and caution in foreign affairs to avoid misinterpretation and escalation. **In simple terms:** Leaders must speak clearly on international matters. Key Takeaway Word choice shapes diplomatic outcomes. Themes leadership communication foreign policy clarity Mood responsible cautious Type political statement advice When to use this quote - press conferences - international negotiations - policy speeches Key Concepts diplomacy risk management Practical Applications - draft statements with peer review - use plain language guidelines Questions to Reflect On - What balance between honesty and diplomacy is optimal? - How can leaders test clarity before speaking? A Different Perspective Excessive caution can make statements vague, reducing persuasive power. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Foreign policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foreign-policy/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Policy Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy-speak-1241307/) [Possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possible/) [President Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-choose-664018/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Responsibility President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility-president-1241306/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Speak Clearly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-clearly-232555/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) ## Related quotes > [One of the major jobs of the Harvard president is to choose the deans. I've had the opportunity to choose a considerable number of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-gilpin-faust/one-of-the-major-jobs-of-the-harvard-president-is-to-choose-the-deans/) [Drew Gilpin Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-gilpin-faust/) > [We need a president who will choose to do what's best for the country, even when it doesn't personally benefit them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/we-need-a-president-who-will-choose-to-do-what-s-best-for-the-country/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [ While I think it's very important that Marco Rubio and Senator \[Ted\] Cruz have contributed as senators... there's no doubt in my mind that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-ridge/while-i-think-it-s-very-important-that-marco-rubio-and-senator-ted/) [Tom Ridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-ridge/) > [My responsibility as president is to take care to solve the problems we are facing now and to provide a vision and direction for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-responsibility-as-president-is-to-take-care-to-solve-the-problems/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Harry Truman once said, 'There are 14 or 15 million Americans who have the resources to have representatives in Washington to protect their interests,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/harry-truman-once-said-there-are-14-or-15-million-americans-who-have/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [I still don't feel responsible for what Donald Trump says or does. But I do feel a responsibility as president of the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-still-don-t-feel-responsible-for-what-donald-trump-says-or-does-but/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The function and responsibility of the President is to set before the American people the unfinished business, the things we must do if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-function-and-responsibility-of-the-president-is-to-set-before-the/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-consider-it-part-of-my-responsibility-as-president-of-the-united/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I think most presidents are amazed at the overwhelming responsibility they have when they enter office and the tremendous amount of work there is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/i-think-most-presidents-are-amazed-at-the-overwhelming-responsibility/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [This, in my view, is the highest responsibility of the President of the United States, which is to maintain the safety of the American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/this-in-my-view-is-the-highest-responsibility-of-the-president-of-the/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [You can't write about people out of textbooks, and you can't use jargon. You have to speak clearly and simply and purely in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-anne-porter/you-can-t-write-about-people-out-of-textbooks-and-you-can-t-use/) [Katherine Anne Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-anne-porter/) > [Speak clearly, if you speak at all; carve every word before you let it fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/speak-clearly-if-you-speak-at-all-carve-every-word-before-you-let-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Read critically, write consciously; speak clearly; tell your truth!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-smith/read-critically-write-consciously-speak-clearly-tell-your-truth/) [Clint Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-smith/) > [“Will you ever use common sense, I hear it comes pretty cheap. And if I speak more clearly, if I make more sense. Will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tegan-quin/will-you-ever-use-common-sense-i-hear-it-comes-pretty-cheap-and-if-i/) [Tegan Quin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tegan-quin/) > [Dance is communication, and so the great challenge is to speak clearly, beautifully and with inevitability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/dance-is-communication-and-so-the-great-challenge-is-to-speak-clearly/) [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) ## More by Todd Young > [“Somewhere forward, somewhere in the future, the summer was locked in the snow. Waiting. More a promise, more a dream, than anything you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/somewhere-forward-somewhere-in-the-future-the-summer-was-locked-in/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [Promoting and protecting human rights internationally is not just a matter of principle or morality - doing so also serves our national security interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/promoting-and-protecting-human-rights-internationally-is-not-just-a/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [I think we need to prepare for the worst, and so I support energy efficiency measures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/i-think-we-need-to-prepare-for-the-worst-and-so-i-support-energy/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [“Did it matter that he was gay? That was one thing Dr Rutger hadn't asked him, but then, when he'd taken Joel through to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/did-it-matter-that-he-was-gay-that-was-one-thing-dr-rutger-hadn-t/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [It is both wrong and short-sighted to believe that we can better protect our national security interests by ignoring or sidelining human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/it-is-both-wrong-and-short-sighted-to-believe-that-we-can-better/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [Intelligence work in the Marine Corps proved to me the strategic value in establishing a Central Command to act as a clearinghouse for disparate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/intelligence-work-in-the-marine-corps-proved-to-me-the-strategic/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [Hoosiers are practical people, and Hoosier Republicans in particular have a history of unifying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/hoosiers-are-practical-people-and-hoosier-republicans-in-particular/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [It's extremely hard for the economy to grow when the workforce is shrinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/it-s-extremely-hard-for-the-economy-to-grow-when-the-workforce-is/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [Washington's foot-dragging, obstructionism, and overreach must end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/washington-s-foot-dragging-obstructionism-and-overreach-must-end/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [“Paul lifted his hand and brushed his thumb across Leigh’s lips. Then he leaned forward and kissed him. Leigh groaned with release, as though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/paul-lifted-his-hand-and-brushed-his-thumb-across-leigh-s-lips-then/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [We may not realize it, but a crucial step in building a healthy economy is helping people move from welfare to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/we-may-not-realize-it-but-a-crucial-step-in-building-a-healthy/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [In my experience, all Americans - Republicans, Democrats, and everyone in between - want roughly the same thing: an assurance that if they work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/in-my-experience-all-americans-republicans-democrats-and-everyone-in/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [This is an appropriate role for the federal government - to invest in basic research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/this-is-an-appropriate-role-for-the-federal-government-to-invest-in/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [As someone who took an oath to defend this country, I refuse to sit idle until the unimaginable occurs: Iran cheats or simply runs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/as-someone-who-took-an-oath-to-defend-this-country-i-refuse-to-sit/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [We can score political points. We can try to advance some important initiatives. But at some point, it takes sober-minded, responsible conservative leaders to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/we-can-score-political-points-we-can-try-to-advance-some-important/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) [Explore all 98 Todd Young quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) ## More Foreign policy quotes > [Britain should take pride in a foreign policy that reflects her values and responsibilities - but it must be grounded in the tangible interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-raab/britain-should-take-pride-in-a-foreign-policy-that-reflects-her/) [Dominic Raab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-raab/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ \[Putin\] is a bully. And bullies only understand when we punch them in the nose, but we need to do that economically. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/putin-is-a-bully-and-bullies-only-understand-when-we-punch-them-in/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [The people and the warmakers are two distinct groups. We must never say 'we' when discussing the US government's foreign policy. For one thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/llewellyn-rockwell/the-people-and-the-warmakers-are-two-distinct-groups-we-must-never/) [Llewellyn Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/llewellyn-rockwell/) > [21st-century foreign policy is going to be built on countries that can tackle transnational challenges together. 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I denounce those governments which use indiscriminate slaughter to advance their foreign policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-livingstone/i-don-t-just-denounce-suicide-bombers-i-denounce-those-governments/) [Ken Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-livingstone/) > [The Hillary Clinton foreign policy has cost America thousands of lives and trillions and trillions of dollars, and unleashed ISIS across the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-hillary-clinton-foreign-policy-has-cost-america-thousands-of/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“Hamilton has often been extolled as the exponent of a rational foreign policy based on cool calculations of national self-interest. But his April 14…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/hamilton-has-often-been-extolled-as-the-exponent-of-a-rational/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [•“I don’t have the foggiest idea about what I think about international, foreign policy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-don-t-have-the-foggiest-idea-about-what-i-think-about-international/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) [Browse all 1,055 Foreign policy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foreign-policy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is a responsibility as president to choose your words carefully, especially on foreign policy, and to speak as clearly as possible.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Todd Young" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/there-is-a-responsibility-as-president-to-choose-your-words-carefully/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Foreign policy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/there-is-a-responsibility-as-president-to-choose-your-words-carefully/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/todd-young-6633_foreign-policy_there-is-a-responsibility-as-president-t_102752.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/todd-young-6633_foreign-policy_there-is-a-responsibility-as-president-t_102752.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/todd-young-6633_foreign-policy_there-is-a-responsibility-as-president-t_102752.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is a responsibility as president to choose your words carefully, especially on foreign policy, and to…” — Todd Young", "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": "Todd Young", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There is a responsibility as president...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/there-is-a-responsibility-as-president-to-choose-your-words-carefully/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/there-is-a-responsibility-as-president-to-choose-your-words-carefully/#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 } } ] } ```