---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Now if there is one thing that we do…"
description: "\"Now if there is one thing that we do worse than any other nation, it is try and manage somebody else's affairs.\" — Will Rogers"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae8/will-rogers-272_manage_now-if-there-is-one-thing-that-we-do-wor_516558.jpg"
---

#  Now if there is one thing that we do worse than any other…

![“Now if there is one thing that we do worse than any other nation, it is try and manage somebody else's affairs.” quote by Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae8/will-rogers-272_manage_now-if-there-is-one-thing-that-we-do-wor_516558.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae8/will-rogers-272_manage_now-if-there-is-one-thing-that-we-do-wor_516558.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae8/will-rogers-272_manage_now-if-there-is-one-thing-that-we-do-wor_516558.jpg)

> “Now if there is one thing that we do worse than any other nation, it is try and manage somebody else's affairs.”

[Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

America often intervenes in others' affairs, reflecting a tendency to manage beyond its own scope.

**In simple terms:** We manage others' affairs worse than our own.

Key Takeaway

Focus on improving domestic issues first.

Themes

foreign policy intervention nationalism

Mood

skeptical thoughtful

Type

critical philosophical

When to use this quote

- diplomacy
- political analysis
- education
- leadership training

Key Concepts

imperialism policy critique global responsibility

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do nations feel compelled to intervene?
- What are the costs of foreign entanglements?

A Different Perspective

Intervention may ignore unintended consequences.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [No one nation can or should try to dominate another nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/no-one-nation-can-or-should-try-to-dominate-another-nation/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [You always try to know what you need, try to manage the game given the game situation...and I think that's one of the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-belichick/you-always-try-to-know-what-you-need-try-to-manage-the-game-given-the/)

[Bill Belichick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-belichick/)

> [I try to manage my time to conserve energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-duffy/i-try-to-manage-my-time-to-conserve-energy/)

[Karen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-duffy/)

> [I don't represent anybody and I don't hold anything at such a high arc that I gotta manage by somebody's rule. I don't ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riff-raff/i-don-t-represent-anybody-and-i-don-t-hold-anything-at-such-a-high/)

[Riff Raff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riff-raff/)

> [If you want to manage somebody, manage yourself. Do that well and you'll be ready to stop managing. And start leading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-gonzales/if-you-want-to-manage-somebody-manage-yourself-do-that-well-and-you/)

[Mark Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-gonzales/)

> [I find it hard to manage somebody's work unless I have an intimate knowledge of how to do it myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-kan/i-find-it-hard-to-manage-somebody-s-work-unless-i-have-an-intimate/)

[Justin Kan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-kan/)

> [“If there’s one thing worse than not HAVING a job… It’s LOOKING for one!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-stuart/if-there-s-one-thing-worse-than-not-having-a-job-it-s-looking-for-one/)

Laurence Stuart

> [“The only thing worse than a perilous adventure is a boring one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/the-only-thing-worse-than-a-perilous-adventure-is-a-boring-one/)

[Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/)

> [To me, the thing that is worse than death is betrayal. You see, I could conceive death, but I could not conceive betrayal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/to-me-the-thing-that-is-worse-than-death-is-betrayal-you-see-i-could/)

[Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/)

> [“The only thing that's worse than people who say "I am what I am" is people who say "I yam what I yam" while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-leve/the-only-thing-that-s-worse-than-people-who-say-i-am-what-i-am-is/)

[Ariel Leve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-leve/)

> [The only thing that's been a worse flop than the organization of nonviolence has been the organization of violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-baez/the-only-thing-that-s-been-a-worse-flop-than-the-organization-of/)

[Joan Baez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-baez/)

> [The only thing worse than being in the Hall of Fame is not being in the Hall of Fame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/the-only-thing-worse-than-being-in-the-hall-of-fame-is-not-being-in/)

[Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/)

> [The only thing worse than starting something and failing... is not starting something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-only-thing-worse-than-starting-something-and-failing-is-not/)

[Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/)

> [“The only thing worse than regretting the things you've done is regretting the things you didn't do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-leahy/the-only-thing-worse-than-regretting-the-things-you-ve-done-is/)

Samantha Leahy

> [“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight and no vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/the-only-thing-worse-than-being-blind-is-having-sight-and-no-vision/)

[Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/)

## More by Will Rogers

> [She was so ugly she could make a mule back away from an oat bin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/she-was-so-ugly-she-could-make-a-mule-back-away-from-an-oat-bin/)

[Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/)

> [We are always saying: Let the Law take its Course but what we really mean is: Let the Law take OUR Course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/we-are-always-saying-let-the-law-take-its-course-but-what-we-really/)

[Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/)

> [The Democrats and the Republicans are equally corrupt where money is concerned. It's only in the amount where the Republicans excel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/the-democrats-and-the-republicans-are-equally-corrupt-where-money-is/)

[Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/)

> [Farmers, get out your sense of humor. Congress meets to relieve you again next week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/farmers-get-out-your-sense-of-humor-congress-meets-to-relieve-you/)

[Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/)

> [Politicians, after all, are not over a year behind public opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/politicians-after-all-are-not-over-a-year-behind-public-opinion/)

[Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/)

> [American invents everything, but the trouble is we get tired of it the minute the new is wore off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/american-invents-everything-but-the-trouble-is-we-get-tired-of-it-the/)

[Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/)

> [I don't know what humor is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/i-don-t-know-what-humor-is/)

[Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/)

> [There are two things I don't care how smart you are, you will never understand. One is an alienist's testimony, and the other is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/there-are-two-things-i-don-t-care-how-smart-you-are-you-will-never/)

[Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/)

> [The more you observe politics, the more you've got to admit that each party is worse than the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/the-more-you-observe-politics-the-more-you-ve-got-to-admit-that-each/)

[Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/)

> [I don't think you can make a lawyer honest by an act of legislature. You've got to work on his conscience. And his lack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/i-don-t-think-you-can-make-a-lawyer-honest-by-an-act-of-legislature/)

[Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/)

> [There are two theories to arguing with a woman. Neither works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/there-are-two-theories-to-arguing-with-a-woman-neither-works/)

[Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/)

> [America is a great country, but you can't live in it for nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/america-is-a-great-country-but-you-can-t-live-in-it-for-nothing/)

[Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/)

> [There ought to be one day - just one - when there is open season on senators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/there-ought-to-be-one-day-just-one-when-there-is-open-season-on/)

[Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/)

> [Every Gag I tell must be based on truth. No matter how much I may exaggerate it, it must have a certain amount of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/every-gag-i-tell-must-be-based-on-truth-no-matter-how-much-i-may/)

[Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/)

> [So live that you would not mind selling your pet parrot to the town gossip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/so-live-that-you-would-not-mind-selling-your-pet-parrot-to-the-town/)

[Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/)

[Explore all 776 Will Rogers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/)

## More Manage quotes

> [I have often wondered how they manage to get return envelopes which miss, by one-quarter of an inch, fitting the blank you are supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/i-have-often-wondered-how-they-manage-to-get-return-envelopes-which/)

[Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/)

> [The emerging church movement has come to believe that the ultimate context of the spiritual aspirations of a follower of Jesus Christ is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-selmanovic/the-emerging-church-movement-has-come-to-believe-that-the-ultimate/)

[Samir Selmanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-selmanovic/)

> [Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" said Hermione as they got off the train and joined the crowd thronging toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-aunt-and-uncle-will-be-proud-though-won-t-they-said-hermione-as/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Accept the past, just manage the present, and work hard towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accept-the-past-just-manage-the-present-and-work-hard-towards-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If we blow ourselves up we will do it by misapplication of science; if we manage to keep from blowing ourselves up, it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/if-we-blow-ourselves-up-we-will-do-it-by-misapplication-of-science-if/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [In the games of queens and kings, we leave our dreams at the door and we make do with what we have. Sometimes if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/in-the-games-of-queens-and-kings-we-leave-our-dreams-at-the-door-and/)

[Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/)

> [David Rockefeller is the most conspicuous representative today of the ruling class, a multinational fraternity of men who shape the global economy and manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/david-rockefeller-is-the-most-conspicuous-representative-today-of-the/)

[Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/)

> [We tend to think of orphans as being the protagonist of stories we read when we're kids, and yet here you are: you're an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/we-tend-to-think-of-orphans-as-being-the-protagonist-of-stories-we/)

[Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/)

> [Why was is that the Light acted through lies, and the Darkness acted though the truth? Why was is that our truth proved powerless,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/why-was-is-that-the-light-acted-through-lies-and-the-darkness-acted/)

[Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/)

> [The book it reminded me of most is Henry Miller’s The Books in My Life. Like Miller, Shields manages to convey his affection for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/the-book-it-reminded-me-of-most-is-henry-miller-s-the-books-in-my/)

[Andre Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/)

> [We must be talented, powerful and resilient creatures indeed given how much we manage to produce despite the constant undercutting, ridicule and needless censorship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth/we-must-be-talented-powerful-and-resilient-creatures-indeed-given-how/)

[Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth/)

> [It's also so cool to be able to develop the talent to be able to jump and control the motorcycle which is a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hardy/it-s-also-so-cool-to-be-able-to-develop-the-talent-to-be-able-to-jump/)

[Jeff Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hardy/)

> [I do try to be of some use in the world. I sometimes do volunteer work with kids, and manage to help some people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shirley/i-do-try-to-be-of-some-use-in-the-world-i-sometimes-do-volunteer-work/)

[John Shirley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shirley/)

> [Trade and commerce, if they were not made of Indian rubber, would never manage to bounce over the obstacles which legislators are continually putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/trade-and-commerce-if-they-were-not-made-of-indian-rubber-would-never/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Society needs people who can manage projects in addition to handling individual tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-vos-savant/society-needs-people-who-can-manage-projects-in-addition-to-handling/)

[Marilyn vos Savant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-vos-savant/)

Browse all 1,754 Manage quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Now if there is one thing that we do worse than any other nation, it is try and manage somebody else's affairs.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Will Rogers"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/now-if-there-is-one-thing-that-we-do-worse-than-any-other-nation-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Manage"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/now-if-there-is-one-thing-that-we-do-worse-than-any-other-nation-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae8/will-rogers-272_manage_now-if-there-is-one-thing-that-we-do-wor_516558.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae8/will-rogers-272_manage_now-if-there-is-one-thing-that-we-do-wor_516558.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae8/will-rogers-272_manage_now-if-there-is-one-thing-that-we-do-wor_516558.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Now if there is one thing that we do worse than any other nation, it is try and manage somebody else's…” — Will Rogers",
                "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": "Will Rogers",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Now if there is one thing...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/now-if-there-is-one-thing-that-we-do-worse-than-any-other-nation-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/now-if-there-is-one-thing-that-we-do-worse-than-any-other-nation-it/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
