--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first thing I had to start with was…" description: "\"The first thing I had to start with was, you know, we don't have a war. We don't have a depression, we don't have a Cold War.\" — William J. Clinton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/william-j-clinton-302_cold_the-first-thing-i-had-to-start-with-was_863582.jpg" --- # The first thing I had to start with was, you know, we… ![“The first thing I had to start with was, you know, we don't have a war. We don't have a depression, we don't have a Cold War.” quote by William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/william-j-clinton-302_cold_the-first-thing-i-had-to-start-with-was_863582.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/william-j-clinton-302_cold_the-first-thing-i-had-to-start-with-was_863582.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/william-j-clinton-302_cold_the-first-thing-i-had-to-start-with-was_863582.jpg) > “The first thing I had to start with was, you know, we don't have a war. We don't have a depression, we don't have a Cold War.” [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He emphasizes that the nation faces no major crises, urging optimism and proactive governance. **In simple terms:** No major crises, so act positively. Key Takeaway Focus on solutions, not imagined problems. Themes optimism leadership politics Mood cautious reflective Type political motivational When to use this quote - policy planning - public communication - crisis management Key Concepts national stability public perception Questions to Reflect On - What hidden challenges might be ignored? - How can leaders balance optimism with vigilance? A Different Perspective Overlooking underlying issues can lead to complacency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Cold war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold-war/) [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [The thing with depression is you don't realise you have it and even when you do you don't want to realise you have it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cavendish/the-thing-with-depression-is-you-don-t-realise-you-have-it-and-even/) [Mark Cavendish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cavendish/) > [I don't really know what depression is, I don't think I've felt it. I probably have. Things aren't the same when you're losing. You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-bosh/i-don-t-really-know-what-depression-is-i-don-t-think-i-ve-felt-it-i/) [Chris Bosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-bosh/) > [“But I know that in order to get to the end of a thing, one must start at the beginning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-zink/but-i-know-that-in-order-to-get-to-the-end-of-a-thing-one-must-start/) [Michelle Zink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-zink/) > [The Bush administration continues to coddle China, despite its continuing crackdown on democratic reform, its brutal subjugation of Tibet, its irresponsible export of nuclear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/the-bush-administration-continues-to-coddle-china-despite-its/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [I've found is that by doing stand-up, I've actually learned how to combat depression. I don't have clinical, but I've definitely had my bouts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/i-ve-found-is-that-by-doing-stand-up-i-ve-actually-learned-how-to/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [How can I tell if I have depression? The professionals tell me I have depression but I don't feel like I do. Sometimes I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiana-webb/how-can-i-tell-if-i-have-depression-the-professionals-tell-me-i-have/) [Tiana Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiana-webb/) > [In today's world, you would call my father mostly unaccessible. I'm not sure that isn't true of most fathers at that time. He went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/in-today-s-world-you-would-call-my-father-mostly-unaccessible-i-m-not/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [Realize that you can treat your depression on your own, that you don't have to just live with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/realize-that-you-can-treat-your-depression-on-your-own-that-you-don-t/) Senoraroy > [I never told you I struggle with depression because I don't want your sympathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie/i-never-told-you-i-struggle-with-depression-because-i-don-t-want-your/) [Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie/) > [I have money in my bank account. I have my own apartment. I have friends. I still go through and experience depression. You don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-reinhart/i-have-money-in-my-bank-account-i-have-my-own-apartment-i-have/) [Lili Reinhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-reinhart/) > [Until you've had depression I don't think you're qualified to talk about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-boycott/until-you-ve-had-depression-i-don-t-think-you-re-qualified-to-talk/) [Geoffrey Boycott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-boycott/) > [I think the most important thing is to start with something that fits perfectly. Don't worry about having it in five colors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-white/i-think-the-most-important-thing-is-to-start-with-something-that-fits/) [Jack White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-white/) > [It's a beautiful thing, to start over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-fallon/it-s-a-beautiful-thing-to-start-over/) [Brian Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-fallon/) > [The great thing is the start - to see an opportunity for service, and to start doing it, even though in the beginning you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/the-great-thing-is-the-start-to-see-an-opportunity-for-service-and-to/) [Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/) > [“One thing at a time. Most important thing first. Start now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-webb/one-thing-at-a-time-most-important-thing-first-start-now/) [Caroline Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-webb/) ## More by William J. Clinton > [When personal freedom's being abused, you have to move to limit it. That's what we did in the announcement I made last weekend on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/when-personal-freedom-s-being-abused-you-have-to-move-to-limit-it/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [Almost makes you want to go to jail out here, doesn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/almost-makes-you-want-to-go-to-jail-out-here-doesn-t-it/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [I take full responsability...for what we did. It was the right thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/i-take-full-responsability-for-what-we-did-it-was-the-right-thing-to/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [Undeniably, character does count for our citizens, out communities, and our Nation, and this week we celebrate the importance of character in our individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/undeniably-character-does-count-for-our-citizens-out-communities-and/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [Even as people take pride in their national independence, we know we are becoming more and more interdependent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/even-as-people-take-pride-in-their-national-independence-we-know-we/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [To build a twenty-first-century economy, America must revive a nineteenth-century habit--investing in the common, national economic resources that enable every person and every firm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/to-build-a-twenty-first-century-economy-america-must-revive-a/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [One of the things that I think we have learned is that we should all be very careful about making predictions about the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/one-of-the-things-that-i-think-we-have-learned-is-that-we-should-all/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [Only astrophysicists new about the Internet 20 years ago. Today my cat has a website.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/only-astrophysicists-new-about-the-internet-20-years-ago-today-my-cat/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [Our military superiority is so great - it's far greater than it was in the Gulf War, and the Gulf War was over in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/our-military-superiority-is-so-great-it-s-far-greater-than-it-was-in/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [You know, I've always been really interested in this stuff, and I'm going to read this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/you-know-i-ve-always-been-really-interested-in-this-stuff-and-i-m/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [If you believe in making change from the bottom up, if you believe the measure of change is how many people's lives are better,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/if-you-believe-in-making-change-from-the-bottom-up-if-you-believe-the/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [ We \[Democrats\] have got to be strong. When we look weak in a time where people feel insecure, we lose. when people feel uncertain,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/we-democrats-have-got-to-be-strong-when-we-look-weak-in-a-time-where/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [It's the economy, stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/it-s-the-economy-stupid/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [The Republicans could mess up a two car parade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/the-republicans-could-mess-up-a-two-car-parade/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [We're all in this together is a far better philosophy than you're on your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/we-re-all-in-this-together-is-a-far-better-philosophy-than-you-re-on/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) [Explore all 712 William J. Clinton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) ## More Cold quotes > [Once ye made up yer mind to do somethin', 'tis better t'stumble o'er the small hillock of jump-ahead than t'bash yer head on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/once-ye-made-up-yer-mind-to-do-somethin-tis-better-t-stumble-o-er-the/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [From the bitter cold winter at Valley Forge, to the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq, our soldiers have courageously answered when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/from-the-bitter-cold-winter-at-valley-forge-to-the-mountains-of/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [Of course Messi could handle a cold Tuesday night in Stoke. He'd be drinking tea and relaxing beforehand. Me? I'd probably be the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neymar/of-course-messi-could-handle-a-cold-tuesday-night-in-stoke-he-d-be/) [Neymar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neymar/) > [This cold weather has set all the young Folks to providing Bedfellows. I have signed two or three Licences every Day \[as a Fairfax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mason/this-cold-weather-has-set-all-the-young-folks-to-providing-bedfellows/) [George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mason/) > [When my main character in 'Heat' climbs the tower, the highest diving platform, hoping to resume competitive diving after an injury, I am there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cadnum/when-my-main-character-in-heat-climbs-the-tower-the-highest-diving/) [Michael Cadnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cadnum/) > [You start playing when it's cold and you want to be playing when it's cold again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimy-williams/you-start-playing-when-it-s-cold-and-you-want-to-be-playing-when-it-s/) Jimy Williams > [It would be a piece of ingenuousness to accuse the man of today of his lack of moral code. The accusation would leave him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/it-would-be-a-piece-of-ingenuousness-to-accuse-the-man-of-today-of/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [I would have touched it like a child But knew my finger could but have touched Cold stone and water. I grew wild, Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/i-would-have-touched-it-like-a-child-but-knew-my-finger-could-but/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [What's to become of the morally sound? Left out in the cold, I suppose. We must heal the sick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/what-s-to-become-of-the-morally-sound-left-out-in-the-cold-i-suppose/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [When I first started, all the reviews of Cold Chisel would say, 'This singer won't have a voice in six months.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/when-i-first-started-all-the-reviews-of-cold-chisel-would-say-this/) [Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/) > [One of the problems trying to play an instrument outside in the cold is your fingers give up on you and you can't wear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-macdonald/one-of-the-problems-trying-to-play-an-instrument-outside-in-the-cold/) [Amy Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-macdonald/) > [God tempers the cold to the shorn sheep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-etienne-sainte-claire-deville/god-tempers-the-cold-to-the-shorn-sheep/) Henri Etienne Sainte-Claire Deville > [Those nights lying alone are not discontinuous with this cold hectic dawn. It is who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-carson/those-nights-lying-alone-are-not-discontinuous-with-this-cold-hectic/) [Anne Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-carson/) [Browse all 5,381 Cold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The first thing I had to start with was, you know, we don't have a war. We don't have a depression, we don't have a Cold War.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William J. 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