Ambivalent Quote by Zbigniew Brzezinski
“The attitude of the American public toward the external projection of American power has been much more ambivalent. The public supported America's engagement in World War II largely because of the shock effect of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public Opinion on US Power, 1990s
The American public shows mixed feelings about overseas military actions, supporting them when directly threatened but otherwise hesitant.
In simple terms: US public is ambivalent about foreign military power.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how threats shape public support.
Themes
public opinion
foreign policy
military engagement
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- election cycles
- media coverage
- policy debates
- military interventions
Key Concepts
realism
deterrence
national security
Questions to Reflect On
- How does perceived threat affect support for foreign interventions?
- What factors could sustain long‑term public backing?
A Different Perspective
Support can wane without a clear, immediate threat.
![“When you 'make good,' you find out who your real friends are. You find out pretty quick. And it's a very ambivalent feeling, because you're, like, happy you found out that people are [jerkfaces], but you're kinda sad because you think, 'Wow, I wasted so much time being this person's friend.'” quote by Greg Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7ab/greg-camp-64349_ambivalent_when-you-make-good-you-find-out-who-your_126934.jpg)
