--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: American power worldwide is at its…" description: "\"American power worldwide is at its historic zenith.\" — Zbigniew Brzezinski" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_american-power_american-power-worldwide-is-at-its-histo_2434972.jpg" --- # American power worldwide is at its historic zenith. ![“American power worldwide is at its historic zenith.” quote by Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_american-power_american-power-worldwide-is-at-its-histo_2434972.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_american-power_american-power-worldwide-is-at-its-histo_2434972.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_american-power_american-power-worldwide-is-at-its-histo_2434972.jpg) > “American power worldwide is at its historic zenith.” [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The United States holds unprecedented global influence, shaping international politics and economics. **In simple terms:** America is at a peak of worldwide power. Key Takeaway Recognize responsibilities that accompany great power. Themes geopolitics leadership influence Mood analytical serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - foreign policy formulation - international negotiations - economic sanctions Key Concepts hegemony soft power strategic interests Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities come with global dominance? - How can power be exercised responsibly? A Different Perspective Power can be overextended, leading to backlash. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-power/) [Historic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historic/) [Historic Zenith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historic-zenith-328521/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Power Worldwide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-worldwide-328519/) [Worldwide Historic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worldwide-historic-328520/) [Zenith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zenith/) ## Related quotes > [You have to hand it to America. It has exercised a quite clinical manipulation of power worldwide while masquerading as a force for universal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/you-have-to-hand-it-to-america-it-has-exercised-a-quite-clinical/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-attitude-of-the-american-public-toward-the-external-projection-of/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [The main problem with American power is not that it is American... No, the main problem with American power is the power itself. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/the-main-problem-with-american-power-is-not-that-it-is-american-no/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [What some people argue is that Vietnam stands for the proposition that there's no role for American power anywhere on earth. I don't believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-f-mondale/what-some-people-argue-is-that-vietnam-stands-for-the-proposition/) [Walter F. Mondale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-f-mondale/) > [Ordinary Americans, and especially the small minority active in Democrat and Republican primaries, must learn more of what people across the globe are thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/ordinary-americans-and-especially-the-small-minority-active-in/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [Great American power and responsibility are not unprecedented, and have been used with restraint and great benefit in the past. We have not assumed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/great-american-power-and-responsibility-are-not-unprecedented-and/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [The two world wars boosted American power and devastated potential rivals to an extent that could not have lasted more than a few decades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-bremmer/the-two-world-wars-boosted-american-power-and-devastated-potential/) [Ian Bremmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-bremmer/) > [I think that Hillary Clinton has an appreciation that American power needs to be put in the service of American values, which is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-fried/i-think-that-hillary-clinton-has-an-appreciation-that-american-power/) [Daniel Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-fried/) > [American power should be used not just in the defense of American interests but for the promotion of American principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/american-power-should-be-used-not-just-in-the-defense-of-american/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [“The Internet has long been heralded as an unprecedented instrument of democratization and liberalization, even emancipation. But in the eyes of the US government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/the-internet-has-long-been-heralded-as-an-unprecedented-instrument-of/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [The American people are extraordinarily comfortable, affluent, and secure. It's easy for us to make the argument that God's purpose is being fulfilled through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-russell-mead/the-american-people-are-extraordinarily-comfortable-affluent-and/) [Walter Russell Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-russell-mead/) > [We will continue to deepen our engagement using every element of American power - diplomacy, military, economic development, the power of our values and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-will-continue-to-deepen-our-engagement-using-every-element-of/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [American power in the Middle East is collapsing. It doesn't need much more than a shove, and it will - and that's not going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fisk/american-power-in-the-middle-east-is-collapsing-it-doesn-t-need-much/) [Robert Fisk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fisk/) > [If I were doing the Security Council today, I'd have one permanent member, the United States, because that's the real reflection of the distribution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/if-i-were-doing-the-security-council-today-i-d-have-one-permanent/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [“The biggest threat to American power in the long run is the persistent decline in its middle class standard of living today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/the-biggest-threat-to-american-power-in-the-long-run-is-the/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) ## More by Zbigniew Brzezinski > [The United States can certainly defeat North Vietnam, but the United States cannot defeat a guerrilla war which is being raged from a sanctuary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-united-states-can-certainly-defeat-north-vietnam-but-the-united/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [The future is inherently full of discontinuities, and lessons of the past must be applied with enormous caution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-future-is-inherently-full-of-discontinuities-and-lessons-of-the/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Look at Islam in a rational manner and without demagoguery or emotion. It is the leading religion of the world with 1.5 billion followers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/look-at-islam-in-a-rational-manner-and-without-demagoguery-or-emotion/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [A waning United States would likely be more nationalistic, more defensive about its national identity, more paranoid about its homeland security, and less willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/a-waning-united-states-would-likely-be-more-nationalistic-more/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Peace between Israel and Palestine would be a giant step toward greater regional stability, and it would finally let both Israelis and Palestinians benefit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/peace-between-israel-and-palestine-would-be-a-giant-step-toward/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [It is axiomatic that the security of America and Europe are linked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/it-is-axiomatic-that-the-security-of-america-and-europe-are-linked/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [In the longer run, I happen to think that Russia really has no choice but to become gradually more associated with the Euro-Atlantic community.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/in-the-longer-run-i-happen-to-think-that-russia-really-has-no-choice/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Basically, I see Iran as an authentic nation-state. And that authentic identity gives it cohesion, which most of the Middle East lacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/basically-i-see-iran-as-an-authentic-nation-state-and-that-authentic/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Like so many empires before it, the Soviet Union eventually imploded and fragmented, falling victim not so much to a direct military defeat as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/like-so-many-empires-before-it-the-soviet-union-eventually-imploded/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [In Iraq we must succeed. Failure is not an option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/in-iraq-we-must-succeed-failure-is-not-an-option/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [One has to define very clearly what one's objectives are, determine in advance how much one is prepared to pay to achieve that objective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/one-has-to-define-very-clearly-what-one-s-objectives-are-determine-in/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Saddam Hussein was an odious dictator, but he was also a very effective opponent of Iran. He was also a very effective opponent of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/saddam-hussein-was-an-odious-dictator-but-he-was-also-a-very/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Hegemony is as old as mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/hegemony-is-as-old-as-mankind/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Democrats should insist that a pluralistic democracy such as ours rely on bipartisanship in formulating a foreign policy based on moderation and the nuances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/democrats-should-insist-that-a-pluralistic-democracy-such-as-ours/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [I think the sheer attrition of American global domination will create circumstances in which the Chinese will be tempted to reach out for more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/i-think-the-sheer-attrition-of-american-global-domination-will-create/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) [Explore all 258 Zbigniew Brzezinski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) ## More American power quotes > [“The biggest threat to American power in the long run is the persistent decline in its middle class standard of living today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/the-biggest-threat-to-american-power-in-the-long-run-is-the/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [If I were doing the Security Council today, I'd have one permanent member, the United States, because that's the real reflection of the distribution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/if-i-were-doing-the-security-council-today-i-d-have-one-permanent/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [American power in the Middle East is collapsing. It doesn't need much more than a shove, and it will - and that's not going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fisk/american-power-in-the-middle-east-is-collapsing-it-doesn-t-need-much/) [Robert Fisk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fisk/) > [We will continue to deepen our engagement using every element of American power - diplomacy, military, economic development, the power of our values and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-will-continue-to-deepen-our-engagement-using-every-element-of/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The American people are extraordinarily comfortable, affluent, and secure. It's easy for us to make the argument that God's purpose is being fulfilled through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-russell-mead/the-american-people-are-extraordinarily-comfortable-affluent-and/) [Walter Russell Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-russell-mead/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-attitude-of-the-american-public-toward-the-external-projection-of/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [“The Internet has long been heralded as an unprecedented instrument of democratization and liberalization, even emancipation. But in the eyes of the US government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/the-internet-has-long-been-heralded-as-an-unprecedented-instrument-of/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [American power should be used not just in the defense of American interests but for the promotion of American principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/american-power-should-be-used-not-just-in-the-defense-of-american/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [I think that Hillary Clinton has an appreciation that American power needs to be put in the service of American values, which is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-fried/i-think-that-hillary-clinton-has-an-appreciation-that-american-power/) [Daniel Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-fried/) > [The two world wars boosted American power and devastated potential rivals to an extent that could not have lasted more than a few decades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-bremmer/the-two-world-wars-boosted-american-power-and-devastated-potential/) [Ian Bremmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-bremmer/) > [Great American power and responsibility are not unprecedented, and have been used with restraint and great benefit in the past. We have not assumed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/great-american-power-and-responsibility-are-not-unprecedented-and/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Ordinary Americans, and especially the small minority active in Democrat and Republican primaries, must learn more of what people across the globe are thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/ordinary-americans-and-especially-the-small-minority-active-in/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [What some people argue is that Vietnam stands for the proposition that there's no role for American power anywhere on earth. I don't believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-f-mondale/what-some-people-argue-is-that-vietnam-stands-for-the-proposition/) [Walter F. Mondale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-f-mondale/) > [The main problem with American power is not that it is American... No, the main problem with American power is the power itself. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/the-main-problem-with-american-power-is-not-that-it-is-american-no/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [American power in the world relies on these ideals of openness and critical debate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-nye/american-power-in-the-world-relies-on-these-ideals-of-openness-and/) [Joseph Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-nye/) [Browse all 38 American power quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-power/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "American power worldwide is at its historic zenith.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zbigniew Brzezinski" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/american-power-worldwide-is-at-its-historic-zenith/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American power" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/american-power-worldwide-is-at-its-historic-zenith/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_american-power_american-power-worldwide-is-at-its-histo_2434972.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_american-power_american-power-worldwide-is-at-its-histo_2434972.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_american-power_american-power-worldwide-is-at-its-histo_2434972.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“American power worldwide is at its historic zenith.” — Zbigniew Brzezinski", "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": "Zbigniew Brzezinski", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "American power worldwide is at its...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/american-power-worldwide-is-at-its-historic-zenith/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/american-power-worldwide-is-at-its-historic-zenith/#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 } } ] } ```