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About this quote

What does it mean?
Foreign policy fails if it lacks broad public support, not just expert design.
In plain terms
Policy needs public belief to succeed, not just smart ideas.
What can you take from it?
Public support is essential for policy success.

Where it applies

  • campaign launches
  • diplomatic initiatives
  • national strategy

Putting it to work

  • building public consensus
  • communicating policy goals

Questions to consider

  • Can policy work without public support?
  • How do you build trust?

Another view

Expertise can sometimes succeed without immediate public backing.

More from Henry Kissinger

  1. No country can act wisely simultaneously in every part of the globe at every moment of time.

    Permalink to quote #39
  2. No one will ever win the battle of the sexes; there's too much fraternizing with the enemy.

    Permalink to quote #41
  3. Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation.

    Permalink to quote #38

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