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About this quote

What does it mean?
Kissinger suggests avoiding excessive self-blame for violence committed by others in another region.
In plain terms
We should not blame ourselves for violence that people in another country did to each other.
What can you take from it?
Do not take responsibility for conflicts that are not your own.

Where it applies

  • geopolitical analysis
  • moral reasoning
  • defense strategy

Putting it to work

  • policy justification
  • ethical boundaries
  • resource allocation

Questions to consider

  • When do you feel responsible for others actions?
  • What limits exist to international intervention?

Another view

This ignores moral obligations to prevent or alleviate suffering regardless of origin.

More from Henry Kissinger

  1. Who controls the food supply controls the people; who controls the energy can control whole continents; who controls money can control the world.

    Permalink to quote #57
  2. You can't make war in the Middle East without Egypt and you can't make peace without Syria.

    Permalink to quote #59
  3. When you meet the president, you ask yourself, 'How did it ever occur to anybody that he should be governor much less president?'

    Permalink to quote #56

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