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About this quote

What does it mean?
Foreign policy outcomes take a long time to evaluate, often requiring decades to see results.
In plain terms
It takes twenty five years to judge foreign policy.
What can you take from it?
Judge policies by long term results.

Where it applies

  • international relations
  • political analysis
  • historical review

Putting it to work

  • wait for evidence
  • assess long term

Questions to consider

  • How do we judge today's decisions?
  • Is patience a virtue?

Another view

Some results may never become clear within a human lifespan.

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