Don't ask me any more questions about Mahathir. I couldn't care less frankly whether he comes to Seattle or not next year. APEC is bigger than all of us - Australia, the United States, Malaysia, Mahathir - or any other recalcitrants.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Keating dismisses personal grievances regarding Mahathir to emphasize the larger importance of the APEC forum.
- In plain terms
- He does not care if Mahathir attends because the organization matters more than any individual.
- What can you take from it?
- Prioritize institutional goals over personal conflicts.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When should personal feelings be set aside for a cause?
- How do you define what is bigger than us?
Another view
Dismissing individuals entirely can overlook their actual influence on outcomes.
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