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About this quote

What does it mean?
A government that declares it will act alone becomes an enemy to everyone, undermining security.
In plain terms
Acting alone makes a government hostile.
What can you take from it?
Foster cooperation rather than unilateral action.

Where it applies

  • diplomacy
  • national policy

Putting it to work

  • multilateral agreements
  • joint exercises

Questions to consider

  • When is unilateral action justified?
  • How can trust be rebuilt after isolation?

Another view

Sometimes swift unilateral action is required in emergencies.

More from Wendell Berry

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  3. Much of the obscurity of our effort so far against terrorism originates in the now official idea that the enemy is evil and that we are (therefore) good, which…

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