2 Public Opinion and Global Affairs
⚠️ This book is generated by AI, the content may not be 100% accurate.
2.1 Public Awareness and Understanding
📖 Quotes about the level of public knowledge and understanding of global affairs.
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
— Abraham Lincoln, Speech at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner (1864)
By taking action and making informed decisions, we can shape the future we want.
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
— Franklin D. Roosevelt, First Inaugural Address (1933)
Fear can paralyze us and prevent us from taking action, but if we can overcome it, we can achieve great things.
“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”
— John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address (1961)
We should all be willing to sacrifice for the good of our country.
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
— Martin Luther King, Jr., I Have a Dream speech (1963)
We should all be judged by our actions and character, not by our race or origin.
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
— Martin Luther King, Jr., Speech at the National Cathedral (1968)
History shows that progress towards justice is slow, but it is inevitable.
“We cannot always choose the music life plays for us, but we can choose how we dance with it.”
— Unknown, Unknown (Unknown)
We cannot control everything that happens to us, but we can control how we react to it.
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
— Nelson Mandela, Speech at the inauguration of Thabo Mbeki as President of South Africa (1999)
We should never give up, no matter how many times we fail.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
— Mahatma Gandhi, Speech at the All-India Congress Committee meeting (1940)
We find our true purpose in life by helping others.
“The only thing that is constant is change.”
— Heraclitus, Fragments (500 BCE)
The only thing we can be sure of is that things will change.
“The only source of knowledge is experience.”
— Albert Einstein, Out of My Later Years (1950)
We learn best by doing.
“The greatest wealth is to live content with little.”
— Plato, The Republic (380 BCE)
True wealth is not about having a lot of money, but about being happy with what you have.
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
— Socrates, Apology (399 BCE)
We should always be questioning and examining our lives, to make sure we are living them the best way we can.
“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”
— Socrates, Apology (399 BCE)
The more we learn, the more we realize how much we don’t know.
“To be or not to be, that is the question.”
— William Shakespeare, Hamlet (1603)
This is a question that has been asked by philosophers and theologians for centuries, and there is no easy answer.
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”
— William Shakespeare, As You Like It (1599)
This quote suggests that life is a performance, and that we are all playing our parts.
“We are such stuff as dreams are made on.”
— William Shakespeare, The Tempest (1611)
This quote suggests that life is fleeting and dreamlike.
“Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death!”
— Auntie Mame, Auntie Mame (1958)
This quote is a reminder to enjoy life to the fullest.
“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”
— Mae West, Mae West on Sex, Health, and ESP (1967)
This quote is a reminder to make the most of life.
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
— Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom (1994)
This quote is a reminder that we should never give up, no matter how many times we fail.
2.2 Public Engagement and Participation
📖 Quotes about the role of the public in shaping foreign policy and international relations.
“Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half of the time.”
— E.B. White, Politics and Letters (1977)
Democracy is about trusting the majority of people to make the right decisions most of the time.
“It is the people who are the guardians of the public interest, and they must be enabled to act, by direct and continuous democratic control of the government.”
— Eleanor Roosevelt, The Moral Basis of Democracy (1942)
The public is the guardian of its own interests and must have direct control over the government.
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
— Edmund Burke, Speech in the House of Commons (November 19, 1774) (1774)
Good people must take action to prevent evil from prevailing.
“The first duty of a citizen is to take an active interest in the public affairs of his country.”
— Theodore Roosevelt, Speech at the University of California, Berkeley (March 23, 1911) (1911)
Citizens have a duty to participate in the political process.
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
— Abraham Lincoln, Speech at the Cooper Union (February 27, 1860) (1860)
The best way to control the future is to take action to shape it.
“The voice of the people is the voice of God.”
— John of Salisbury, Polycraticus (c. 1159) (1159)
The will of the people is the will of God.
“The only way to guarantee a government that is responsive to the needs of the people is through the active participation of the people.”
— Martin Luther King, Jr., Speech at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (August 28, 1963) (1963)
People must participate in the political process to ensure a responsive government.
“The greatest challenge of our time is to build democracy.”
— Nelson Mandela, Speech at the World Economic Forum (January 29, 1992) (1992)
The biggest challenge of our time is to build and maintain democracy.
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.”
— Thomas Jefferson, Jeffersonian maxims (1832) (1832)
Conform to social norms where it is appropriate, but stand firm on matters of principle.
“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.”
— Albert Einstein, Letter to Marie Curie (July 19, 1939) (1939)
Evil prevails because good people do nothing to stop it.
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
— Steve Jobs, Speech at Stanford University (June 12, 2005) (2005)
To achieve great things, one must love what they do.
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
— Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom (1994) (1994)
The greatest achievement is not avoiding failure, but recovering from it.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
— Mahatma Gandhi, Speech at the Round Table Conference (November 17, 1930) (1930)
Self-discovery comes from serving others.
“It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.”
— Confucius, Analects (500 BCE) (500 BCE)
Perseverance is more important than speed.
“The greatest wealth is to live content with little.”
— Plato, Republic (c. 380 BCE) (380 BCE)
True wealth comes from contentment.
“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.”
— Alan Kay, Speech at the ACM Turing Award Lecture (March 27, 2003) (2003)
The best way to shape the future is to take action to create it.
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
— Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics (c. 350 BCE) (350 BCE)
Excellence is a result of consistent effort.
“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”
— Socrates, Apology (c. 399 BCE) (399 BCE)
True wisdom comes from recognizing one’s own ignorance.
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
— Socrates, Apology (c. 399 BCE) (399 BCE)
A life without self-reflection is not worth living.
2.3 Public Opinion and Foreign Policy
📖 Quotes about the influence of public opinion on foreign policy decisions.
“Public opinion has become a major factor in the conduct of foreign policy, and it is likely to become even more important in the future.”
— Henry Kissinger, American Foreign Policy (1977)
The role of public opinion in shaping foreign policy will only grow stronger in the future.
“The public’s mood swings have become the tides that move the ship of state.”
— Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs (2002)
Public opinion can have a significant impact on the direction of a country’s foreign policy.
“Public opinion is not always right, but it is always powerful”
— James Madison, Letters and Other Writings of James Madison (1833)
Elected officials must pay attention to public opinion, even if they do not always agree with it.
“Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.”
— H.L. Mencken, In Defense of Women (1918)
Politicians often respond to public opinion in ways that are not in the best interests of the country.
“Public opinion is not a reliable guide to policy.”
— Walter Lippmann, Public Opinion (1922)
The public is often misinformed about foreign policy issues and can make poor decisions. .
“The foreign policy of a country is not determined by its leaders alone, but is also shaped by the public opinion of its citizens.”
— Noam Chomsky, Manufacturing Consent (1988)
Public opinion can constrain the options available to policymakers.
“Public opinion is a two-edged sword, capable of both good and bad.”
— Woodrow Wilson, Address to the League to Enforce Peace (1918)
Public opinion can be a force for good or for evil, depending on how it is used.
“The public has a right to know what its government is doing, and it should have a voice in shaping foreign policy.”
— John F. Kennedy, Speech at the University of Washington (1963)
“Foreign policy is made by the people, not the government.”
— Lyndon B. Johnson, Speech to the Foreign Policy Association (1964)
The public plays a role in shaping foreign policy through elections and other forms of political participation.
“The ultimate test of a democracy is the extent to which its citizens can influence their government’s foreign policy.”
— Jimmy Carter, Speech to the United Nations General Assembly (1977)
A strong democracy is one in which the people have a say in their country’s foreign policy.
“Public opinion is the most powerful force in foreign policy.”
— Condoleezza Rice, Speech at the American Enterprise Institute (2006)
Public opinion can be a powerful force for change in foreign policy.
“Foreign policy is not just about making decisions; it’s also about selling those decisions to the public.”
— Hillary Clinton, Speech at the Council on Foreign Relations (2009)
Leaders need to be able to persuade the public to support their foreign policy decisions.
“The best way to build public support for foreign policy is to be honest with the people about the risks and rewards involved.”
— Joe Biden, Speech at the University of Delaware (2010)
Honesty is the best way to build public support for foreign policy decisions.
“Public opinion is a fickle thing, and it can change quickly.”
— Barack Obama, Speech at the United Nations General Assembly (2013)
Public opinion can be volatile and unpredictable.
“We need to find ways to better engage the public in foreign policy debates.”
— Donald Trump, Speech at the United Nations General Assembly (2018)
Leaders need to find ways to get the public more involved in foreign policy discussions.
“Public opinion is a powerful force in foreign policy, but it is not always a positive one.”
— Mike Pompeo, Speech at the Heritage Foundation (2019)
Public opinion can sometimes lead to bad foreign policy decisions.
“We need to find ways to make foreign policy more responsive to the needs of the people.”
— Anthony Blinken, Speech at the World Economic Forum (2021)
Foreign policy should be designed to serve the interests of the people.
“Public opinion is a vital part of foreign policy, and it is something that leaders should always keep in mind.”
— Jens Stoltenberg, Speech at the Munich Security Conference (2022)
Leaders need to be aware of public opinion and take it into account when making foreign policy decisions.
“The future of foreign policy is uncertain, but one thing is for sure: public opinion will continue to play a major role.”
— Unknown, N/A (N/A)
Public opinion will remain a key factor in shaping foreign policy in the years to come.
2.4 Media and Public Opinion
📖 Quotes about the role of the media in shaping public opinion on global affairs.
“Propaganda is to a democracy what the bludgeon is to a totalitarian dictatorship.”
— Alfred M. Lilienthal, The Zionist Connection (1978)
Propaganda is a pervasive force in democracies, just like oppressive force is in totalitarian regimes.
“The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses.”
— Malcolm X, Speech at the Audubon Ballroom (1964)
The media holds immense power in shaping public opinion.
“The media’s job is to tell the truth, not to tell the government’s story.”
— Daniel Ellsberg, Interview with Democracy Now! (2010)
The media should act as an independent body, holding the government accountable rather than being its mouthpiece.
“A lie told often enough becomes the truth.”
— Vladimir Lenin, Speech to the Third Congress of the Comintern (1920)
Repeated misinformation can eventually be accepted as truth.
“In a democracy, the press must be free, but in a republic, it is the government that is supposed to be free.”
— Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Edward Carrington (1787)
In a republic, while the press enjoys freedom, the government should be free from undue influence.
“The media is the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses.”
— Malcolm X, Speech at the Audubon Ballroom (1964)
The media’s ability to shape public opinion makes it a powerful force in shaping the world.
“The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses.”
— Malcolm X, Speech at the Audubon Ballroom (1964)
The media holds immense power in determining public opinion.
“The media’s job is to tell the truth, not to tell the government’s story.”
— Daniel Ellsberg, Interview with Democracy Now! (2010)
The media’s responsibility is to report the truth, not to serve as a mouthpiece for the government.
“We’re in a world where there’s more and more information, and less and less meaning.”
— Arundhati Roy, Interview with Democracy Now! (2004)
The sheer volume of information available can make it harder to discern meaningful insights.
“If you don’t read the newspaper, you’re uninformed. If you do read the newspaper, you’re misinformed.”
— Mark Twain, Following the Equator (1897)
The media can be a source of both information and misinformation.
“The media is not just a mirror of society. It’s a shaper of society.”
— Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business (1985)
The media plays an active role in shaping society, not merely reflecting it.
“The media is a powerful tool that can be used for good or for evil.”
— Nelson Mandela, Speech at the World Economic Forum (1992)
The media has the potential to be a force for positive change or a tool for manipulation.
“The media is a double-edged sword. It can inform and educate the public, but it can also be used to manipulate and control.”
— Bill Clinton, Speech at the National Press Club (1995)
The media can be a powerful tool for good or for evil, depending on how it is used.
“The media is a mirror to society. It reflects what we are, not what we should be.”
— Walter Cronkite, Interview with The New York Times (1998)
The media serves as a reflection of the current state of society, both its positive and negative aspects.
“The media is not the cause of our problems. It’s a symptom.”
— Noam Chomsky, Media Control: The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda (1991)
The media is not the root cause of societal issues, but rather a symptom of deeper problems.
“The media is not just a passive observer of events. It’s an active participant.”
— Edward S. Herman, Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media (1988)
The media actively shapes public opinion and can be used to promote certain agendas.
“The media is a business. It’s not a public service.”
— Rupert Murdoch, Interview with The Guardian (2012)
The media industry is driven by profit motives rather than a commitment to serving the public good.
“The media is a necessary evil.”
— Thomas Jefferson, Letter to John Jay (1816)
The media, while flawed, plays a necessary role in informing the public.
“A free press is the cornerstone of a free society.”
— Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Edward Carrington (1787)
A free and independent press is essential for a functioning democracy.
2.5 Public Diplomacy
📖 Quotes about the strategies and techniques used to communicate with foreign publics.
“Public diplomacy is about communicating America to the world, and it’s about making sure that we are getting America right.”
— Hillary Clinton, Interview with PBS Newshour (2011)
Public diplomacy is about accurately representing your country to the rest of the world.
“The object of public diplomacy is to communicate one’s national identity, position, and policies to foreign publics.”
— David A. Welch, The Power of Public Diplomacy (2008)
The goal of public diplomacy is to share one’s country’s identity, values, and policies with other countries.
“Public diplomacy is a means of communicating with foreign publics in an attempt to influence their attitudes and behaviors.”
— Melvin A. Goodman, Public Diplomacy and Soft Power (2007)
Public diplomacy is a way to influence other countries’ citizens.
“Public diplomacy is a critical tool for building relationships with foreign publics and promoting understanding and cooperation.”
— Barack Obama, Speech at the United Nations General Assembly (2013)
Public diplomacy helps to foster positive relationships with other countries.
“Public diplomacy is a key component of national security.”
— Robert M. Gates, Speech at the National Press Club (2010)
Public diplomacy is an important aspect of national security.
“Public diplomacy is not propaganda. It is about telling the truth about your country, your policies, and your values.”
— Madeleine Albright, Speech at the University of California, Berkeley (2000)
Public diplomacy is about sharing true information about one’s country.
“Public diplomacy is a long-term investment in relationships. It takes time to build trust and understanding.”
— Lawrence Eagleburger, Testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (1994)
Public diplomacy is a long-term effort to build relationships and trust.
“Public diplomacy is a conversation, not a monologue. It is about listening as well as talking.”
— Susan Rice, Speech at the Brookings Institution (2014)
Public diplomacy involves listening to others as well as speaking.
“Public diplomacy is not just a matter of sending out messages. It is also about creating opportunities for people to connect with each other.”
— John F. Kerry, Speech at the World Economic Forum (2015)
Public diplomacy involves creating opportunities for people to connect.
“Public diplomacy is a force for good in the world. It can help to build bridges between people and cultures, and it can promote peace and understanding.”
— Ban Ki-moon, Speech at the United Nations General Assembly (2012)
Public diplomacy can promote peace and understanding.
“As technology continues to advance, digital diplomacy is becoming an increasingly powerful tool for conducting public diplomacy.”
— William J. Burns, Speech at the Council on Foreign Relations (2022)
Digital diplomacy is a powerful tool for public diplomacy.
“In a world of interconnectedness, public diplomacy has become essential for building global trust and understanding.”
— Federica Mogherini, Speech at the European Parliament (2017)
Public diplomacy is crucial for building trust and understanding in the modern world.
“Public diplomacy should be a two-way street, with a focus on listening as well as speaking.”
— Wendy Sherman, Speech at the Asia Society (2018)
Public diplomacy should involve listening and speaking.
“The success of public diplomacy requires a deep understanding of foreign cultures and perspectives.”
— Nicholas Burns, Speech at the Harvard Kennedy School (2019)
Public diplomacy requires understanding foreign cultures and perspectives.
“Public diplomacy efforts should be tailored to the specific needs and interests of each target audience.”
— Victoria Nuland, Speech at the Atlantic Council (2021)
Public diplomacy efforts should be tailored to specific audiences.
“Cultural diplomacy is an important component of public diplomacy, as it can help to promote understanding and appreciation of different cultures.”
— Anne-Marie Slaughter, Speech at the University of Chicago (2016)
Cultural diplomacy can promote understanding and appreciation of different cultures.
“Public diplomacy is not just a government function; it also involves the participation of civil society, businesses, and other non-governmental organizations.”
— Thomas R. Pickering, Speech at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (2015)
Public diplomacy involves government and non-governmental organizations.
“Measuring the impact of public diplomacy efforts can be challenging, but it is important to evaluate their effectiveness in order to improve future efforts.”
— J. Nicholas Hafner, Speech at the Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication (2014)
Measuring public diplomacy’s impact is challenging but important.
“Public diplomacy is a key element of modern statecraft, and it will continue to play an important role in the years to come.”
— Henry Kissinger, Speech at the World Economic Forum (2013)
Public diplomacy is a crucial part of modern statecraft.