Wherever you have weakening states and turmoil, you will have a fertile petri dish for terrorism.
Robert D. KaplanRead
The first thing to recognize not just about Afghanistan but about any poor undeveloped country is that as big as it looks on the map, it's much bigger when you're there.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the often-overlooked complexities and vastness of a country's experience compared to its representation on a map.
Robert D. Kaplan's quote reflects on the depth and richness of experiences and realities that exist within a country, particularly those that are impoverished or underdeveloped. While a map may depict Afghanistan or any other country in simple, two-dimensional terms, the lived experiences, cultural intricacies, and myriad challenges present a far more expansive and profound reality that cannot be fully grasped without direct engagement and understanding.
Themes
AfghanistanCountriesMapRealityExperienceUnderdeveloped
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on global politics, this quote can illustrate the importance of on-the-ground understanding.
More from Robert D. Kaplan
All quotes βWhat does the earth look like in the places where people commit atrocities? Is there a bad smell, a genius loci, something about the landscape that might incriminate?
Robert D. KaplanRead
Similar quotes
EXPLORING the world is one of the best ways of exploring the mind, and walking travels both terrains.
Rebecca SolnitRead
If the Savior has not sanctified you, renewed you, given you a hatred of sin and a love of holiness, He has nothing in you of a saving character.
Charles SpurgeonRead
For the merchant, even honesty is a financial speculation.
Charles BaudelaireRead
People consider the harms they inflict to be justified and forgettable, and the harms they suffer to be unprovoked and grievous.
Steven PinkerRead
...majority Patriotism is the customary Patriotism.
Mark TwainRead
We are not as Christ-centered and cross-cherishing as we should be, because we do not ponder the truth that everything good, and everything bad that God turns for the good, was purchased by the sufferings of Christ.
John PiperRead