Should the United States Act with Humility in International Affairs?

Although humility is seen primarily as a virtue in human interactions, some would argue that it is not a good characteristic for American foreign policy makers; that is, as the U.S. is the most powerful nation in the world, its leaders need to display a certain amount of boldness or arrogance to deal successfully with the threats to our national security. But while the U.S. is indeed powerful, it is not omnipotent, and there are limits to what even this great power can accomplish. Therefore U.S. presidents should not shy away from employing the human qualities of humility and caution in their approach to dealing with the world’s problems. Indeed, exercising humility in the short run can bring about more security in the long run.

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This article was originally published in In Character.