Quote by Conor Cruise O'Brien
The United Nations cannot do anything, and never could; it is not an animate entity or agent. It is a place, a stage, a forum and a shrine... a place to which powerful people can repair when they are fearful about the course on which their own rhetoric seems to be propelling them.
Summary
This quote suggests that the United Nations is merely a symbol, lacking true agency or effectiveness. It is seen as a platform where influential individuals can turn to when they feel concerned about the possible consequences of their own actions or words. The quote implies that the UN gives these individuals a sense of refuge or a chance to rectify their perceived missteps. Overall, the quote implies a skepticism about the UN's capacity to enact real change and portrays it more as a symbolic entity.
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