Fourteen Points: Community Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Intro, Line Number) (Point Number, Line Number) (Conclusion, Line Number)

Quote #1

It is that the world be made fit and safe to live in; and particularly that it be made safe for every peace-loving nation which, like our own, wishes to live its own life, determine its own institutions, be assured of justice and fair dealing by the other peoples of the world as against force and selfish aggression. (Intro.6)

This is maybe the first instance in which an American spoke about the concept of being a global cop. A cop's job is to protect a community, and America saw its job as to protect the world. (They totally made a movie about this with puppets.)

Quote #2

The programme of the world's peace, therefore, is our programme. (Intro.8)

Wilson addressed the Fourteen Points to everyone—Americans, Europeans, and even enemies of the Allies. His continuous use of words like "our" and "we" reinforces the community concept.

Quote #3

The treatment accorded Russia by her sister nations in the months to come will be the acid test of their good will, of their comprehension of her needs as distinguished from their own interests, and of their intelligent and unselfish sympathy. (VI.2)

The acid test didn't go so well. Despite Wilson's brotherly promise to Russia, the western world became distrustful of the nation after they went socialist.