"We have tried to make it clear that the United States is not just an old cow that gives more milk the more it is kicked in the flanks"

This quote by Dean Rusk is a metaphor for the United States' foreign policy. He is saying that the United States is not a passive entity that will merely accept any mistreatment or aggressiveness from other nations. Instead, the United States will respond to any mistreatment or hostility with strength and willpower. This quote is a pointer that the United States is an effective nation that will not be benefited from. It is a warning to other nations that the United States will not be pushed around and will stand up for itself. This quote is a reminder that the United States is a strong and independent country that will not be bullied or daunted.