"As soon as one nation claims the right to take preventive action, other countries will naturally do the same. If we go down that road, where are we going?"

This quote by Jacques Chirac is an alerting about the potential effects of one nation taking preventive action. He is suggesting that if one nation takes such action, other nations will do the same, causing a circumstance where it is uncertain where the world is heading. He is warning versus the concept of one country taking such action, as it might lead to a chaotic and unforeseeable scenario. He is likewise suggesting that such action might lead to a scenario where the world is no longer in control of its own destiny. This quote is a tip that any action taken by one nation can have far-reaching consequences, and must be thought about thoroughly before being executed.