"The greatest nations have all acted like gangsters and the smallest like prostitutes"

This quote by Stanley Kubrick is a commentary on the power dynamics of the world. He is recommending that the best countries, those with the most power, have actually acted like gangsters, utilizing their power to bully and intimidate others. On the other hand, the smallest nations, those with the least power, have actually acted like prostitutes, offering themselves to the greatest bidder in order to survive. This quote is a tip that power is not constantly utilized for great, and that those with the most power typically use it to their own advantage. It is a pointer that we should be watchful in our efforts to guarantee that power is utilized responsibly and for the advantage of all.