"We would not have our country's vigour exhausted or her moral force abated, by everlasting meddling and muddling in every quarrel, great and small, which afflicts the world"

This quote by Henry Cabot Lodge talks to the value of exercising restraint in international events. He is advising against the dangers of obtaining too associated with the disagreements of other countries, as this can cause a depletion of resources and also a weakening of ethical authority. He is suggesting that it is better to focus on the concerns that are crucial to the nation, instead of obtaining bogged down in every dispute that arises. He is likewise stressing the need to be sensible in the use of sources, as getting as well involved in foreign conflicts can cause a drainpipe on the nation's resources. By exercising restraint and concentrating on the most vital problems, a country can maintain its vigour and also ethical force.