Sanctions always hurt the poor, the weak, the children.

Meaning of the quote

Sanctions are actions taken by a government or group to punish another country or group. Brian May, an English musician, says that these sanctions always end up hurting the people who are already struggling the most - the poor, the weak, and the children. They don't really punish the powerful people they're meant to punish, but instead, they make life harder for the most vulnerable members of society.

About Brian May

Sir Brian May is an English musician, songwriter, record producer, animal rights activist, and astrophysicist. He is best known as the lead guitarist and backing vocalist of the legendary rock band Queen, which he co-founded with Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor. Brian May’s guitar work and songwriting contributions were crucial in making Queen one of the most successful bands in music history.

More about the author

More quotes from Brian May

There’s nothing I’m embarrassed about.

Brian May

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I don’t surf the net in general. I have someone do it for me instead, because I find it sluggish.

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I don’t think anybody comes close to The Beatles, including Oasis.

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I despise the Lottery. There’s less chance of you becoming a millionaire than there is of getting hit on the head by a passing asteroid.

Brian May

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Sanctions always hurt the poor, the weak, the children.

Brian May

British musician (born 1947)

I just want to be able to play as fast as my brain goes, and my brain doesn’t go all that fast.

Brian May

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From the beginning of Queen there was such momentum that I never had any time to do anything else. My energy was 95% focused on the band.

Brian May

British musician (born 1947)

Every time I listen to Jeff Beck my whole view of guitar changes radically. He’s way, way out, doing things you never expect.

Brian May

British musician (born 1947)

I’m pretty basic as far as technique is concerned. I don’t use many gadgets, and I like the sound my guitar makes, anyway.

Brian May

British musician (born 1947)

I like to go for a walk or swimming or in the garden when I can. It’s a busy kind of life, but I guess I’m lucky.

Brian May

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The Wedding March has a bit of a death march in it.

Brian May

British musician (born 1947)

We do play to our audience. It’s very important. You can’t create music in a vacuum.

Brian May

British musician (born 1947)

For a time I didn’t want to answer any questions about Queen. I’d like to be viewed as something alive and relevant, not some fossil.

Brian May

British musician (born 1947)

I never took sheet music seriously. I could do better myself just by listening to other people and using my own intuition.

Brian May

British musician (born 1947)

The biggest emotion in creation is the bridge to optimism.

Brian May

British musician (born 1947)

I spent 20 years of my life building up Queen, and now I’m spending years of my life trying to get away from it.

Brian May

British musician (born 1947)

There are times when I flick through magazines and think I’m in danger of becoming a prisoner of my own hair.

Brian May

British musician (born 1947)

There are a lot of things in Queen albums that you don’t expect; that’s why we threw them in.

Brian May

British musician (born 1947)

Mantovani was a great influence on me.

Brian May

British musician (born 1947)

I really thought I was pretty good before I saw Hendrix, and then I thought: Yeah, not so good.

Brian May

British musician (born 1947)

Everybody thought I was a bit of an eccentric for wanting to be out there looking at the stars, but I still do.

Brian May

British musician (born 1947)

Each gig should be unique. You’re always treading that line between keeping yourself fresh and giving people something they want to hear.

Brian May

British musician (born 1947)

The first nine albums there was never a Synthesiser, never any Orchestra. There was never any other player except us on the albums.

Brian May

British musician (born 1947)

The guitar was my weapon, my shield to hide behind.

Brian May

British musician (born 1947)

The guitar has a kind of grit and excitement possessed by nothing else.

Brian May

British musician (born 1947)

A good video can make all the difference.

Brian May

British musician (born 1947)

At the moment the Queen stuff does sell really well, but there’s no guarantee it’ll go on forever.

Brian May

British musician (born 1947)

Einstein got most of the things right about black holes. I’m not an expert, I must admit.

Brian May

British musician (born 1947)

Astronomy’s much more fun when you’re not an astronomer.

Brian May

British musician (born 1947)

I was actually perfectly happy when I had no money, which lasted right up until we had a hit with Killer Queen, in 1974. I never wanted for anything.

Brian May

British musician (born 1947)

I had this big thing about guitar harmonies. I wanted to be the first to put proper three-part harmonies onto a record. That was an achievement.

Brian May

British musician (born 1947)

There is no way that you can ever really repeat something. I have this great belief that the magic of the moment can never be recaptured.

Brian May

British musician (born 1947)