More than anything else, the UN reflects the ability of the major powers (above all, the US, China, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom, the five permanent, veto-wielding members of the Security Council) to agree – and to back up their agreements with resources. When they are willing and able to do so, the UN can make a difference; when they are not, the UN can act in only the most limited way, if at all, regardless of what the Secretary General wants.
联合国更多地是反映了主要的大国（最主要的是安理会里五个可以行使否决权的常任理事国，美国、中国、俄罗斯、法国和英国）同意以及运用他们的资源支持他们的协议的能力。当他们想要这么做，并且能够这么做的时候，联合国可以带来一些变化；当他们无法这样做的时候，联合国只能以最最有限的方式来行动（如果有的话），而不管秘书长想要怎样的行动。