America rests on shared values rather than shared ethnicity.
Interpretation
America is built on common beliefs and principles rather than a unified ethnic background.
This quote emphasizes the foundational idea of the United States as a nation characterized by diverse backgrounds united by core values such as freedom, democracy, and equality. Joseph Nye suggests that the strength of America lies in its ability to bring together individuals from various ethnicities, under a shared commitment to these ideals, rather than being defined solely by their ethnic identities.
In practice
In a speech about national identity, one might use this quote to highlight the importance of shared values in building a cohesive society.
Leadership experts and the public alike extol the virtues of transformational leaders - those who set out bold objectives and take risks to change the world. We tend to downplay 'transactional' leaders, whose goals are more modest, as mere managers.
We live in a world of diverse cultures, and we know very little about social engineering and how to 'build nations.' And when we cannot be sure how to improve the world, hubristic visions pose a grave danger.
Terrorism is like jujitsu: The small players win if they make the large player use his strength against himself.
As we think of power in the 21st century, we want to get away from the idea that powerβs always zero sum β my gain is your loss and vice versa. Power can also be positive sum, where your gain can be my gain.
So long as they (the Proles) continued to work and breed, their other activities were without importance. Left to themselves, like cattle turned loose upon the plains of Argentina, they had reverted to a style of life that appeared to be natural to them, a sort of ancestral pattern...Heavy physical work, the care of home and children, petty quarrels with neighbors, films, football, beer and above all, gambling filled up the horizon of their minds. To keep them in control was not difficult.
All truth is simple... is that not doubly a lie?
Being tolerant does not mean that I share another one's belief. But it does mean that I acknowledge another one's right to believe, and obey, his own conscience.
Take a pitcher full of water and set it down in the water-now it has water inside and water outside. We mustn't give it a name, lest silly people start talking again about the body and the soul.
In living in the world by his own will and skill, the stupidest peasant or tribesman is more competent than the most intelligent worker or technician or intellectual in a society of specialists.
Look at those numbers running. Money makes time. It used to be the other way around. Clock time accelerated the rise of capitalism. People stopped thinking about eternity. They began to concentrate on hours, measurable hours,man-hours, using labor more efficiently.
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