They criticize me for harping on the obvious; if all the folks in the United States would do the few simple things they know they ought to do, most of our big problems would take care of themselves.
Calvin CoolidgeRead
Whether one traces his Americanism back three centuries to the Mayflower, or three years to the steerage, is not half so important as whether his Americanism of today is real and genuine. No matter by what various crafts we came here, we are all now in the same boat.
Interpretation
What this quote means
American identity is defined by present actions and beliefs rather than the history of one's arrival.
Calvin Coolidge emphasizes that what truly matters about American identity is not the origins of one's family or the length of time they have been in the country, but rather the authenticity and sincerity of their Americanism in the present. The quote suggests unity among individuals regardless of their diverse backgrounds, indicating that shared values and experiences create a stronger sense of community.
Themes
AmericanismIdentityUnityDiversityTogetherness
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech on immigration reform, one might use this quote to highlight the importance of valuing contributions over heritage.
More from Calvin Coolidge
All quotes →It is difficult for men in high office to avoid the malady of self-delusion. They are always surrounded by worshipers. They are constantly, and for the most part sincerely, assured of their greatness.
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America's present need is not heroics, but healing; not nostrums, but normalcy; not revolution, but restoration; not agitation, but adjustment; not surgery, but serenity; not the dramatic, but the dispassionate; not experiment, but equipoise; not submergence in internationality, but sustainment in triumphant nationality.
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No method of procedure has ever been devised by which liberty could be divorced from local self-government. No plan of centralization has ever been adopted which did not result in bureaucracy, tyranny, inflexibility, reaction, and decline.
Calvin CoolidgeRead
The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country.
Calvin CoolidgeRead
Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.
Calvin CoolidgeRead
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