--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is what America is about when it…" description: "\"This is what America is about when it comes to understanding that it is equal opportunity versus equal achievement. Each and every one of us has the op..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ba/allen-west-5219_achievement_this-is-what-america-is-about-when-it-co_714577.jpg" --- # This is what America is about when it comes to… ![“This is what America is about when it comes to understanding that it is equal opportunity versus equal achievement. Each and every one of us has the opportunity for greatness in this country.” quote by Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ba/allen-west-5219_achievement_this-is-what-america-is-about-when-it-co_714577.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ba/allen-west-5219_achievement_this-is-what-america-is-about-when-it-co_714577.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ba/allen-west-5219_achievement_this-is-what-america-is-about-when-it-co_714577.jpg) > “This is what America is about when it comes to understanding that it is equal opportunity versus equal achievement. Each and every one of us has the opportunity for greatness in this country.” [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote contrasts equal opportunity with equal achievement, asserting that America offers the chance for greatness to all, though outcomes differ. **In simple terms:** America offers chance, not guaranteed success. Key Takeaway Recognize opportunity, work toward achievement. Themes equality opportunity achievement America individualism Mood optimistic patriotic Type political motivational When to use this quote - career advancement - education - entrepreneurship - public service - personal development Key Concepts Meritocracy social mobility American Dream Questions to Reflect On - How do you turn opportunity into achievement? - What obstacles prevent equal outcomes? A Different Perspective Opportunity alone does not ensure success; systemic barriers exist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Equal opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal-opportunity/) [Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [There is one other error in the Gondsman's line of resoning, I believe, on ap urely emotional level. 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Opportunitty should be equal, must be equal, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/beware-the-engineers-of-society-i-say-who-would-make-everyone-in-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Freedom is not an achievement but an opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagat-puran-singh/freedom-is-not-an-achievement-but-an-opportunity/) Bhagat Puran Singh > [Achievement is what when opportunity is given wings of preparation ,efforts & action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/achievement-is-what-when-opportunity-is-given-wings-of-preparation/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [If I've learned nothing else, it's that time and practice equal achievement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-agassi/if-i-ve-learned-nothing-else-it-s-that-time-and-practice-equal/) [Andre Agassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-agassi/) > [While our country has made great strides in breaking down the barriers which for so long denied equal opportunity to all Americans, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-schiff/while-our-country-has-made-great-strides-in-breaking-down-the/) [Adam Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-schiff/) > [Nowadays with the internet, it's an equal opportunity brutal playing field. I mean, everyone is brutal to everybody half the time. People can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lea-thompson/nowadays-with-the-internet-it-s-an-equal-opportunity-brutal-playing/) [Lea Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lea-thompson/) > [I think that we value fairness in this country. We value equal opportunity. Without a stable home, those ideals really fall apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-desmond/i-think-that-we-value-fairness-in-this-country-we-value-equal/) [Matthew Desmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-desmond/) > [There's a lot of lies out there that we should catch and that have taken me a lot of time to sort of see,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karla-souza/there-s-a-lot-of-lies-out-there-that-we-should-catch-and-that-have/) [Karla Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karla-souza/) > [In a patriarchal society like ours, women have to fight hard for a seat at the table. Boys are privileged over girls from birth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shabana-azmi/in-a-patriarchal-society-like-ours-women-have-to-fight-hard-for-a/) [Shabana Azmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shabana-azmi/) > [Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to homeso close and so small that they cannot be seen on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/where-after-all-do-universal-human-rights-begin-in-small-places-close/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Provided that societies stay mindful of the challenges that capitalism creates and never forget the paramount importance of inclusion and equal opportunity, we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/provided-that-societies-stay-mindful-of-the-challenges-that/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [When you look at what I've done here, you see a consistent theme of reforms which is not driven by any dogma from across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hain/when-you-look-at-what-i-ve-done-here-you-see-a-consistent-theme-of/) [Peter Hain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hain/) ## More by Allen West > [There's a dishonest tyranny in the liberal/progressive/socialist agenda that comes down and says 'we are here because we care about you; we want what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/there-s-a-dishonest-tyranny-in-the-liberal-progressive-socialist/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [Liberals worry that what's best for the individual might not be better for the public at large. But that philosophy assumes something vicious about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/liberals-worry-that-what-s-best-for-the-individual-might-not-be/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [The great thing that I appreciate - the fact that my godfather, William 'Sticky' Jackson, was a Tuskegee Airman because my father was first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/the-great-thing-that-i-appreciate-the-fact-that-my-godfather-william/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [We are in a new Civil War, and just like the last, it is a struggle for the sanctity of the Union - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/we-are-in-a-new-civil-war-and-just-like-the-last-it-is-a-struggle-for/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [I taught high school for one year in Deerfield Beach, Fla., and in the end, it was such an enjoyable experience breaking up fights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/i-taught-high-school-for-one-year-in-deerfield-beach-fla-and-in-the/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [I do not believe having a baby is punishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/i-do-not-believe-having-a-baby-is-punishment/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [The republic I fell in love with, the republic I risked my life to defend, the values I hold dear, the integrity that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/the-republic-i-fell-in-love-with-the-republic-i-risked-my-life-to/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [It is the liberal philosophy, not the conservative one, that views humans as selfish automatons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/it-is-the-liberal-philosophy-not-the-conservative-one-that-views/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [Quite simply, federal laws already on the books aimed at stopping the flow of illegal immigration must be enforced. Furthermore, states must be given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/quite-simply-federal-laws-already-on-the-books-aimed-at-stopping-the/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [I think that Governor Romney needs to talk about the fact that what he tried to do in the state of Massachusetts was him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/i-think-that-governor-romney-needs-to-talk-about-the-fact-that-what/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [For far too long we've allowed the other side to paint us as racist, as sexist, inhumane war mongers - well, today as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/for-far-too-long-we-ve-allowed-the-other-side-to-paint-us-as-racist/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [I am willing to work with anyone that wants to do what is best for this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/i-am-willing-to-work-with-anyone-that-wants-to-do-what-is-best-for/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [While there are towns and cities still planning Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some think the day is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/while-there-are-towns-and-cities-still-planning-memorial-day-parades/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [You had 42 blacks that ran on the Republican ticket this Cycle, 14 made of them made it to the general election and two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/you-had-42-blacks-that-ran-on-the-republican-ticket-this-cycle-14/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [I'm not going to sit at home and eat popcorn,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/i-m-not-going-to-sit-at-home-and-eat-popcorn/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) [Explore all 102 Allen West quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) ## More Achievement quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. 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Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [It's tragic what America has become because there is a great segment of society that now resents luxury and success and achievement by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/it-s-tragic-what-america-has-become-because-there-is-a-great-segment/) [Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/) Chaz Brenchley > [The main substantive achievement of neoliberalism has been to redistribute rather than to generate wealth and income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harvey/the-main-substantive-achievement-of-neoliberalism-has-been-to/) [David Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harvey/) > [Every profession has an ideology and a drive for power that goes far beyond its achievements and it is the task of democracy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feyerabend/every-profession-has-an-ideology-and-a-drive-for-power-that-goes-far/) [Paul Feyerabend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feyerabend/) > [We have Internet now and people are not stupid. But it seems that some people are trying to push the same agenda of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bassem-youssef/we-have-internet-now-and-people-are-not-stupid-but-it-seems-that-some/) [Bassem Youssef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bassem-youssef/) > [“If you find a way where there seems to be no way, that’s what we call miracle, not personal achievement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/if-you-find-a-way-where-there-seems-to-be-no-way-that-s-what-we-call/) [Nkwachukwu Ogbuagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [Cease speaking of enemies when an achievement can kindle a great light. Solitude will transmit the message better than the murmurs of crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-roerich/cease-speaking-of-enemies-when-an-achievement-can-kindle-a-great/) Nicholas Roerich > [Every scene is a challenge. There are technical challenges, but often it's the simplest challenge where you feel a sense of achievement when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/every-scene-is-a-challenge-there-are-technical-challenges-but-often/) [Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/) [Browse all 3,867 Achievement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This is what America is about when it comes to understanding that it is equal opportunity versus equal achievement. 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