--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never thought I'd run for president. My…" description: "\"I never thought I'd run for president. My parents were immigrants to this country - and leader of the free world was not on the list of careers present..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc0/andrew-yang-3669_country_i-never-thought-i-d-run-for-president-my_2555191.jpg" --- # I never thought I'd run for president. My parents were… ![“I never thought I'd run for president. My parents were immigrants to this country - and leader of the free world was not on the list of careers presented to me as a skinny Asian kid growing up in upstate New York.” quote by Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc0/andrew-yang-3669_country_i-never-thought-i-d-run-for-president-my_2555191.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc0/andrew-yang-3669_country_i-never-thought-i-d-run-for-president-my_2555191.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc0/andrew-yang-3669_country_i-never-thought-i-d-run-for-president-my_2555191.jpg) > “I never thought I'd run for president. My parents were immigrants to this country - and leader of the free world was not on the list of careers presented to me as a skinny Asian kid growing up in upstate New York.” [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Immigrant backgrounds can shape unexpected leadership paths, breaking stereotypical expectations. **In simple terms:** Immigrants can become leaders. Key Takeaway Embrace diverse role models. Themes immigration leadership representation Mood hopeful empowering Type inspirational political When to use this quote - school mentorship programs - media representation - policy advocacy Key Concepts social mobility identity politics Questions to Reflect On - How does your background influence your ambitions? - What stories inspire you to defy expectations? A Different Perspective Stereotypes may persist despite examples. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Free world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-world/) [Immigrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrants/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Parents feel like immigrants in the country of the young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/parents-feel-like-immigrants-in-the-country-of-the-young/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [I come from immigrant grandparents. The country would not be what it is if it wasn't for the immigrants in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santelli/i-come-from-immigrant-grandparents-the-country-would-not-be-what-it/) [Rick Santelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santelli/) > [They say there are something like 12 million illegal immigrants in the country right now, with another half a million coming every year. Remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/they-say-there-are-something-like-12-million-illegal-immigrants-in/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [This is a nation of immigrants. We welcome people coming to this country as immigrants. My dad was born in Mexico of American parents;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/this-is-a-nation-of-immigrants-we-welcome-people-coming-to-this/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [My parents are immigrants to this country. They came to this country for a better opportunity just like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amine/my-parents-are-immigrants-to-this-country-they-came-to-this-country/) [Amine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amine/) > [Who is anyone to say who doesn't deserve to come to this country? I'm a mutt, we're all mutts. Immigrants from whatever country are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-bixler-zavala/who-is-anyone-to-say-who-doesn-t-deserve-to-come-to-this-country-i-m/) [Cedric Bixler-Zavala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedric-bixler-zavala/) > [It was this society and culture that among other things - including economic opportunities here and repression in Europe - attracted subsequent generations of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-p-huntington/it-was-this-society-and-culture-that-among-other-things-including/) [Samuel P. Huntington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-p-huntington/) > [They say there are about 12 million illegal immigrants in this country. But if you ask a Native American, that number is more like 300 million.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/they-say-there-are-about-12-million-illegal-immigrants-in-this/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [President Obama is doing the right thing by offering young immigrants, most often in this country through no action of their own, a chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-spitzer/president-obama-is-doing-the-right-thing-by-offering-young-immigrants/) [Eliot Spitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-spitzer/) > [It is a commonplace of American life that immigrants have made our country great and continue to make a very important contribution to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/it-is-a-commonplace-of-american-life-that-immigrants-have-made-our/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [There are 12 million illegal immigrants in this country - drawing welfare benefits, sending their children to public schools, and pushing down wages for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-graves/there-are-12-million-illegal-immigrants-in-this-country-drawing/) [Sam Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-graves/) > [We should celebrate immigrants and everything they do for our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-johnson/we-should-celebrate-immigrants-and-everything-they-do-for-our-country/) [Boris Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-johnson/) > [People who live in North Korea, they die for food, but living in the free world, the cat even eats expensive sushi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/people-who-live-in-north-korea-they-die-for-food-but-living-in-the/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) > [Deficits. Most people of knowledge say it's the biggest single problem facing the economic free world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hartman/deficits-most-people-of-knowledge-say-it-s-the-biggest-single-problem/) David Hartman > [When choosing the president of the United States and the leader of the free world, your desire to have a beer with a candidate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/when-choosing-the-president-of-the-united-states-and-the-leader-of/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) ## More by Andrew Yang > [When I graduated from Brown, I had a very limited conception of jobs, careers, and what I wanted to do. Basically, I figured I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/when-i-graduated-from-brown-i-had-a-very-limited-conception-of-jobs/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [The vast majority of companies don't go public and mint dozens of millionaires. And most companies don't go around doling out stock options; private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/the-vast-majority-of-companies-don-t-go-public-and-mint-dozens-of/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [I have started or run several companies and spent time with dozens of entrepreneurs over the years. Virtually none of them, in my experience,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/i-have-started-or-run-several-companies-and-spent-time-with-dozens-of/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [A company can set off in one direction, figures out that it's not the right way to go, and then go in an entirely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/a-company-can-set-off-in-one-direction-figures-out-that-it-s-not-the/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [I've always believed that talking about something is not the same as doing something about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/i-ve-always-believed-that-talking-about-something-is-not-the-same-as/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [Unfortunately, hardworking, academically gifted young people are kind of lazy when it comes to determining direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/unfortunately-hardworking-academically-gifted-young-people-are-kind/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [Silicon Valley is like Wall Street in that it will fill and pursue market opportunities to their logical extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/silicon-valley-is-like-wall-street-in-that-it-will-fill-and-pursue/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [If you can't pay your bills, it has a really tough effect on your mental state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/if-you-can-t-pay-your-bills-it-has-a-really-tough-effect-on-your/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [Starting a business is similar to an athletic endeavor, like serving a tennis ball. Telling you how to do it is useless. You actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/starting-a-business-is-similar-to-an-athletic-endeavor-like-serving-a/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [I'm a capitalist, and I believe that universal basic income is necessary for capitalism to continue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/i-m-a-capitalist-and-i-believe-that-universal-basic-income-is/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [Technology companies tend to operate in winner-take-all spaces and thus adopt a very high-commitment culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/technology-companies-tend-to-operate-in-winner-take-all-spaces-and/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [After a couple of years in a professional setting, you'll get used to dressing presentably, preparing for meetings, speaking appropriately, showing up on time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/after-a-couple-of-years-in-a-professional-setting-you-ll-get-used-to/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [I try not to bring my phone to the gym - it's too tempting to play with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/i-try-not-to-bring-my-phone-to-the-gym-it-s-too-tempting-to-play-with/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [Back in 2001, my first start-up was mentioned in the 'New York Times' and 'USA Today.' I figured that would drive thousands of visitors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/back-in-2001-my-first-start-up-was-mentioned-in-the-new-york-times/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [Building a successful business requires a combination of human capital, financial resources, market opportunity, persistence, community support, and even luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/building-a-successful-business-requires-a-combination-of-human/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) [Explore all 125 Andrew Yang quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) ## More Country quotes > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [For the Scottish government, the practice of having meetings in different parts of the country is well established, but for the U.K. government, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/for-the-scottish-government-the-practice-of-having-meetings-in/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [There's no reason someone who has fought for their country should be homeless of jobless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/there-s-no-reason-someone-who-has-fought-for-their-country-should-be/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [It's very nice to be a rebel saying, 'I stand on my principles,' but if in fact that's not going to have any impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-grieve/it-s-very-nice-to-be-a-rebel-saying-i-stand-on-my-principles-but-if/) [Dominic Grieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-grieve/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [That's what this country is. It's made up of immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bria-vinaite/that-s-what-this-country-is-it-s-made-up-of-immigrants/) [Bria Vinaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bria-vinaite/) > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > ['Lovecraft Country' is reclaiming all these pulp genres for people of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/lovecraft-country-is-reclaiming-all-these-pulp-genres-for-people-of/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [No judge can stop us from praying for our country and I pray that on May 6, millions of Americans will join me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/no-judge-can-stop-us-from-praying-for-our-country-and-i-pray-that-on/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) [Browse all 29,881 Country quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never thought I'd run for president. 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