--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's the idea held by generations of…" description: "\"It's the idea held by generations of citizens who believed that America is a constant work in progress; who believed that loving this country requires ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/948/barack-obama-17_avoiding_it-s-the-idea-held-by-generations-of-cit_1558166.jpg" --- # It's the idea held by generations of citizens who believed… ![“It's the idea held by generations of citizens who believed that America is a constant work in progress; who believed that loving this country requires more than singing its praises or avoiding uncomfortable truths. It requires the occasional disruption, the willingness to speak out for what's…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/948/barack-obama-17_avoiding_it-s-the-idea-held-by-generations-of-cit_1558166.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/948/barack-obama-17_avoiding_it-s-the-idea-held-by-generations-of-cit_1558166.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/948/barack-obama-17_avoiding_it-s-the-idea-held-by-generations-of-cit_1558166.jpg) > “It's the idea held by generations of citizens who believed that America is a constant work in progress; who believed that loving this country requires more than singing its praises or avoiding uncomfortable truths. It requires the occasional disruption, the willingness to speak out for what's right, and shake up the status quo.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## 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 emphasizes that America’s progress requires active engagement, honest critique, and willingness to challenge the status quo, not just passive patriotism. **In simple terms:** America needs active, honest participation to improve. Key Takeaway Engage critically and act to improve your country. Themes civic duty progress critical thinking Mood hopeful determined serious Type political inspirational When to use this quote - voting - community organizing - public debate - education reform Key Concepts democratic engagement social responsibility political activism Questions to Reflect On - How can you contribute to constructive disruption? - What barriers prevent honest dialogue in your community? A Different Perspective Idealism may underestimate practical constraints and diverse viewpoints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Disruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disruption/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Status quo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/status-quo/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Uncomfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncomfortable/) [Willingness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willingness/) [Work in progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-in-progress/) ## Related quotes > [New York was an idea, I thought, an idea held simultaneously by thirteen million people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pickard/new-york-was-an-idea-i-thought-an-idea-held-simultaneously-by/) [Nancy Pickard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pickard/) > [Any idea that is held in the mind, that is emphasized, that is either feared or revered, will begin at once to cloth itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/any-idea-that-is-held-in-the-mind-that-is-emphasized-that-is-either/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [Any idea that is held in the mind that is either feared or revered will, begin at once to clothe itself in the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/any-idea-that-is-held-in-the-mind-that-is-either-feared-or-revered/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [To be black and conscious in America is to be in a constant state of rage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-baldwin/to-be-black-and-conscious-in-america-is-to-be-in-a-constant-state-of/) [James A. Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-baldwin/) > [Finally, this being America, there is the constant possibility of murder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/finally-this-being-america-there-is-the-constant-possibility-of-murder/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“That's religion in America, under constant revision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sharlet/that-s-religion-in-america-under-constant-revision/) [Jeff Sharlet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sharlet/) > [We view Egypt as a good friend of America. We are in constant touch with them. We provide them economic and military assistance as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-view-egypt-as-a-good-friend-of-america-we-are-in-constant-touch/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [The traveling that 'Catfish' affords us and the cross-section of America that we see on a constant basis, I would have never gotten that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-joseph/the-traveling-that-catfish-affords-us-and-the-cross-section-of/) [Max Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-joseph/) > [“They believed that if America followed the ways of God, it would become the most blessed, the most prosperous, and the most powerful civilization…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-cahn/they-believed-that-if-america-followed-the-ways-of-god-it-would/) [Jonathan Cahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-cahn/) > [It occurred to me that my family had achieved the American Dream, from being poor to starting a business to giving me and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/it-occurred-to-me-that-my-family-had-achieved-the-american-dream-from/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [My parents taught me that, unlike the many barriers that they had had to face growing up, my path was clearer, so that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/my-parents-taught-me-that-unlike-the-many-barriers-that-they-had-had/) [Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/) > [Jack looked out the window as they passed the Mormon temple, just outside the beltway near Connecticut Avenue. A decidedly odd-looking building, it had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/jack-looked-out-the-window-as-they-passed-the-mormon-temple-just/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [When I went off to the army when I was 17 years old, I believed in America and the rights of freedom. But today…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-herer/when-i-went-off-to-the-army-when-i-was-17-years-old-i-believed-in/) [Jack Herer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-herer/) > [Throughout his life, Ronald Reagan believed America is capable of great things and its people could and would lead the way if left unburdened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/throughout-his-life-ronald-reagan-believed-america-is-capable-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It was a big deal to leave home and my culture and my language. But I believed that in America, I could truly reap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-peterffy/it-was-a-big-deal-to-leave-home-and-my-culture-and-my-language-but-i/) [Thomas Peterffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-peterffy/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More Avoiding quotes > [Because after you've crossed some lines, you just keep crossing them. And there's no escaping from constant escape. Distracting ourselves. Avoiding confrontation. Getting past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/because-after-you-ve-crossed-some-lines-you-just-keep-crossing-them/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [I've always been a very restless person. I work hard, spend too much time looking after my son, I dance like a mad thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-ve-always-been-a-very-restless-person-i-work-hard-spend-too-much/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“What I'm trying to say is that I spent the last four months learning to be alone, avoiding the world, hating pretty much anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-cremer/what-i-m-trying-to-say-is-that-i-spent-the-last-four-months-learning/) [Andrea Cremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-cremer/) > [ I can hardly believe what these 12 caricatures \[about Prophet Muhammad\] have caused in the world. We Danes feel like we have been placed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-fogh-rasmussen/i-can-hardly-believe-what-these-12-caricatures-about-prophet-muhammad/) [Anders Fogh Rasmussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-fogh-rasmussen/) > [I know a bit about taxation and the remarkable effort that goes in to avoiding it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/i-know-a-bit-about-taxation-and-the-remarkable-effort-that-goes-in-to/) [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) > [When you are in hard labor, remember that the length of labor is usually proportional to the number of people around. Avoid the presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-odent/when-you-are-in-hard-labor-remember-that-the-length-of-labor-is/) [Michel Odent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-odent/) > [I don't believe in happy endings. Children have got to face death sooner or later. Granny and Grandpa die, dogs die, cats die, gerbils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-briggs/i-don-t-believe-in-happy-endings-children-have-got-to-face-death/) Raymond Briggs > [Resisting and avoiding pain sucks energy-and time. The more you let yourself feel those minute-and-a-half hells, the quicker you'll start feeling those minute-and-a-half happinesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-newman/resisting-and-avoiding-pain-sucks-energy-and-time-the-more-you-let/) [Leigh Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-newman/) > [Reading is sometimes an ingenious device for avoiding thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/reading-is-sometimes-an-ingenious-device-for-avoiding-thought/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [A day can really slip by when you're deliberately avoiding what you're supposed to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/a-day-can-really-slip-by-when-you-re-deliberately-avoiding-what-you/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [When someone starts Ignoring you, just back off without staying there with them Just to know the reason for avoiding..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishak/when-someone-starts-ignoring-you-just-back-off-without-staying-there/) [Vishak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishak/) > [You know what takes effort? Being kind, being patient, being respectful, telling someone how you feel politely instead of just avoiding them for six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/you-know-what-takes-effort-being-kind-being-patient-being-respectful/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [It's all about being flexible, and avoiding choices whenever possible. Choices suck, they are inherently limiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-armstrong/it-s-all-about-being-flexible-and-avoiding-choices-whenever-possible/) Craig Armstrong > [In my personal life I'm very conservative. I've been married to the same person for nearly 50 years, I'm scrupulous about paying bills, avoiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-walken/in-my-personal-life-i-m-very-conservative-i-ve-been-married-to-the/) [Christopher Walken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-walken/) Browse all 713 Avoiding quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's the idea held by generations of citizens who believed that America is a constant work in progress; who believed that loving this country requires more than singing its praises or avoiding uncomfortable truths. 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