--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What makes America exceptional are the…" description: "\"What makes America exceptional are the bonds that hold together the most diverse nation on earth.\" — Barack Obama" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e1/barack-obama-17_america_what-makes-america-exceptional-are-the-b_1721004.jpg" --- # What makes America exceptional are the bonds that hold… ![“What makes America exceptional are the bonds that hold together the most diverse nation on earth.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e1/barack-obama-17_america_what-makes-america-exceptional-are-the-b_1721004.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e1/barack-obama-17_america_what-makes-america-exceptional-are-the-b_1721004.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e1/barack-obama-17_america_what-makes-america-exceptional-are-the-b_1721004.jpg) > “What makes America exceptional are the bonds that hold together the most diverse nation on earth.” [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. America's strength comes from its diversity and shared values that bind the nation. **In simple terms:** Diverse people united by common bonds. Key Takeaway Foster inclusive community. Themes diversity unity nation values Mood inspirational hopeful Type political motivational When to use this quote - policy making - education - community building Key Concepts political science social cohesion civic duty Questions to Reflect On - What bonds can strengthen national unity? - How can we address divisions while celebrating diversity? A Different Perspective Diversity can also create tension and conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) ## Related quotes > [We ask for nothing more than the chance to blaze our own trail, and yet each of us is only here because somebody, somewhere,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-ask-for-nothing-more-than-the-chance-to-blaze-our-own-trail-and/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Our higher education system is one of the things that makes America exceptional. There's no place else that has the assets we do when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/our-higher-education-system-is-one-of-the-things-that-makes-america/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What makes us exceptional, what makes us America is our allegiance to an idea articulated in a declaration made more than two centuries ago.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-makes-us-exceptional-what-makes-us-america-is-our-allegiance-to-2/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Affirming belief that America is an exceptional nation has become a test of patriotism in American politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/affirming-belief-that-america-is-an-exceptional-nation-has-become-a/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [Washington's Corruption and Mendacity Is What Makes America 'Exceptional'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/washington-s-corruption-and-mendacity-is-what-makes-america/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [My opponent misses something important. 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And we do it, when we take on any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/america-still-is-an-exceptional-country-we-love-to-lead-and-we-love/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [“What makes us exceptional, what makes us America is our allegiance to an idea articulated in a declaration made more than two centuries ago.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-makes-us-exceptional-what-makes-us-america-is-our-allegiance-to/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We live in a diverse nation, but it isn't that diverse. 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Whatever the racial composition of that class would be, the notion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-liu/imagine-filling-a-college-with-the-first-1-000-students-to-get/) [Eric Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-liu/) > [We, as Americans, do our level best to avoid being cruel to one another; we're led out of a diverse nation to come together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-takano/we-as-americans-do-our-level-best-to-avoid-being-cruel-to-one-another/) [Mark Takano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-takano/) > [In a politically diverse nation, only by finding that common ground can we achieve results for the common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-snowe/in-a-politically-diverse-nation-only-by-finding-that-common-ground/) [Olympia Snowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-snowe/) > [America's exceptional nature confers upon us responsibilities. We are not exceptional because we say so; we are exceptional because, over and over, we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-whitehouse/america-s-exceptional-nature-confers-upon-us-responsibilities-we-are/) [Sheldon Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-whitehouse/) ## 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 America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [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/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [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/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [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/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. 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