--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: America was not built on fear. America…" description: "\"“America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.\" -Harry S. Truman”\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/barbara-post-askin-61255_america_america-was-not-built-on-fear-america-wa_397629.jpg" --- # America was not built on fear. America was built on… ![“America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand." -Harry S. Truman” quote by Barbara Post-Askin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/barbara-post-askin-61255_america_america-was-not-built-on-fear-america-wa_397629.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/barbara-post-askin-61255_america_america-was-not-built-on-fear-america-wa_397629.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/barbara-post-askin-61255_america_america-was-not-built-on-fear-america-wa_397629.jpg) > ““America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand." -Harry S. Truman”” [Barbara Post-Askin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-post-askin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. America thrives on courage, imagination, and relentless determination rather than fear. **In simple terms:** Courage and imagination drive progress. Key Takeaway Embrace bold, imaginative action. Themes courage imagination determination national spirit Mood hopeful resolute Type historical inspirational When to use this quote - public policy - team projects - personal challenges Key Concepts history political philosophy leadership Questions to Reflect On - What fuels your determination? - How do you foster imagination in tough times? A Different Perspective Fear can still influence decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) ## Related quotes > [America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/america-was-not-built-on-fear-america-was-built-on-courage-on-2/) [Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/) > [Success is built upon courage, hard work and personal responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/success-is-built-upon-courage-hard-work-and-personal-responsibility/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It does not take a great deal of imagination or courage to believe that God is on your side when you are prospering or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-gomes/it-does-not-take-a-great-deal-of-imagination-or-courage-to-believe/) [Peter J. Gomes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-gomes/) > [Life can be wonderful if you're not afraid of it. All it takes is courage, imagination ... and a little dough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-chaplin/life-can-be-wonderful-if-you-re-not-afraid-of-it-all-it-takes-is/) [Charlie Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-chaplin/) > [Challenging the status quo takes commitment, courage, imagination, and, above all, dedication to learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-ganz/challenging-the-status-quo-takes-commitment-courage-imagination-and/) [Marshall Ganz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-ganz/) > [And then I realized that my sister was trying to LIVE a romance novel. Man, that takes courage and imagination. Well, it also took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/and-then-i-realized-that-my-sister-was-trying-to-live-a-romance-novel/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [Iran should not be denied the human right to knowledge...the fear of America is Iran's attitude to Israel, and the cornerstone of America's foreign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/iran-should-not-be-denied-the-human-right-to-knowledge-the-fear-of/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [We live in a country where we're supposed to have freedom of the press and religious freedom, but I think to some degree, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/we-live-in-a-country-where-we-re-supposed-to-have-freedom-of-the/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [Americans' great and secret fear is that America may turn out to be a phenomenon rather than a civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-hazzard/americans-great-and-secret-fear-is-that-america-may-turn-out-to-be-a/) [Shirley Hazzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-hazzard/) > [There were so few black men who were successful and who successfully conveyed black male fear - how America can make you feel crazy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/there-were-so-few-black-men-who-were-successful-and-who-successfully/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) > [The 'war on terror' has created a culture of fear in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-war-on-terror-has-created-a-culture-of-fear-in-america/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Believe it or not, the number one fear in America remains public speaking. And, in some ways, I think that is a real shame…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/believe-it-or-not-the-number-one-fear-in-america-remains-public/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [I know people who are embarrassed to be American. They don't like showing their passports. It's becoming a scary place. It takes someone very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-anderson/i-know-people-who-are-embarrassed-to-be-american-they-don-t-like/) [Gillian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-anderson/) > [I fear for America, and I fear for our children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-bryant/i-fear-for-america-and-i-fear-for-our-children/) [Anita Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-bryant/) > [I greatly fear some of America's greatest and most dangerous enemies are such as think themselves her best friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-hale/i-greatly-fear-some-of-america-s-greatest-and-most-dangerous-enemies/) [Nathan Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-hale/) ## More by Barbara Post-Askin > [“Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music. Ronald Reagan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-post-askin/life-is-one-grand-sweet-song-so-start-the-music-ronald-reagan/) [Barbara Post-Askin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-post-askin/) > [“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile." -Albert Einstein”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-post-askin/only-a-life-lived-for-others-is-a-life-worthwhile-albert-einstein/) [Barbara Post-Askin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-post-askin/) > [“We need our people and families to unite….to question with boldness without wavering and stand tall. After all, isn’t that what our Founding Fathers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-post-askin/we-need-our-people-and-families-to-unite-to-question-with-boldness/) [Barbara Post-Askin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-post-askin/) > [“Live life to the fullest, love deeply and laugh a lot. Be proud of what you see in the mirror and you will have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-post-askin/live-life-to-the-fullest-love-deeply-and-laugh-a-lot-be-proud-of-what/) [Barbara Post-Askin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-post-askin/) [Explore all 5 Barbara Post-Askin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-post-askin/) ## 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. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.\" -Harry S. Truman”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barbara Post-Askin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-post-askin/america-was-not-built-on-fear-america-was-built-on-courage-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-post-askin/america-was-not-built-on-fear-america-was-built-on-courage-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/barbara-post-askin-61255_america_america-was-not-built-on-fear-america-wa_397629.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/barbara-post-askin-61255_america_america-was-not-built-on-fear-america-wa_397629.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/barbara-post-askin-61255_america_america-was-not-built-on-fear-america-wa_397629.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination…” — Barbara Post-Askin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Barbara Post-Askin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-post-askin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“America was not built on fear....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-post-askin/america-was-not-built-on-fear-america-was-built-on-courage-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-post-askin/america-was-not-built-on-fear-america-was-built-on-courage-on/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```