--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can be sure that the American spirit…" description: "\"You can be sure that the American spirit will prevail over this tragedy.\" — Colin Powell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40c/colin-powell-691_american-spirit_you-can-be-sure-that-the-american-spirit_1081199.jpg" --- # You can be sure that the American spirit will prevail over… ![“You can be sure that the American spirit will prevail over this tragedy.” quote by Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40c/colin-powell-691_american-spirit_you-can-be-sure-that-the-american-spirit_1081199.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40c/colin-powell-691_american-spirit_you-can-be-sure-that-the-american-spirit_1081199.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40c/colin-powell-691_american-spirit_you-can-be-sure-that-the-american-spirit_1081199.jpg) > “You can be sure that the American spirit will prevail over this tragedy.” [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The American spirit is resilient and will overcome tragedy. **In simple terms:** America will endure hardships. Key Takeaway Believe in collective resilience. Themes resilience national identity optimism Mood hopeful determined Type inspirational political When to use this quote - community recovery - policy making - public morale - leadership Key Concepts civic pride historical cycles Questions to Reflect On - What actions support true recovery? - How can optimism be balanced with realism? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can ignore systemic issues needing reform. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-spirit/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Patriotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotic/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) [World trade center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-trade-center/) ## Related quotes > [Here at home, when Americans were standing in long lines to give blood after the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/here-at-home-when-americans-were-standing-in-long-lines-to-give-blood/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Unity without a conquering spirit yeilds  failure; only those who posses a conquering  spirit will prevail.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/unity-without-a-conquering-spirit-yeilds-failure-only-those-who/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“There was always something to be learned from any experience, no matter how horrendous. As long as a man kept sight of that, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/there-was-always-something-to-be-learned-from-any-experience-no/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [The human spirit must prevail over technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-human-spirit-must-prevail-over-technology/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm going to fight to make sure every American has every reason to thank God, as I thank Him: that I'm an American, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/i-m-going-to-fight-to-make-sure-every-american-has-every-reason-to/) [Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/) > [I feel quite sure that the American people, if they have knowledge and leadership, can meet any crisis just as well as they met…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/i-feel-quite-sure-that-the-american-people-if-they-have-knowledge-and/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [I feel quite sure that what the American people lack is knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/i-feel-quite-sure-that-what-the-american-people-lack-is-knowledge/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [I'm sure we, the American people, are the butt of jokes by those in power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-m-sure-we-the-american-people-are-the-butt-of-jokes-by-those-in/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [For sure, the American people have access to more information now than any other people who have ever lived on earth. And I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-schieffer/for-sure-the-american-people-have-access-to-more-information-now-than/) [Bob Schieffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-schieffer/) > [Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/over-the-years-the-united-states-has-sent-many-of-its-fine-young-men/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Together, let us make this a new beginning. Let us make a commitment to care for the needy, to teach our children the values…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/together-let-us-make-this-a-new-beginning-let-us-make-a-commitment-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [This country of ours has more wealth than any nation, but that's not what makes us rich. We have the most powerful military on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/this-country-of-ours-has-more-wealth-than-any-nation-but-that-s-not/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [When I hit around 65, 66, I started to feel tremendous worth and incredible personal esteem. I was becoming very cognisant of my contribution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lewis/when-i-hit-around-65-66-i-started-to-feel-tremendous-worth-and/) [Jerry Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lewis/) > [The American spirit wears no political label. In service to others and yes, in sacrifice for our country, there are no Republicans; there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-american-spirit-wears-no-political-label-in-service-to-others-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country” that they summoned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-caro/and-so-my-fellow-americans-ask-not-what-your-country-can-do-for-you/) [Robert A. Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-caro/) ## More by Colin Powell > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Effective leaders are made, not born. They learn from trial and error, and from experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/effective-leaders-are-made-not-born-they-learn-from-trial-and-error/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Decision-making is lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/decision-making-is-lonely/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [The purposes of the United States should not be doubted. The Security Council resolutions will be enforced - the just demands of peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-purposes-of-the-united-states-should-not-be-doubted-the-security/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [I always like to take my time and examine the two candidates, see not only the two candidates but the policies they will bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/i-always-like-to-take-my-time-and-examine-the-two-candidates-see-not/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [We can seldom get our children to do what we tell them, but they almost never fail to imitate us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-can-seldom-get-our-children-to-do-what-we-tell-them-but-they/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [With respect to where we are now, we have a voluntary army. And if we ever go back to conscription I hope that at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/with-respect-to-where-we-are-now-we-have-a-voluntary-army-and-if-we/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Politics is not bean bags. It's serious, tough stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/politics-is-not-bean-bags-it-s-serious-tough-stuff/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [There are no secrets to success: don't waste time looking for them, success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/there-are-no-secrets-to-success-don-t-waste-time-looking-for-them/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [So like any football or basketball coach, you always always believe you're going to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/so-like-any-football-or-basketball-coach-you-always-always-believe/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [We hope that more assistance will be available to the nations of the region, to include Egypt, on the three pillars that I discussed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-hope-that-more-assistance-will-be-available-to-the-nations-of-the/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [One of the most worrisome things that emerges from the thick intelligence file we have on Iraq's biological weapons is the existence of mobile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/one-of-the-most-worrisome-things-that-emerges-from-the-thick/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Pissing people off doesn't mean you're doing the right things, but doing the right things will almost inevitably piss people off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/pissing-people-off-doesn-t-mean-you-re-doing-the-right-things-but/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-less-you-associate-with-some-people-the-more-your-life-will/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Be careful what you choose: You may get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/be-careful-what-you-choose-you-may-get-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) [Explore all 408 Colin Powell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) ## More American spirit quotes > [“And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country” that they summoned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-caro/and-so-my-fellow-americans-ask-not-what-your-country-can-do-for-you/) [Robert A. Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-caro/) > [The American spirit wears no political label. In service to others and yes, in sacrifice for our country, there are no Republicans; there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-american-spirit-wears-no-political-label-in-service-to-others-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I hit around 65, 66, I started to feel tremendous worth and incredible personal esteem. I was becoming very cognisant of my contribution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lewis/when-i-hit-around-65-66-i-started-to-feel-tremendous-worth-and/) [Jerry Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lewis/) > [This country of ours has more wealth than any nation, but that's not what makes us rich. We have the most powerful military on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/this-country-of-ours-has-more-wealth-than-any-nation-but-that-s-not/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Together, let us make this a new beginning. Let us make a commitment to care for the needy, to teach our children the values…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/together-let-us-make-this-a-new-beginning-let-us-make-a-commitment-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [“The funeral was a vast, elaborate affair, befitting a monarch or head of state, in marked contrast to the essential simplicity of the man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/the-funeral-was-a-vast-elaborate-affair-befitting-a-monarch-or-head/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [Baseball is the exponent of American Courage, Confidence, Combativeness, American Dash, Discipline, Determination, American Energy, Eagerness, Enthusiasm, American Pluck, Persistency, Performance, American Spirit, Sagacity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-goodwill-spalding/baseball-is-the-exponent-of-american-courage-confidence-combativeness/) Albert Goodwill Spalding > [“When the American Spirit was in its youth, the language of America was different; Liberty, sir, was then the primary object.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/when-the-american-spirit-was-in-its-youth-the-language-of-america-was/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [For all the huffing and blowing we get about rugged individualism, the American spirit and the American experiment always have had at their heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-pierce/for-all-the-huffing-and-blowing-we-get-about-rugged-individualism-the/) [Charlie Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-pierce/) > [Grown men may learn from very little children, for the hearts of little children are pure, and, therefore, the Great Spirit may show to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/grown-men-may-learn-from-very-little-children-for-the-hearts-of/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [So long as mists envelop you, be still. Be still until the sunlight pours through and dispels the mists - as it surely will.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chief-white-eagle/so-long-as-mists-envelop-you-be-still-be-still-until-the-sunlight/) Chief White Eagle > [You know that American dream and American spirit of innovation we always talk about? Turns out, the bulk of it was built by people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/you-know-that-american-dream-and-american-spirit-of-innovation-we/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [The great thing is, Internet allows you to create your own job, not just look for jobs other people are going to give you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/the-great-thing-is-internet-allows-you-to-create-your-own-job-not/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [Help me always to speak the truth quietly, to listen with an open mind when others speak, and to remember the peace that may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-muller/help-me-always-to-speak-the-truth-quietly-to-listen-with-an-open-mind/) [Robert Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-muller/) > [I like motivational books, because I like the go-getting American spirit - your destiny is in your own hands, life is what you make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-mensch/i-like-motivational-books-because-i-like-the-go-getting-american/) [Louise Mensch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-mensch/) [Browse all 89 American spirit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-spirit/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can be sure that the American spirit will prevail over this tragedy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Colin Powell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/you-can-be-sure-that-the-american-spirit-will-prevail-over-this/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American spirit" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/you-can-be-sure-that-the-american-spirit-will-prevail-over-this/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40c/colin-powell-691_american-spirit_you-can-be-sure-that-the-american-spirit_1081199.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40c/colin-powell-691_american-spirit_you-can-be-sure-that-the-american-spirit_1081199.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40c/colin-powell-691_american-spirit_you-can-be-sure-that-the-american-spirit_1081199.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can be sure that the American spirit will prevail over this tragedy.” — Colin Powell", "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": "Colin Powell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can be sure that the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/you-can-be-sure-that-the-american-spirit-will-prevail-over-this/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/you-can-be-sure-that-the-american-spirit-will-prevail-over-this/#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 } } ] } ```