--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think America is still a bright…" description: "\"I think America is still a bright, shining city on the hill - not because we're perfect but because we struggle in our imperfections every day.\" — Cond..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/condoleezza-rice-807_america_i-think-america-is-still-a-bright-shinin_844481.jpg" --- # I think America is still a bright, shining city on the… ![“I think America is still a bright, shining city on the hill - not because we're perfect but because we struggle in our imperfections every day.” quote by Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/condoleezza-rice-807_america_i-think-america-is-still-a-bright-shinin_844481.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/condoleezza-rice-807_america_i-think-america-is-still-a-bright-shinin_844481.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/condoleezza-rice-807_america_i-think-america-is-still-a-bright-shinin_844481.jpg) > “I think America is still a bright, shining city on the hill - not because we're perfect but because we struggle in our imperfections every day.” [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) ## 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 lies in its ongoing struggle with imperfections, not in flawless perfection. **In simple terms:** America shines through its struggles. Key Takeaway Embrace imperfection as a catalyst for improvement. Themes politics hope resilience Mood optimistic determined Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - public policy - civic engagement - social reform Key Concepts national identity continuous improvement Questions to Reflect On - How do imperfections drive innovation? - What can we learn from national challenges? A Different Perspective Idealizing perfection can blind progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Hills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hills/) [Imperfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imperfection/) [Shining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shining/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [We're all imperfect, and life is simply a perpetual, unending struggle against those imperfections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/we-re-all-imperfect-and-life-is-simply-a-perpetual-unending-struggle/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-know-that-for-america-there-will-always-be-a-bright-dawn-ahead/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [You don't need to be a star to be a bright and shining one to that friend in need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jett/you-don-t-need-to-be-a-star-to-be-a-bright-and-shining-one-to-that/) [Brian Jett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jett/) > [That luminous part of you that exists beyond personality - your soul, if you will - is as bright and shining as any that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/that-luminous-part-of-you-that-exists-beyond-personality-your-soul-if/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [“light bright shining”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-tallmountain/light-bright-shining/) Mary Tallmountain > [“The last thing he wanted was to see the bright, shining, happy faces of the other angels up there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-crofoot/the-last-thing-he-wanted-was-to-see-the-bright-shining-happy-faces-of/) [Joel Crofoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-crofoot/) > [Rainbows are people whose lives are bright, shining examples for others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/rainbows-are-people-whose-lives-are-bright-shining-examples-for-others/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [You've always been free. You've always been bright and shining. Everything else is just nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-adams/you-ve-always-been-free-you-ve-always-been-bright-and-shining/) [Robert Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-adams/) > [I think America was a miracle. I think God loves this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/i-think-america-was-a-miracle-i-think-god-loves-this-country/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [The challenges facing our country today, I think, have even more even to do with America's place in the world, with a struggling economy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-challenges-facing-our-country-today-i-think-have-even-more-even/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [I think America has more than enough maturity and intelligence to start exercising its world leadership responsibly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-america-has-more-than-enough-maturity-and-intelligence-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think that America could not become America until it dealt with the disenfranchisement of women and African Americans in the last century. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/i-think-that-america-could-not-become-america-until-it-dealt-with-the/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [I think America is strong enough to fix the problems, grace and honor to D.C. I think energy independence and control spending. We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zinke/i-think-america-is-strong-enough-to-fix-the-problems-grace-and-honor/) [Ryan Zinke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zinke/) > [But in terms of what men and women can do, I believe and I think that America as a whole believes that women can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-pavlich/but-in-terms-of-what-men-and-women-can-do-i-believe-and-i-think-that/) [Katie Pavlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-pavlich/) > [“I think that in America there are certain kinds of problems and in Russia there are certain kinds of problems, but basically, when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/i-think-that-in-america-there-are-certain-kinds-of-problems-and-in/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) ## More by Condoleezza Rice > [The Iranian people have a proud past. They merit a great future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/the-iranian-people-have-a-proud-past-they-merit-a-great-future/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [It has been hard to muster the resources to support fledgling democracies and to intervene on behalf of the most desperate. The AIDS orphans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/it-has-been-hard-to-muster-the-resources-to-support-fledgling/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [We can't live true to our set of values unless American educational system is strong. I really believe that if we don't get that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/we-can-t-live-true-to-our-set-of-values-unless-american-educational/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I remember at the time of 9/11 that there were women who went out of their way to escort Muslim women to grocery stores…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-remember-at-the-time-of-9-11-that-there-were-women-who-went-out-of/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [The first step for a leader is to be right with yourself. Integrity is the basis of leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/the-first-step-for-a-leader-is-to-be-right-with-yourself-integrity-is/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [A lot is being done to bring additional protective measures, particularly the critical infrastructure locations around the United States, ... There is a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/a-lot-is-being-done-to-bring-additional-protective-measures/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [You cannot be on one hand dedicated to peace and on the other dedicated to violence. Those two things are irreconcilable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/you-cannot-be-on-one-hand-dedicated-to-peace-and-on-the-other/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I'm not personally fearful, but I look out, and there are a number of things that concern me, and I'm hopeful that we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-m-not-personally-fearful-but-i-look-out-and-there-are-a-number-of/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [ \[I'm\] very fortunate and blessed person who still has a lot of living to do. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-m-very-fortunate-and-blessed-person-who-still-has-a-lot-of-living/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [Football is like war. It's about taking territory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/football-is-like-war-it-s-about-taking-territory/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I think there are plenty of men out there who are capable and accomplished in their own realm. You don't have to be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-think-there-are-plenty-of-men-out-there-who-are-capable-and/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I've always said as a political scientist that "culture" is what we use when we can't explain things. I think it's more about accessibility.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-ve-always-said-as-a-political-scientist-that-culture-is-what-we-use/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I believed Afghanistan was always going to be hard. It's the fifth poorest country in the world. And when you fly over it, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-believed-afghanistan-was-always-going-to-be-hard-it-s-the-fifth/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I'm very glad my mother didn't let me quit piano lessons at age 10. She said I wasn't old enough or good enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-m-very-glad-my-mother-didn-t-let-me-quit-piano-lessons-at-age-10/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [The idea the president of the United States was warned that Al-Qaeda was going to attack the United States and did nothing about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/the-idea-the-president-of-the-united-states-was-warned-that-al-qaeda/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) [Explore all 365 Condoleezza Rice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) ## 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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