--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know, as Secretary of State, I've…" description: "\"You know, as Secretary of State, I've been privileged to represent this great country, and I know its strengths, and I know its challenges. One of its ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fb/condoleezza-rice-807_belief_you-know-as-secretary-of-state-i-ve-been_2933974.jpg" --- # You know, as Secretary of State, I've been privileged to… ![“You know, as Secretary of State, I've been privileged to represent this great country, and I know its strengths, and I know its challenges. One of its strengths is the belief - here and abroad - that this is a place where you get ahead on merit. It doesn't matter where you came from; it matters…” quote by Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fb/condoleezza-rice-807_belief_you-know-as-secretary-of-state-i-ve-been_2933974.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fb/condoleezza-rice-807_belief_you-know-as-secretary-of-state-i-ve-been_2933974.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fb/condoleezza-rice-807_belief_you-know-as-secretary-of-state-i-ve-been_2933974.jpg) > “You know, as Secretary of State, I've been privileged to represent this great country, and I know its strengths, and I know its challenges. One of its strengths is the belief - here and abroad - that this is a place where you get ahead on merit. It doesn't matter where you came from; it matters where you're going.” [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. Meritocracy thrives when opportunity is based on ability, not origin, emphasizing forward movement. **In simple terms:** Success depends on effort, not background. Key Takeaway Focus on progress. Themes merit opportunity progress leadership Mood thoughtful optimistic Type political motivational When to use this quote - career advancement - education policy - immigration debates - personal growth Key Concepts political science social mobility Questions to Reflect On - How can societies ensure equal opportunity? - What defines merit in your field? A Different Perspective Systemic barriers can limit true meritocracy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ahead Merit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ahead-merit-4339732/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Great country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-country/) [Merit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merit/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Privileged Represent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privileged-represent-4339731/) [Secretary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secretary/) [Secretary State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secretary-state/) [Strengths Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strengths-know-1396645/) ## Related quotes > [As secretary of state it's been an enormous honor to represent this great country that I love so much - I have really seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/as-secretary-of-state-it-s-been-an-enormous-honor-to-represent-this/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I never much cared for politics. I love policy, and I love international policy in particular. I got to be Secretary of State; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-never-much-cared-for-politics-i-love-policy-and-i-love/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I think my father thought I might be president of the United States. I think he would've been satisfied with secretary of state. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-think-my-father-thought-i-might-be-president-of-the-united-states-i/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I'm sorry. If you're working as secretary of state, you do not have time to be spending half of your volume of emails on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/i-m-sorry-if-you-re-working-as-secretary-of-state-you-do-not-have/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [Susan Rice has withdrawn her name from the running to be the next secretary of state. The thing is, she was never nominated. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/susan-rice-has-withdrawn-her-name-from-the-running-to-be-the-next/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ I've said this before and I'm very proud of it, that when it comes to judgment, having run a hard race against Senator \[Barack\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-ve-said-this-before-and-i-m-very-proud-of-it-that-when-it-comes-to/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [ I think the hardest part \[is\] the priorities. There are an awful lot of things to do \[being Secretary of State\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/i-think-the-hardest-part-is-the-priorities-there-are-an-awful-lot-of/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [I loved being Secretary of State, that's probably evident to everyone who watched me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/i-loved-being-secretary-of-state-that-s-probably-evident-to-everyone/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [I do not go lightly. If I could have anything right now, it would be the ability to continue as secretary of state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-shelley/i-do-not-go-lightly-if-i-could-have-anything-right-now-it-would-be/) [Kevin Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-shelley/) > [I would not have imagined being asked to be Secretary of State, it was a great honor to serve with President Obama in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-would-not-have-imagined-being-asked-to-be-secretary-of-state-it-was/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I was the Secretary of State of New Jersey in November 2000. I paid careful attention to the challenges that stemmed from inadequate voting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deforest-soaries/i-was-the-secretary-of-state-of-new-jersey-in-november-2000-i-paid/) [DeForest Soaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deforest-soaries/) > [I thought Colin Powell did a fine job as secretary of state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-thought-colin-powell-did-a-fine-job-as-secretary-of-state/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Everything I did as secretary of state was in furtherance of America's interests and our values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/everything-i-did-as-secretary-of-state-was-in-furtherance-of-america/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [As secretary of state you can go out in a helmet if you want to. Even in Switzerland in front of reporters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/as-secretary-of-state-you-can-go-out-in-a-helmet-if-you-want-to-even/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [The State Department is infested with communists. I have here in my hand a list of 205—a list of names that were made known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-mccarthy/the-state-department-is-infested-with-communists-i-have-here-in-my/) [Joseph McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-mccarthy/) ## 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 Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You know, as Secretary of State, I've been privileged to represent this great country, and I know its strengths, and I know its challenges. One of its strengths is the belief - here and abroad - that this is a place where you get ahead on merit. 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