--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What makes America great is that we can…" description: "\"What makes America great is that we can come together during times of national tragedy.\" — Dennis Hastert" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/244/dennis-hastert-17805_america_what-makes-america-great-is-that-we-can_1868074.jpg" --- # What makes America great is that we can come together… ![“What makes America great is that we can come together during times of national tragedy.” quote by Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/244/dennis-hastert-17805_america_what-makes-america-great-is-that-we-can_1868074.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/244/dennis-hastert-17805_america_what-makes-america-great-is-that-we-can_1868074.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/244/dennis-hastert-17805_america_what-makes-america-great-is-that-we-can_1868074.jpg) > “What makes America great is that we can come together during times of national tragedy.” [Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. National tragedies unite people, revealing the strength of collective solidarity. **In simple terms:** Tragedies bring people together. Key Takeaway Foster unity during crises. Themes unity national identity tragedy Mood inspirational serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - disaster response - community building - public policy - media coverage Key Concepts solidarity collective action social cohesion political leadership Questions to Reflect On - How can lasting unity be built after a tragedy? - What role does leadership play in fostering togetherness? A Different Perspective Unity can be temporary. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-great/) [Makes America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes-america-597928/) [National](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national/) [National Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-tragedy-922451/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) ## Related quotes > [If 30 Australians drowned in Sydney Harbour, it would be a national tragedy. But when 30 or more refugees drown off the Australian coast,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/if-30-australians-drowned-in-sydney-harbour-it-would-be-a-national/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [A free press isn't the enemy of America; it's a big part of why makes America great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-karl/a-free-press-isn-t-the-enemy-of-america-it-s-a-big-part-of-why-makes/) [Jonathan Karl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-karl/) > [When you look at what makes America great, what makes America, you know, not great, our ups and our downs, Springfield represents all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-rose/when-you-look-at-what-makes-america-great-what-makes-america-you-know/) [Kevin Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-rose/) > [The gift I have to give to my fellow countrymen and people around the world, the facts are the Muslim community are our gift.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/the-gift-i-have-to-give-to-my-fellow-countrymen-and-people-around-the/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [For the son of immigrants to run for elected office, not even a generation after my parents got here, that's what makes America a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-gomez/for-the-son-of-immigrants-to-run-for-elected-office-not-even-a/) [Jimmy Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-gomez/) > [What makes America great is our commitment to our values of inclusivity and opportunity for all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/what-makes-america-great-is-our-commitment-to-our-values-of/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [“It is not in our forming battlements or bristling seacoasts, or our Army and Navy that makes America great - but rather our reliance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/it-is-not-in-our-forming-battlements-or-bristling-seacoasts-or-our/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [What makes America great was a government that was founded to be limited to doing one thing. I really believe the whole purpose of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/what-makes-america-great-was-a-government-that-was-founded-to-be/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [The very fact of seeking specialization is probably what makes America so great in these two hundred years. But also, the sensation that somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-leone/the-very-fact-of-seeking-specialization-is-probably-what-makes/) [Sergio Leone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-leone/) > [Let's not be too rough on our own ignorance, it's what makes America great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/let-s-not-be-too-rough-on-our-own-ignorance-it-s-what-makes-america/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [What makes America great is that we were founded on a Judeo-Christian nation. That's very important for us to understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/what-makes-america-great-is-that-we-were-founded-on-a-judeo-christian/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [“America belongs to all who live here and call her home; of every color and background; that is central to what makes America great.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-lewis/america-belongs-to-all-who-live-here-and-call-her-home-of-every-color/) [Leland Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-lewis/) > [What makes America great is peaceful protests and exercising your constitutional rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-dowd/what-makes-america-great-is-peaceful-protests-and-exercising-your/) [Matthew Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-dowd/) > [One of the tenets that makes America so great is that we value the opportunity to have a battle of ideas and to elect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blaha/one-of-the-tenets-that-makes-america-so-great-is-that-we-value-the/) [Robert Blaha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blaha/) > [What makes America great is that we're all so different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rippon/what-makes-america-great-is-that-we-re-all-so-different/) [Adam Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rippon/) ## More by Dennis Hastert > [The sport of wrestling is a tremendous builder of the values and characteristics which are needed to succeed in any walk of life. Much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/the-sport-of-wrestling-is-a-tremendous-builder-of-the-values-and/) [Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/) > [Our economy is robust and will remain strong as more Americans who want a job find one. Republican economic policies based on tax relief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/our-economy-is-robust-and-will-remain-strong-as-more-americans-who/) [Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/) > [It's estimated for every $1 billion we spend on road construction, nearly 48,000 jobs are created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/it-s-estimated-for-every-1-billion-we-spend-on-road-construction/) [Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/) > [Cagey trial lawyers have figured out there's a pretty good likelihood their case - no matter what its merit - will literally get its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/cagey-trial-lawyers-have-figured-out-there-s-a-pretty-good-likelihood/) [Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/) > [Our economy is creating jobs and giving businesses the conditions they need to invest and succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/our-economy-is-creating-jobs-and-giving-businesses-the-conditions/) [Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/) > [You know, when companies who have made a commitment and have legacy costs and all of a sudden want to walk away from that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/you-know-when-companies-who-have-made-a-commitment-and-have-legacy/) [Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/) > [You see, we all want the same things. We want to be able to take care of our families, provide for our children, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/you-see-we-all-want-the-same-things-we-want-to-be-able-to-take-care/) [Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/) > [It's a tough time my friends. We need to make sacrifices to ensure our troops have the tools they need in order to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/it-s-a-tough-time-my-friends-we-need-to-make-sacrifices-to-ensure-our/) [Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/) > [It is only in Washington where many still have a lingering animosity for the political parties. My friends, we need to get over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/it-is-only-in-washington-where-many-still-have-a-lingering-animosity/) [Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/) > [Unfortunately, opponents of online speech have decided to punish our changing technological world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/unfortunately-opponents-of-online-speech-have-decided-to-punish-our/) [Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/) > [The illegal drug trade is the financial engine that fuels many terrorist organizations around the world, including Osama bin Laden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/the-illegal-drug-trade-is-the-financial-engine-that-fuels-many/) [Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/) > [Just like families must live within their budgets, the Federal Government must live within its means. We have passed appropriations bills that have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/just-like-families-must-live-within-their-budgets-the-federal/) [Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/) > [But, if you don't like your current Rx coverage or don't have any coverage to begin with, you'll now have the choice to add…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/but-if-you-don-t-like-your-current-rx-coverage-or-don-t-have-any/) [Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/) > [One way we gave small businesses more money to invest was by extending tax provisions on expensing. This allows businesses to immediately write off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/one-way-we-gave-small-businesses-more-money-to-invest-was-by/) [Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/) > [When Medicare was created for senior citizens and America 's disabled in 1965, about half of a senior's health care spending was on doctors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/when-medicare-was-created-for-senior-citizens-and-america-s-disabled/) [Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/) [Explore all 36 Dennis Hastert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/) ## 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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