--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: America is an idea, but it's an idea that…" description: "\"America is an idea, but it's an idea that brings with it some baggage, like power brings responsibility. It's an idea that brings with it equality, but..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/edward-de-bono-2489_action_america-is-an-idea-but-it-s-an-idea-that_1577659.png" --- # America is an idea, but it's an idea that brings with it… ![“America is an idea, but it's an idea that brings with it some baggage, like power brings responsibility. It's an idea that brings with it equality, but equality even though it's the highest calling, is the hardest to reach. The idea that anything is possible, that's one of the reasons why I'm a…” quote by Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/edward-de-bono-2489_action_america-is-an-idea-but-it-s-an-idea-that_1577659.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/edward-de-bono-2489_action_america-is-an-idea-but-it-s-an-idea-that_1577659.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/edward-de-bono-2489_action_america-is-an-idea-but-it-s-an-idea-that_1577659.png) > “America is an idea, but it's an idea that brings with it some baggage, like power brings responsibility. It's an idea that brings with it equality, but equality even though it's the highest calling, is the hardest to reach. The idea that anything is possible, that's one of the reasons why I'm a fan of America. It's like hey, look there's the moon up there, let's take a walk on it, bring back a piece of it. That's the kind of America that I'm a fan of.” [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. America is a powerful ideal that carries both lofty aspirations like equality and heavy responsibilities like power, making its promises both inspiring and challenging. **In simple terms:** America is a hopeful idea with big responsibilities and tough equality goals. Key Takeaway Recognize both inspiration and duty in national ideals. Themes freedom responsibility equality optimism Mood hopeful reflective critical Type inspirational philosophical political When to use this quote - Political activism - education reform - community organizing - public policy debates Key Concepts Political philosophy national identity idealism Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance national pride with critical self‑examination? - What responsibilities arise from believing anything is possible? A Different Perspective Idealism can overlook systemic barriers and lead to complacency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America Fan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-fan-750819/) [America Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-idea-287542/) [America Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-like/) [Anything is possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anything-is-possible/) [Baggage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baggage/) [Brings Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brings-equality-5953255/) [Calling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calling/) [Encouragement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encouragement/) [Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) [Fans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fans/) [Hardest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardest/) [Hey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hey/) [Highest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highest/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon/) [Pieces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pieces/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason why](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-why/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Walks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walks/) ## Related quotes > [I didn't care if it was 'Daredevil' or 'Captain America,' I was a fan of all of it. 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It should help us, not hurt us. It should ensure opportunity not just for those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/our-government-should-work-for-us-not-against-us-it-should-help-us/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [You see for me, America is an idea. It is a stage for transformation. I felt when I came to Iowa City from Calcutta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bharati-mukherjee/you-see-for-me-america-is-an-idea-it-is-a-stage-for-transformation-i/) [Bharati Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bharati-mukherjee/) > [What would America be like if we loved black people as much as we loved black culture?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/what-would-america-be-like-if-we-loved-black-people-as-much-as-we/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) ## More by Edward de Bono > [We still seek to solve conflicts with 'judgement' instead of designing the way forwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/we-still-seek-to-solve-conflicts-with-judgement-instead-of-designing/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [Traditional thinking is all about "what is" Future thinking will also need to be about what can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/traditional-thinking-is-all-about-what-is-future-thinking-will-also/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [“In 80% of Socrates' dialogues there was no constructive outcome. 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In a similar way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/in-real-life-situations-apparently-logical-lines-of-argument-are/) [Edward De Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [An expert is someone who has succeeded in making decisions and judgements simpler through knowing what to pay attention to and what to ignore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/an-expert-is-someone-who-has-succeeded-in-making-decisions-and/) [Edward De Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [It wouldn't cost too much to change the rules of trade so that poor countries can work their way out of poverty. 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