--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have kind of turned our back on the…" description: "\"We have kind of turned our back on the fact that hard work, sacrifice, risk-taking, innovation, is what made America great.\" — Erik Prince" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8a/erik-prince-5732_great_we-have-kind-of-turned-our-back-on-the-f_1953885.jpg" --- # We have kind of turned our back on the fact that hard… ![“We have kind of turned our back on the fact that hard work, sacrifice, risk-taking, innovation, is what made America great.” quote by Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8a/erik-prince-5732_great_we-have-kind-of-turned-our-back-on-the-f_1953885.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8a/erik-prince-5732_great_we-have-kind-of-turned-our-back-on-the-f_1953885.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8a/erik-prince-5732_great_we-have-kind-of-turned-our-back-on-the-f_1953885.jpg) > “We have kind of turned our back on the fact that hard work, sacrifice, risk-taking, innovation, is what made America great.” [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hard work, sacrifice, risk, and innovation are essential to a nation's greatness. **In simple terms:** America's success relies on effort and risk. Key Takeaway Embrace effort and risk. Themes hard work risk innovation national identity Mood proud determined Type motivational political When to use this quote - business development - public policy - personal ambition Key Concepts economics civic virtue entrepreneurship Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance risk with responsibility? - What sacrifices are worth making for progress? A Different Perspective Neglecting these values can lead to stagnation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Hard work, sacrifice and focus will never show up in tests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-armstrong/hard-work-sacrifice-and-focus-will-never-show-up-in-tests/) [Lance Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-armstrong/) > [Innovation is what America does best. Whether it is the Apollo Project to the moon, developing the most advanced defense technologies available, the rise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-heinrich/innovation-is-what-america-does-best-whether-it-is-the-apollo-project/) [Martin Heinrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-heinrich/) > [Obviously China is clearly taking the lead in some areas, but when it comes to the most advanced innovation, it's still America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/obviously-china-is-clearly-taking-the-lead-in-some-areas-but-when-it/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [When you innovate no one else can figure out how to do what you're doing because you're too far ahead of them. And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/when-you-innovate-no-one-else-can-figure-out-how-to-do-what-you-re/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The essence of the game is not "fun," but the soul-satisfying awareness that comes from communal work and sacrifice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-blaik/the-essence-of-the-game-is-not-fun-but-the-soul-satisfying-awareness/) [Earl Blaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-blaik/) > [America is a great nation, but it cannot spend blood and treasure endlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/america-is-a-great-nation-but-it-cannot-spend-blood-and-treasure/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Entrepreneurship made America great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/entrepreneurship-made-america-great/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [The good life is to be earned with hard work and sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arcine-arciniegas/the-good-life-is-to-be-earned-with-hard-work-and-sacrifice/) [Arcine Arciniegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arcine-arciniegas/) > [My mom did so much for us, working two jobs, driving us where we needed to go and a million other things. She taught…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-kuzma/my-mom-did-so-much-for-us-working-two-jobs-driving-us-where-we-needed/) [Kyle Kuzma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-kuzma/) > [Appreciate everything that you go through in life, including the bad times, the times that you have to go without many of the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/appreciate-everything-that-you-go-through-in-life-including-the-bad/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [I had to work and sacrifice a lot from my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sakkari/i-had-to-work-and-sacrifice-a-lot-from-my-life/) [Maria Sakkari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sakkari/) > [“Because it takes work, often a lot of work and sacrifice, you have to really want to bring something into being.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-ryan-2/because-it-takes-work-often-a-lot-of-work-and-sacrifice-you-have-to/) [M.J. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-ryan-2/) > [“No achievement in life was ever a gift; every achievement in various fields of human endeavors was as a result of hard work and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anikor-daniel/no-achievement-in-life-was-ever-a-gift-every-achievement-in-various/) [ANIKOR Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anikor-daniel/) > [... any citizen should be willing to give all that he has to give his country in work or sacrifice in times of crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/any-citizen-should-be-willing-to-give-all-that-he-has-to-give-his/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [When you lose your passion to be a WWE Superstar, there's no point in going back. It's a lot of work and sacrifice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-maillet/when-you-lose-your-passion-to-be-a-wwe-superstar-there-s-no-point-in/) [Robert Maillet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-maillet/) ## More by Erik Prince > [We now know that gun-free zones, though well intentioned, do not prevent attacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/we-now-know-that-gun-free-zones-though-well-intentioned-do-not/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [The video game industry is constantly evolving. The sheer creativity matched with cutting-edge technologies gives me the comfort that innovation is alive and well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/the-video-game-industry-is-constantly-evolving-the-sheer-creativity/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Blackwater's work with the CIA began when we provided specialized instructors and facilities that the Agency lacked. In the years that followed, the company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/blackwater-s-work-with-the-cia-began-when-we-provided-specialized/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Video games are an exciting medium. The creativity of design, the technology and the interaction represent the best of American innovation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/video-games-are-an-exciting-medium-the-creativity-of-design-the/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [There are some phone calls where it's not even worth wasting the electrons on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/there-are-some-phone-calls-where-it-s-not-even-worth-wasting-the/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Why should I pay for business? Fly coach, you arrive at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/why-should-i-pay-for-business-fly-coach-you-arrive-at-the-same-time/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [America is a great nation, but it cannot spend blood and treasure endlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/america-is-a-great-nation-but-it-cannot-spend-blood-and-treasure/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [You pretty much remove the entire political texture from Blackwater when you come to China. What they look at is our 100 per cent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/you-pretty-much-remove-the-entire-political-texture-from-blackwater/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Limited government is best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/limited-government-is-best/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [In Joe Yorio you find a guy who's smarter at business than I am. I'm an entrepreneur and idea guy; he's a professional businessman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/in-joe-yorio-you-find-a-guy-who-s-smarter-at-business-than-i-am-i-m/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [One of the real core competencies of Blackwater, or companies like Blackwater, is we can operate in difficult places without any outside support.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/one-of-the-real-core-competencies-of-blackwater-or-companies-like/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [I'm painted as this war profiteer by Congress. Meanwhile I'm paying for all sorts of intelligence activities to support American national security, out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/i-m-painted-as-this-war-profiteer-by-congress-meanwhile-i-m-paying/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [I'm an American working for America. Anything we do is to support U.S. policy. You know the definition of a mercenary is a professional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/i-m-an-american-working-for-america-anything-we-do-is-to-support-u-s/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Our failed population-centric approach to Afghanistan has only led to missed opportunities, which is why Afghanistan depends on donors for 90% of government revenues.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/our-failed-population-centric-approach-to-afghanistan-has-only-led-to/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [President Trump should appoint a special presidential envoy and empower them to wage an unconventional war against Taliban and Daesh forces, to hold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/president-trump-should-appoint-a-special-presidential-envoy-and/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) [Explore all 100 Erik Prince quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) ## 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. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We have kind of turned our back on the fact that hard work, sacrifice, risk-taking, innovation, is what made America great.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erik Prince" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/we-have-kind-of-turned-our-back-on-the-fact-that-hard-work-sacrifice/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/we-have-kind-of-turned-our-back-on-the-fact-that-hard-work-sacrifice/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8a/erik-prince-5732_great_we-have-kind-of-turned-our-back-on-the-f_1953885.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8a/erik-prince-5732_great_we-have-kind-of-turned-our-back-on-the-f_1953885.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8a/erik-prince-5732_great_we-have-kind-of-turned-our-back-on-the-f_1953885.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We have kind of turned our back on the fact that hard work, sacrifice, risk-taking, innovation, is what made…” — Erik Prince", "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": "Erik Prince", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We have kind of turned our...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/we-have-kind-of-turned-our-back-on-the-fact-that-hard-work-sacrifice/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/we-have-kind-of-turned-our-back-on-the-fact-that-hard-work-sacrifice/#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 } } ] } ```