--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our forefathers were not only brave. I…" description: "\"Our forefathers were not only brave. I believe they were right. I believe that what they meant was that every man born had equal right to grow from scr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/frank-lloyd-wright-1353_believe_our-forefathers-were-not-only-brave-i-be_2003329.jpg" --- # Our forefathers were not only brave. I believe they were… ![“Our forefathers were not only brave. I believe they were right. I believe that what they meant was that every man born had equal right to grow from scratch by way of his own power unhindered to the highest expression of himself possible to him.” quote by Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/frank-lloyd-wright-1353_believe_our-forefathers-were-not-only-brave-i-be_2003329.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/frank-lloyd-wright-1353_believe_our-forefathers-were-not-only-brave-i-be_2003329.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/frank-lloyd-wright-1353_believe_our-forefathers-were-not-only-brave-i-be_2003329.jpg) > “Our forefathers were not only brave. I believe they were right. I believe that what they meant was that every man born had equal right to grow from scratch by way of his own power unhindered to the highest expression of himself possible to him.” [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates that every individual should have the freedom to develop self‑reliance and achieve their highest potential. **In simple terms:** Everyone deserves the chance to grow on their own. Key Takeaway Empower personal self‑determination. Themes freedom self‑reliance potential Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical political When to use this quote - education reform - entrepreneurship - creative arts - policy making Key Concepts individualism human rights self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - What structures hinder personal growth? - How can societies foster true equal opportunity? A Different Perspective Overlooks systemic barriers that limit true equality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) [Born Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born-equal-341898/) [Brave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave/) [Brave Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave-believe-2924254/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal/) [Every man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-man/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Forefathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forefathers/) [Forefathers Brave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forefathers-brave-3390645/) [Grows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grows/) [Highest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highest/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [Man Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-born-407482/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Scratches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scratches/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“Our forefathers were not only brave. I believe they were right. I believe that what they meant was that every man born had equal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/our-forefathers-were-not-only-brave-i-believe-they-were-right-i/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [I believe every man is born equal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-norman/i-believe-every-man-is-born-equal/) [Peter Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-norman/) > [Dancing on 'Dancing With The Stars' really broadened my fan base. I jumped off the stage backwards one week, and so many women come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-coleman/dancing-on-dancing-with-the-stars-really-broadened-my-fan-base-i/) [Monique Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monique-coleman/) > [“To be truly brave, I believe a person has to be more than a little stupid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/to-be-truly-brave-i-believe-a-person-has-to-be-more-than-a-little-2/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [Live life. Be brave. Believe in yourself. Be kind to others. Smile daily. Love as much as possible, and always remember, you are enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/live-life-be-brave-believe-in-yourself-be-kind-to-others-smile-daily/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“To be truly brave, I believe a person has to be more than a little stupid. If you knew how hard or how dangerous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-patchett/to-be-truly-brave-i-believe-a-person-has-to-be-more-than-a-little/) [Anne Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-patchett/) > [“It is brave to believe that you are a unique, precious young lady no matter what your feelings might be saying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sofi-benitez/it-is-brave-to-believe-that-you-are-a-unique-precious-young-lady-no/) [Sofi Benitez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sofi-benitez/) > [You have this one life. How do you wanna spend it? Apologizing? Regretting? Questioning? Hating yourself? Dieting? Running after people who don't see you?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-delevingne/you-have-this-one-life-how-do-you-wanna-spend-it-apologizing/) [Cara Delevingne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-delevingne/) > [By playing down to the idea of the common man, dogmatic political authority exploits him... So the ideal of innate aristocracy of which hour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/by-playing-down-to-the-idea-of-the-common-man-dogmatic-political/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [Men are born equal but they are also born different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/men-are-born-equal-but-they-are-also-born-different/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“The homeland, the myth of the homeland, becomes a fundamental value for those who have nothing else(...)In a world where power, like wealth, falls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-stasiuk/the-homeland-the-myth-of-the-homeland-becomes-a-fundamental-value-for/) [Andrzej Stasiuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-stasiuk/) > [“There is no room for pride in any man. There is no room for unkindness. There is no room for wit at the expense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-llewellyn/there-is-no-room-for-pride-in-any-man-there-is-no-room-for-unkindness/) [Richard Llewellyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-llewellyn/) > [“Each of us have been born with the potential for greatness. We are equals. That doesn't mean we are born into equal circumstances, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-young/each-of-us-have-been-born-with-the-potential-for-greatness-we-are/) [Justin Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-young/) > [Equality...is the result of human organization. We are not born equal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/equality-is-the-result-of-human-organization-we-are-not-born-equal/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) ## More by Frank Lloyd Wright > [From time to time the continent shifts, and everything that isn't fastened down slides into Southern California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/from-time-to-time-the-continent-shifts-and-everything-that-isn-t/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [Respect the masterpiece. It is true reverence to man. There is no quality so great, none so much needed now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/respect-the-masterpiece-it-is-true-reverence-to-man-there-is-no/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [“Nature is my manifestation of God. I go to nature every day for inspiration in the day's work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/nature-is-my-manifestation-of-god-i-go-to-nature-every-day-for/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [Each had his past shut in him like the leaves of a book known to him by heart; and his friends could only read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/each-had-his-past-shut-in-him-like-the-leaves-of-a-book-known-to-him/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [“How many understand that Nature is the essencial character of whatever is. It's something you'll find by looking not at, but in, always in.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/how-many-understand-that-nature-is-the-essencial-character-of/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [The cultural influences in our country are like the floo floo bird. I am referring to the peculiar and especial bird who always flew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/the-cultural-influences-in-our-country-are-like-the-floo-floo-bird-i/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [Early in life, I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. I chose honest arrogance and have seen no occasion to change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/early-in-life-i-had-to-choose-between-honest-arrogance-and/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [The Lincoln Memorial is related to the toga and the civilization that wore it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/the-lincoln-memorial-is-related-to-the-toga-and-the-civilization-that/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [The belief in a thing makes it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/the-belief-in-a-thing-makes-it-happen/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [“give me the luxuries of life and I will gladly do without the necessities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/give-me-the-luxuries-of-life-and-i-will-gladly-do-without-the/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [It's easier to make changes with a pencil than a wrecking bar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/it-s-easier-to-make-changes-with-a-pencil-than-a-wrecking-bar/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [Life always rides in strength to victory, not through internationalism... but only through the direct responsibility of the individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/life-always-rides-in-strength-to-victory-not-through-internationalism/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [A man is a fool if he drinks before he reaches fifty, and a fool if he doesn't drink afterward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/a-man-is-a-fool-if-he-drinks-before-he-reaches-fifty-and-a-fool-if-he/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [Entering into the spirit of this interior, you will discover the best possible atmosphere in which to show fine paintings or listen to music.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/entering-into-the-spirit-of-this-interior-you-will-discover-the-best/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [A great architect is not made by way of a brain nearly so much as he is made by way of a cultivated, enriched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/a-great-architect-is-not-made-by-way-of-a-brain-nearly-so-much-as-he/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) [Explore all 251 Frank Lloyd Wright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our forefathers were not only brave. I believe they were right. I believe that what they meant was that every man born had equal right to grow from scratch by way of his own power unhindered to the highest expression of himself possible to him.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frank Lloyd Wright" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/our-forefathers-were-not-only-brave-i-believe-they-were-right-i-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/our-forefathers-were-not-only-brave-i-believe-they-were-right-i-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/frank-lloyd-wright-1353_believe_our-forefathers-were-not-only-brave-i-be_2003329.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/frank-lloyd-wright-1353_believe_our-forefathers-were-not-only-brave-i-be_2003329.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc1/frank-lloyd-wright-1353_believe_our-forefathers-were-not-only-brave-i-be_2003329.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Our forefathers were not only brave. I believe they were right. I believe that what they meant was that…” — Frank Lloyd Wright", "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": "Frank Lloyd Wright", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Our forefathers were not only brave....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/our-forefathers-were-not-only-brave-i-believe-they-were-right-i-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/our-forefathers-were-not-only-brave-i-believe-they-were-right-i-2/#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 } } ] } ```