--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must become bigger than we have been…" description: "\"We must become bigger than we have been: more courageous, greater in spirit, larger in outlook. We must become members of a new race, overcoming petty ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecd/haile-selassie-7583_allegiance_we-must-become-bigger-than-we-have-been_1514508.jpg" --- # We must become bigger than we have been: more courageous… ![“We must become bigger than we have been: more courageous, greater in spirit, larger in outlook. We must become members of a new race, overcoming petty prejudice, owing our ultimate allegiance not to nations but to our fellow men within the human community.” quote by Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecd/haile-selassie-7583_allegiance_we-must-become-bigger-than-we-have-been_1514508.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecd/haile-selassie-7583_allegiance_we-must-become-bigger-than-we-have-been_1514508.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecd/haile-selassie-7583_allegiance_we-must-become-bigger-than-we-have-been_1514508.jpg) > “We must become bigger than we have been: more courageous, greater in spirit, larger in outlook. We must become members of a new race, overcoming petty prejudice, owing our ultimate allegiance not to nations but to our fellow men within the human community.” [Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humanity must transcend narrow loyalties, embracing a unified race that values compassion over nationalism. **In simple terms:** We must rise above prejudice and unite as humans. Key Takeaway Prioritize global humanity over national ties. Themes unity humanity prejudice spiritual growth Mood hopeful determined Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - international diplomacy - community service - education reform - activism Key Concepts political philosophy ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can individuals foster a global identity? - What obstacles hinder a race‑wide allegiance? A Different Perspective Achieving true unity is challenging amid entrenched interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allegiance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allegiance/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Courageous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courageous/) [Fellow man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellow-man/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Outlook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outlook/) [Overcoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming/) [Prejudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prejudice/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) ## Related quotes > [The spirit is larger than the body. The body is pathetic compared to what we have inside us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-nyad/the-spirit-is-larger-than-the-body-the-body-is-pathetic-compared-to/) [Diana Nyad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-nyad/) > [“Greater is Your Spirit in me than anything else that tries to bring me down (1 John 4:4). You redeem my life from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stormie-omartian/greater-is-your-spirit-in-me-than-anything-else-that-tries-to-bring/) [Stormie Omartian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stormie-omartian/) > [The greater the spirit, the more one is alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-greater-the-spirit-the-more-one-is-alone/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [I die, as I have lived, a free spirit, an Anarchist, owing no allegiance to rulers, heavenly or earthly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltairine-de-cleyre/i-die-as-i-have-lived-a-free-spirit-an-anarchist-owing-no-allegiance/) [Voltairine de Cleyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltairine-de-cleyre/) > [Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people. To destroy this invisible government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/behind-the-ostensible-government-sits-enthroned-an-invisible/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [If it is a crime to love the South, its cause and its President, then I am a criminal. I would rather lie down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belle-boyd/if-it-is-a-crime-to-love-the-south-its-cause-and-its-president-then-i/) [Belle Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belle-boyd/) > [Every human being born within the United States of parents not owing allegiance to any foreign sovereignty is in the language of your Constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bingham/every-human-being-born-within-the-united-states-of-parents-not-owing/) [John Bingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bingham/) > [ All from other lands, who by the terms of \[congressional\] laws and a compliance with their provisions become naturalized, are adopted citizens of the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bingham/all-from-other-lands-who-by-the-terms-of-congressional-laws-and-a/) [John Bingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bingham/) > [Nothing is better settled at the common law than the doctrine that the children, even of aliens, born in a country, while the parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-george-tucker/nothing-is-better-settled-at-the-common-law-than-the-doctrine-that/) [St. George Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-george-tucker/) > [Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/behind-the-ostensible-government-sits-enthroned-an-invisible-3/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [We must become members of a new race, overcoming petty prejudice, owing our ultimate allegiance not to nations, but to our fellow men within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie/we-must-become-members-of-a-new-race-overcoming-petty-prejudice-owing/) [Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/) > [The impossibility of separating the nomenclature of a science from the science itself, is owing to this, that every branch of physical science must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-lavoisier/the-impossibility-of-separating-the-nomenclature-of-a-science-from/) [Antoine Lavoisier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-lavoisier/) > [In our own time the whole of Greece has been subject to a low birth rate and a general decrease of the population, owing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polybius/in-our-own-time-the-whole-of-greece-has-been-subject-to-a-low-birth/) [Polybius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polybius/) > [The debt immense of endless gratitude, So burthensome, still paying, still to owe; Forgetful what from him I still receivd, And understood not that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/the-debt-immense-of-endless-gratitude-so-burthensome-still-paying/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/but-the-effect-of-her-being-on-those-around-her-was-incalculably/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) ## More by Haile Selassie > [A well informed public opinion is essential to the growth of political and social awareness. Only he who is informed can comment intelligently on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie/a-well-informed-public-opinion-is-essential-to-the-growth-of/) [Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/) > [Knowledge paves the way to Love, and Love in its turn fosters understanding, and leads one along the path of great common achievements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie/knowledge-paves-the-way-to-love-and-love-in-its-turn-fosters/) [Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/) > [An awareness of our past is essential to the establishment of our personality and our identity as Africans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie/an-awareness-of-our-past-is-essential-to-the-establishment-of-our/) [Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/) > [Any who may wish to profit himself alone from the knowledge given him, rather than serve others through the knowledge he has gained from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie/any-who-may-wish-to-profit-himself-alone-from-the-knowledge-given-him/) [Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/) > [In the mystic traditions of the different religions we have a remarkable unity of spirit. Whatever religion they may profess, they are spiritual kinsmen.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie/in-the-mystic-traditions-of-the-different-religions-we-have-a/) [Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/) > [That which man dreams of and to Which he aspires, unless fulfilled in his own lifetime, can produce no actual satisfaction to him. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie/that-which-man-dreams-of-and-to-which-he-aspires-unless-fulfilled-in/) [Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/) > [Observe that anyone who dies for his country is a fortunate man, but death takes what it wants, indiscriminately, in peace-time as well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie/observe-that-anyone-who-dies-for-his-country-is-a-fortunate-man-but/) [Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/) > [That until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned: That until there are no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie/that-until-the-philosophy-which-holds-one-race-superior-and-another/) [Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/) > [A house built on granite and strong foundations, not even the onslaught of pouring rain, gushing torrents and strong winds will be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie/a-house-built-on-granite-and-strong-foundations-not-even-the/) [Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/) > [It is much easier to show compassions to animals. They are never wicked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie/it-is-much-easier-to-show-compassions-to-animals-they-are-never-wicked/) [Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/) > [In the history of the human race, those periods which later appeared as great have been the periods when the men and the women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie/in-the-history-of-the-human-race-those-periods-which-later-appeared/) [Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/) > [We must make progress slowly so as to preserve the progress we have already made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie/we-must-make-progress-slowly-so-as-to-preserve-the-progress-we-have/) [Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/) > [Let us set our goals too high; let us demand more of ourselves than we believe we possess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie/let-us-set-our-goals-too-high-let-us-demand-more-of-ourselves-than-we/) [Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/) > [The Emperor himself amassed his great riches. The older he grew, the greater became his greed, his pitiable cupidity... he and his people took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie/the-emperor-himself-amassed-his-great-riches-the-older-he-grew-the/) [Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/) > [Do the people of the world not yet realize that by fighting on until the bitter end I am not only performing my sacred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie/do-the-people-of-the-world-not-yet-realize-that-by-fighting-on-until/) [Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/) [Explore all 90 Haile Selassie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/) ## More Allegiance quotes > [“Maybe it begins the day you pledge allegiance, face the flag and suddenly clutch your left clavicle because you find a tender puff of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-johnson/maybe-it-begins-the-day-you-pledge-allegiance-face-the-flag-and/) [Marilyn Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-johnson/) > [I was under the influence of the early modern masters, Fitzgerald and Steinbeck and Hemingway, especially, when I was a kid. I reacted against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stone/i-was-under-the-influence-of-the-early-modern-masters-fitzgerald-and/) [Robert Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stone/) > [“The Pledge of Allegiance says 'liberty and justice for all'. Which part of 'all' don't you understand?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-schroeder/the-pledge-of-allegiance-says-liberty-and-justice-for-all-which-part/) Pat Schroeder > [They're counting on your patriotism to distract you from their plunder. They're counting on you to be standing at attention with your hand over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/they-re-counting-on-your-patriotism-to-distract-you-from-their/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [There is a congratulatory culture in the Gulf. From birth onwards, there is a culture of giving people trophies as markers of achievement for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayshay/there-is-a-congratulatory-culture-in-the-gulf-from-birth-onwards/) Ayshay > [“We may give our human loves the unconditional allegiance which we owe only to God. Then they become gods: then they become demons. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/we-may-give-our-human-loves-the-unconditional-allegiance-which-we-owe/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [In my imaginary utopian world there would be a greater allegiance between music writers and musicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/in-my-imaginary-utopian-world-there-would-be-a-greater-allegiance/) [Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) > [“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the great Republic of America, to our Elector Primo, to our glorious states, to unity against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/i-pledge-allegiance-to-the-flag-of-the-great-republic-of-america-to/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [Let's do more than say the 'Pledge of Allegiance.' Let us live it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-cleaver/let-s-do-more-than-say-the-pledge-of-allegiance-let-us-live-it/) [Emanuel Cleaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-cleaver/) > [All of us ... should remember that no amount of flag-waving, pledging allegiance, or fervent singing of the national anthem is evidence that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/all-of-us-should-remember-that-no-amount-of-flag-waving-pledging/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [“We're not to do everything man tells us to do. We are to obey the Lord Jesus Christ, and our allegiance to the state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-c-morecraft-iii/we-re-not-to-do-everything-man-tells-us-to-do-we-are-to-obey-the-lord/) [Joseph C. Morecraft III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-c-morecraft-iii/) > [Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people. To destroy this invisible government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/behind-the-ostensible-government-sits-enthroned-an-invisible/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“I would find no value in the allegiance of a fool ready to give himself up to any old hag of Black Imagination who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-beddor/i-would-find-no-value-in-the-allegiance-of-a-fool-ready-to-give/) [Frank Beddor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-beddor/) > [Allegiance, after all, has to work two ways; and one can grow weary of an allegiance which is not reciprocal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/allegiance-after-all-has-to-work-two-ways-and-one-can-grow-weary-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think it is right for Canadians to be asked to show their faces when they're taking the oath. On revocation of citizenship, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-alexander/i-think-it-is-right-for-canadians-to-be-asked-to-show-their-faces/) [Chris Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-alexander/) [Browse all 409 Allegiance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allegiance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We must become bigger than we have been: more courageous, greater in spirit, larger in outlook. 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