--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A nation's character is the sum of its…" description: "\"A nation's character is the sum of its splendid deeds; they constitute one common patrimony, the nation's inheritance. They awe foreign powers, they ar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/henry-clay-13771_awe_a-nation-s-character-is-the-sum-of-its-s_563803.jpg" --- # A nation's character is the sum of its splendid deeds… ![“A nation's character is the sum of its splendid deeds; they constitute one common patrimony, the nation's inheritance. They awe foreign powers, they arouse and animate our own people.” quote by Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/henry-clay-13771_awe_a-nation-s-character-is-the-sum-of-its-s_563803.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/henry-clay-13771_awe_a-nation-s-character-is-the-sum-of-its-s_563803.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/henry-clay-13771_awe_a-nation-s-character-is-the-sum-of-its-s_563803.jpg) > “A nation's character is the sum of its splendid deeds; they constitute one common patrimony, the nation's inheritance. They awe foreign powers, they arouse and animate our own people.” [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A nation's character is built from its collective achievements, forming a shared heritage that inspires both outsiders and citizens. **In simple terms:** A nation's character comes from shared achievements. Key Takeaway Cultivate shared achievements. Themes national identity heritage pride Mood proud inspirational Type historical civic When to use this quote - education curricula - public ceremonies - media narratives Key Concepts collective achievement social cohesion Questions to Reflect On - How do shared deeds shape national pride? - What modern deeds can redefine identity? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on past deeds may ignore current challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awe/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds/) [Inheritance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inheritance/) [Nation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Patrimony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patrimony/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Splendid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/splendid/) ## Related quotes > [Let us regard the forests as an inheritance, given to us by nature, not to be despoiled or devastated, but to be wisely used,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-von-mueller/let-us-regard-the-forests-as-an-inheritance-given-to-us-by-nature-not/) Ferdinand von Mueller > [Men sooner forget the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-sooner-forget-the-death-of-their-father-than-the-loss-of-their/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [A nation of character is filled with citizens who gradually build lives based on the living awareness that their deeds are judged by eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/a-nation-of-character-is-filled-with-citizens-who-gradually-build/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [Culture is not just an ornament; it is the expression of a nation's character, and at the same time it is a powerful instrument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/culture-is-not-just-an-ornament-it-is-the-expression-of-a-nation-s/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [The struggle for your own character is the struggle for the nation's character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/the-struggle-for-your-own-character-is-the-struggle-for-the-nation-s/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [Of all ennobling sentiments, patriotism may be the most easily manipulated. On the one hand, it gives powerful expression to what is best in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/of-all-ennobling-sentiments-patriotism-may-be-the-most-easily/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [A Nation's character is typified by its dancers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-nation-s-character-is-typified-by-its-dancers/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Never forget that a man is made great and perfect as much by his faults as by his virtues. So we must not seek…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/never-forget-that-a-man-is-made-great-and-perfect-as-much-by-his/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“What constitutes the character of a nation is the character of many individual human beings; every national character is in essence, simply human nature.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-grossman/what-constitutes-the-character-of-a-nation-is-the-character-of-many/) [Vasily Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-grossman/) > [Our remnants of wilderness will yield bigger values to the nation's character and health than they will to its pocketbook, and to destroy them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/our-remnants-of-wilderness-will-yield-bigger-values-to-the-nation-s/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [A nation has character only when it is free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/a-nation-has-character-only-when-it-is-free/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [The ultimate test of a nation's character is not how it responds to adversity in war but how it meets the challenge of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/the-ultimate-test-of-a-nation-s-character-is-not-how-it-responds-to/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [The past could liberate or imprison - it creates a nation's character, provides the nourishment or the poison a people imbibe in their very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/the-past-could-liberate-or-imprison-it-creates-a-nation-s-character/) [F. Sionil Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) > [An absolute monarch, who is rich without patrimony, may be charitable without merit; and Constantine too easily believed that he should purchase the favour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/an-absolute-monarch-who-is-rich-without-patrimony-may-be-charitable/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [You are worried about what man has done and is doing to this magical planet that God gave us. And I share your concern.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-are-worried-about-what-man-has-done-and-is-doing-to-this-magical/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## More by Henry Clay > [“I hope that it will yet be said, America is America's best customer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/i-hope-that-it-will-yet-be-said-america-is-america-s-best-customer/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [The arts of power and its minions are the same in all countries and in all ages. It marks its victim; denounces it; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/the-arts-of-power-and-its-minions-are-the-same-in-all-countries-and/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [Political parties serve to keep each other in check, one keenly watching the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/political-parties-serve-to-keep-each-other-in-check-one-keenly/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [An oppressed people are authorized whenever they can to rise and break their fetters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/an-oppressed-people-are-authorized-whenever-they-can-to-rise-and/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [In a scheme of policy which is devised for a nation, we should not limit our views to its operation during a single year,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/in-a-scheme-of-policy-which-is-devised-for-a-nation-we-should-not/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [Precedents deliberately established by wise men are entitled to great weight. They are evidence of truth, but only evidence...But a solitary precedent...which has never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/precedents-deliberately-established-by-wise-men-are-entitled-to-great/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [I have no commiseration for princes. My sympathies are reserved for the great mass of mankind ….](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/i-have-no-commiseration-for-princes-my-sympathies-are-reserved-for/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [I had rather be right than be President.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/i-had-rather-be-right-than-be-president/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [The Constitution of the United States was made not merely for the generation that then existed, but for posterity- unlimited, undefined, endless, perpetual posterity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/the-constitution-of-the-united-states-was-made-not-merely-for-the/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [Honor and good faith and justice are equally due from this country toward the weak as toward the strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/honor-and-good-faith-and-justice-are-equally-due-from-this-country/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [The measure of the wealth of a nation is indicated by the measure of its protection of its industry; the measure of the poverty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/the-measure-of-the-wealth-of-a-nation-is-indicated-by-the-measure-of/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [We have had good and bad Presidents, and it is a consoling reflection that the American Nation possesses such elements of prosperity that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/we-have-had-good-and-bad-presidents-and-it-is-a-consoling-reflection/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [There is no power like oratory. Caesar controlled men by exciting their fears, Cicero by . . . swaying their passions. The influence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/there-is-no-power-like-oratory-caesar-controlled-men-by-exciting/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [I am not, sir, in favor of cherishing the passion of conquest. I am permitted ... to indulge the hope of seeing, ere long,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/i-am-not-sir-in-favor-of-cherishing-the-passion-of-conquest-i-am/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [How often are we forced to charge fortune with partiality towards the unjust!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/how-often-are-we-forced-to-charge-fortune-with-partiality-towards-the/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) [Explore all 49 Henry Clay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) ## More Awe quotes > [Because I've never had any higher education of any sort, I've never held in awe those who have had it or have a sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-corbyn/because-i-ve-never-had-any-higher-education-of-any-sort-i-ve-never/) [Jeremy Corbyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-corbyn/) > [Of course the Dharma-body of the Buddha was the hedge at the bottom of the garden. At the same time, and no less obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/of-course-the-dharma-body-of-the-buddha-was-the-hedge-at-the-bottom/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [When I look at the human brain I'm still in awe of it. Every single time you lift off the bone and open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/when-i-look-at-the-human-brain-i-m-still-in-awe-of-it-every-single/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [“I know you deserve better than me. You think I don’t know that? But if there was any woman made for me … it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-know-you-deserve-better-than-me-you-think-i-don-t-know-that-but-if/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [There are certain scenes that would awe an atheist into belief without the help of any other argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/there-are-certain-scenes-that-would-awe-an-atheist-into-belief/) [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) > [As we contemplate with reverence and awe how our Savior embraces us, comforts us, and heals us, let us commit to become His hands,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/as-we-contemplate-with-reverence-and-awe-how-our-savior-embraces-us/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [My journey deep into coma, outside this lowly physical realm and into the loftiest dwelling place of the almighty Creator, revealed the indescribably immense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eben-alexander/my-journey-deep-into-coma-outside-this-lowly-physical-realm-and-into/) [Eben Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eben-alexander/) > [Awe combined with intimacy is the essence of Christian worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/awe-combined-with-intimacy-is-the-essence-of-christian-worship/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Everything we perceive to be solid and static is made up of almost entirely empty space.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/everything-we-perceive-to-be-solid-and-static-is-made-up-of-almost/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [“Oftentimes we call Life bitter names, but only when we ourselves are bitter and dark. And we deem her empty and unprofitable, but only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/oftentimes-we-call-life-bitter-names-but-only-when-we-ourselves-are/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [The laws of nature are the skeleton of the universe. They support it, give it shape, tie it together. Taken as a whole, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-trefil/the-laws-of-nature-are-the-skeleton-of-the-universe-they-support-it/) James Trefil > [When you look at yourself and feel dissatisfaction about any part of you, you will continue to attract feelings of dissatisfaction, because the law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/when-you-look-at-yourself-and-feel-dissatisfaction-about-any-part-of/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [“What can we make of the inexpressible joy of children? It is a kind of gratitude, I think—the gratitude of the ten-year-old who wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/what-can-we-make-of-the-inexpressible-joy-of-children-it-is-a-kind-of/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [Sometimes not seeing things can be a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/sometimes-not-seeing-things-can-be-a-blessing/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [I'm always in awe at how fast television is and how quickly you're called upon to be 100 percent invested in a character with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/latanya-richardson/i-m-always-in-awe-at-how-fast-television-is-and-how-quickly-you-re/) [LaTanya Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/latanya-richardson/) [Browse all 1,119 Awe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A nation's character is the sum of its splendid deeds; they constitute one common patrimony, the nation's inheritance. They awe foreign powers, they arouse and animate our own people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Clay" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/a-nation-s-character-is-the-sum-of-its-splendid-deeds-they-constitute/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Awe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/a-nation-s-character-is-the-sum-of-its-splendid-deeds-they-constitute/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/henry-clay-13771_awe_a-nation-s-character-is-the-sum-of-its-s_563803.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/henry-clay-13771_awe_a-nation-s-character-is-the-sum-of-its-s_563803.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/henry-clay-13771_awe_a-nation-s-character-is-the-sum-of-its-s_563803.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A nation's character is the sum of its splendid deeds; they constitute one common patrimony, the nation's…” — Henry Clay", "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": "Henry Clay", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A nation's character is the sum...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/a-nation-s-character-is-the-sum-of-its-splendid-deeds-they-constitute/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/a-nation-s-character-is-the-sum-of-its-splendid-deeds-they-constitute/#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 } } ] } ```