--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is those moral and spiritual qualities…" description: "\"It is those moral and spiritual qualities which rise alone in free men, which will fulfill the meaning of the word American. And with them will come ce..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/herbert-hoover-1115_america_it-is-those-moral-and-spiritual-qualitie_609796.jpg" --- # It is those moral and spiritual qualities which rise alone… ![“It is those moral and spiritual qualities which rise alone in free men, which will fulfill the meaning of the word American. And with them will come centuries of further greatness to our country.” quote by Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/herbert-hoover-1115_america_it-is-those-moral-and-spiritual-qualitie_609796.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/herbert-hoover-1115_america_it-is-those-moral-and-spiritual-qualitie_609796.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/herbert-hoover-1115_america_it-is-those-moral-and-spiritual-qualitie_609796.jpg) > “It is those moral and spiritual qualities which rise alone in free men, which will fulfill the meaning of the word American. And with them will come centuries of further greatness to our country.” [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True freedom requires moral and spiritual virtues; these qualities will drive America’s lasting greatness. **In simple terms:** Freedom needs virtue; virtue brings greatness. Key Takeaway Cultivate moral and spiritual virtues. Themes freedom virtue national identity greatness Mood proud optimistic Type inspirational political When to use this quote - political leadership - education reform - community building - national policy - personal development Key Concepts Americanism ethical leadership civic responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can individuals foster these virtues today? - What policies support a virtuous society? A Different Perspective Virtues alone may not guarantee progress without practical action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Free man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-man/) [Free men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-men/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) ## Related quotes > [For me, it's important to get back to fundamentally what it feels like to be an American. We all come from different backgrounds, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-dirnt/for-me-it-s-important-to-get-back-to-fundamentally-what-it-feels-like/) [Mike Dirnt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-dirnt/) > [Buying is more American than thinking, and I'm as American as they come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/buying-is-more-american-than-thinking-and-i-m-as-american-as-they-come/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [I would go to school and be American and then come home and be Greek.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-wilson/i-would-go-to-school-and-be-american-and-then-come-home-and-be-greek/) [Rita Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-wilson/) > [I’m nauseatingly pro-American. I would have come here from any country. The U.S. is where great things are possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/i-m-nauseatingly-pro-american-i-would-have-come-here-from-any-country/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin. And therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words 'Ich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/all-free-men-wherever-they-may-live-are-citizens-of-berlin-and/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Necessitous men are not free men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/necessitous-men-are-not-free-men/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Democracy, the practice of self-government, is a covenant among free men to respect the rights and liberties of their fellows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/democracy-the-practice-of-self-government-is-a-covenant-among-free/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [In vast stretches of the earth, men awoke today in hunger. They will spend the day in unceasing toil. And as the sun goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/in-vast-stretches-of-the-earth-men-awoke-today-in-hunger-they-will/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [Peace will come soon to stay, and so come as to be worth keeping in all future time. It will then have proved that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/peace-will-come-soon-to-stay-and-so-come-as-to-be-worth-keeping-in/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Freedom is indivisible, and when one man is enslaved, all are not free. When all are free, then we can look forward to that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/freedom-is-indivisible-and-when-one-man-is-enslaved-all-are-not-free/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Those who would be called tyrants cannot be called free men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-huggins/those-who-would-be-called-tyrants-cannot-be-called-free-men/) [Nathan Huggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-huggins/) > [Free men freely work: Whoever fears God, fears to sit at ease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/free-men-freely-work-whoever-fears-god-fears-to-sit-at-ease/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [Free men must live simple lives and have simple pleasures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-morris/free-men-must-live-simple-lives-and-have-simple-pleasures/) [William Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-morris/) > [I always felt the world cannot fall apart as long as free men see the rainbow, feel the rain and hear the laugh of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-capra/i-always-felt-the-world-cannot-fall-apart-as-long-as-free-men-see-the/) [Frank Capra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-capra/) > [ The solution to this problem \[welfare-statism\] must take a positive form: the restoration of a faith in what free men can accomplish. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/the-solution-to-this-problem-welfare-statism-must-take-a-positive/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) ## More by Herbert Hoover > [While the crash only took place six months ago, I am convinced we have now passed the worst, and with continued unity of effort,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/while-the-crash-only-took-place-six-months-ago-i-am-convinced-we-have/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [Fishing is a constant reminder of the democracy of life, of humility, and of human frailty. The forces of nature discriminate for no man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/fishing-is-a-constant-reminder-of-the-democracy-of-life-of-humility/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [It is a great profession. There is the fascination of watching a figment of the imagination emerge through the aid of science to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/it-is-a-great-profession-there-is-the-fascination-of-watching-a/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [The human animal originally came from out-of-doors. When spring begins to move in his bones, he just must get out again. Moreover, as civilization,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/the-human-animal-originally-came-from-out-of-doors-when-spring-begins/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [“No one ever listened themselves out of a job.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/no-one-ever-listened-themselves-out-of-a-job/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [Somebody has inquired as to whether I will be going to the opening baseball game. I hope to have that pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/somebody-has-inquired-as-to-whether-i-will-be-going-to-the-opening/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [It is always possible that occasional individuals may have overstepped the law and humanity in treatment of criminals and those charged with crime, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/it-is-always-possible-that-occasional-individuals-may-have/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [One of the primary necessities of the world for the maintenance of peace is the elimination of the frictions which arise from competitive armament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/one-of-the-primary-necessities-of-the-world-for-the-maintenance-of/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [Man is still by instinct a predatory animal given to devilish aggression. The discoveries of science have immensely increased productivity of material things. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/man-is-still-by-instinct-a-predatory-animal-given-to-devilish/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [You convey too great a compliment when you say that I have earned the right to the presidential nomination. No man can establish such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/you-convey-too-great-a-compliment-when-you-say-that-i-have-earned-the/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [“Leadership cannot be created synthetically. Men must be what they were made by the Almighty or the American people will find them out in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/leadership-cannot-be-created-synthetically-men-must-be-what-they-were/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [When we are sick, we want an uncommon doctor; when we have a construction job to do, we want an uncommon engineer, and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/when-we-are-sick-we-want-an-uncommon-doctor-when-we-have-a/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [My boyhood ambition was to be able to earn my own living, without the help of anybody, anywhere,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/my-boyhood-ambition-was-to-be-able-to-earn-my-own-living-without-the/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [If America is to be run by the people, it is the people who must think. And we do not need to put on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/if-america-is-to-be-run-by-the-people-it-is-the-people-who-must-think/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [The New Deal repudiation of democracy has left the Republican Party alone the guardian of the Ark of the Covenant with its charter of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/the-new-deal-repudiation-of-democracy-has-left-the-republican-party/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) [Explore all 290 Herbert Hoover quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) ## 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": "It is those moral and spiritual qualities which rise alone in free men, which will fulfill the meaning of the word American. 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