--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The strength of America is not in…" description: "\"The strength of America is not in Washington.\" — J. C. Watts" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12e/j-c-watts-8129_america_the-strength-of-america-is-not-in-washin_457395.png" --- # The strength of America is not in Washington. ![“The strength of America is not in Washington.” quote by J. C. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12e/j-c-watts-8129_america_the-strength-of-america-is-not-in-washin_457395.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12e/j-c-watts-8129_america_the-strength-of-america-is-not-in-washin_457395.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12e/j-c-watts-8129_america_the-strength-of-america-is-not-in-washin_457395.png) > “The strength of America is not in Washington.” [J. C. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-watts/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True strength of a nation lies in its people, not its capital. **In simple terms:** People are the real power. Key Takeaway Invest in citizens. Themes democracy people power national identity Mood inspirational reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - community organizing - education reform - public health initiatives Key Concepts civic engagement grassroots movements Questions to Reflect On - What policies empower local communities? - How can we measure national strength beyond politics? A Different Perspective Centralized power can still dominate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) [Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washington/) ## Related quotes > [We believe that the best of America is not all in Washington, D.C. ... We believe that the best of America is in these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah/we-believe-that-the-best-of-america-is-not-all-in-washington-d-c-we/) [Sarah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah/) > [At the end of the day, Obamacare is bad for America. Washington, D.C., exempted themselves. U.S. senators still do not have to be on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-huelskamp/at-the-end-of-the-day-obamacare-is-bad-for-america-washington-d-c/) [Tim Huelskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-huelskamp/) > [Diversity of thought and culture and religion and ideas has been the strength of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-locke/diversity-of-thought-and-culture-and-religion-and-ideas-has-been-the/) [Gary Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-locke/) > [We must live our lives in such a way that our children, and their children after them, will form a natural and lasting commitment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-must-live-our-lives-in-such-a-way-that-our-children-and-their/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Our sense of optimism, our can-do spirit, that's a source of great strength in America. But when there are no limits at all and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-beinart/our-sense-of-optimism-our-can-do-spirit-that-s-a-source-of-great/) [Peter Beinart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-beinart/) > [It is a great strength in America that we breed athletes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jozy-altidore/it-is-a-great-strength-in-america-that-we-breed-athletes/) [Jozy Altidore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jozy-altidore/) > [The great and admirable strength of America consists in this, that America is truly the American people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/the-great-and-admirable-strength-of-america-consists-in-this-that/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [I do not attach much importance to America's bombs. I attach importance to her great vitality and integrity. The strength of America is deeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/i-do-not-attach-much-importance-to-america-s-bombs-i-attach/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [America's greatest strength, and its greatest weakness, is our belief in second chances, our belief that we can always start over, that things can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-walton/america-s-greatest-strength-and-its-greatest-weakness-is-our-belief/) Anthony Walton > [Everything about Washington is inconsistent, because they say one thing and do another, which is what my opponent, Claire McCaskill, is very, very good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-steelman/everything-about-washington-is-inconsistent-because-they-say-one/) [Sarah Steelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-steelman/) > [What we have ignored is what citizens can do and the importance of real involvement of the people involved - versus just having somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elinor-ostrom/what-we-have-ignored-is-what-citizens-can-do-and-the-importance-of/) [Elinor Ostrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elinor-ostrom/) > [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/) [Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/) > [I like 'The Usual Suspects'. Great film. I also like 'Scarface', films like that. Lots of gangster films. I really like watching all kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barkhad-abdi/i-like-the-usual-suspects-great-film-i-also-like-scarface-films-like/) [Barkhad Abdi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barkhad-abdi/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) ## More by J. C. Watts > [Republicans think that the NAACP is the only voice in the black community. It is a voice in the black community. But it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-watts/republicans-think-that-the-naacp-is-the-only-voice-in-the-black/) [J. C. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-watts/) > [The more I ponder some of the boneheaded decisions GOP candidates have made of late, I can't bring myself to believe that they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-watts/the-more-i-ponder-some-of-the-boneheaded-decisions-gop-candidates/) [J. C. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-watts/) > [Individual responsibility, hard work, paying attention in school, faith, family all these things are important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-watts/individual-responsibility-hard-work-paying-attention-in-school-faith/) [J. C. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-watts/) > [I believe government should be loyal to parents, teachers and children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-watts/i-believe-government-should-be-loyal-to-parents-teachers-and-children/) [J. C. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-watts/) > [I think that anybody that stays in school, gets good grades, pays the price, I think we are wealthy enough in the public and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-watts/i-think-that-anybody-that-stays-in-school-gets-good-grades-pays-the/) [J. C. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-watts/) > [Having a Republican candidate speak at the NAACP convention is like trying to build a house starting at the roof. If you don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-watts/having-a-republican-candidate-speak-at-the-naacp-convention-is-like/) [J. C. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-watts/) > [You always hear 'black Republican,' but you never hear 'white Democrat.' We've got to get beyond the labels and stereotypes. Other people have hang-ups…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-watts/you-always-hear-black-republican-but-you-never-hear-white-democrat-we/) [J. C. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-watts/) > [There is a war being waged right now on prayer and religion by liberals who are taking every opportunity to make America as God-less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-watts/there-is-a-war-being-waged-right-now-on-prayer-and-religion-by/) [J. C. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-watts/) > [As an Oklahoma quarterback, you learn to perform under pressure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-watts/as-an-oklahoma-quarterback-you-learn-to-perform-under-pressure/) [J. C. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-watts/) > [Good policy makes good politics and what I've done has been good politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-watts/good-policy-makes-good-politics-and-what-i-ve-done-has-been-good/) [J. C. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-watts/) > [It takes a lot of strength to let go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-watts/it-takes-a-lot-of-strength-to-let-go/) [J. C. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-watts/) > [A Black man voting for the Republicans makes about as much sense as a chicken voting for Col. Sanders,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-watts/a-black-man-voting-for-the-republicans-makes-about-as-much-sense-as-a/) [J. C. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-watts/) > [The establishment wonders why we can't get more of the black vote. It's because it's not doing the things necessary to establish a deeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-watts/the-establishment-wonders-why-we-can-t-get-more-of-the-black-vote-it/) [J. C. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-watts/) > [The Republican Party is terrific at determining how a program will impact the federal budget, but we're not nearly as good as the Democrats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-watts/the-republican-party-is-terrific-at-determining-how-a-program-will/) [J. C. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-watts/) > [In 2008, as a matter of fact, I had people accusing me of being a Senator Obama supporter because I wouldn't slam him. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-watts/in-2008-as-a-matter-of-fact-i-had-people-accusing-me-of-being-a/) [J. C. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-watts/) [Explore all 84 J. C. Watts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-watts/) ## 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. 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