--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are all the sons or daughters of…" description: "\"We are all the sons or daughters of immigrants - some more recent than others - but all dedicated to the triumph of an idea that serves as the touchsto..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/jack-kemp-8099_america_we-are-all-the-sons-or-daughters-of-immi_316661.jpg" --- # We are all the sons or daughters of immigrants - some more… ![“We are all the sons or daughters of immigrants - some more recent than others - but all dedicated to the triumph of an idea that serves as the touchstone of what it means to be an American. This America is the only America that we have hitherto known - if being conservative has anything to do with…” quote by Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/jack-kemp-8099_america_we-are-all-the-sons-or-daughters-of-immi_316661.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/jack-kemp-8099_america_we-are-all-the-sons-or-daughters-of-immi_316661.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/jack-kemp-8099_america_we-are-all-the-sons-or-daughters-of-immi_316661.jpg) > “We are all the sons or daughters of immigrants - some more recent than others - but all dedicated to the triumph of an idea that serves as the touchstone of what it means to be an American. This America is the only America that we have hitherto known - if being conservative has anything to do with conserving the principles of our past, then no conservative has any business bashing legal immigration.” [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. America’s strength lies in its immigrant roots; conservatism should protect, not reject, legal immigration. **In simple terms:** America thrives on immigrants; conservatives should preserve this principle. Key Takeaway Support legal immigration as part of American heritage. Themes immigration American identity conservatism heritage Mood pragmatic hopeful Type political inspirational When to use this quote - policy debates - community building - education - media commentary Key Concepts political theory nationalism Questions to Reflect On - How does immigration shape national values? - What role should conservatism play in immigration policy? A Different Perspective Some argue immigration challenges cultural cohesion, which the quote overlooks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [Conserving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conserving/) [Daughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daughter/) [Dedicated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dedicated/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Immigrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrants/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Legal immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legal-immigration/) [Our past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-past/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) [Triumph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/triumph/) ## Related quotes > [You've got to remember that west of Winnipeg the ridings the Liberals hold are dominated by people who are either recent Asian immigrants or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/you-ve-got-to-remember-that-west-of-winnipeg-the-ridings-the-liberals/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [People have had certain assumptions in the past about Conservative governments, partly because of some of the things that happened in the 1980s, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-hunt/people-have-had-certain-assumptions-in-the-past-about-conservative/) [Jeremy Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-hunt/) > [We are going to make sure that America is open to legal immigration because that is wealth and the talent and the entrepreneurial skills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/we-are-going-to-make-sure-that-america-is-open-to-legal-immigration/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [Our example - and commitment - to freedom has changed the world. But along with the genius of our Declaration of Independence, our Constitution,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/our-example-and-commitment-to-freedom-has-changed-the-world-but-along/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Number one, we need to get in shape, number two we need to shoot, number three, we need to learn self-defense, and number four,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-shea/number-one-we-need-to-get-in-shape-number-two-we-need-to-shoot-number/) [Matt Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-shea/) > [And this President wakes up every morning, looks out across America and is proud to announce, 'It could be worse.' It could be worse?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/and-this-president-wakes-up-every-morning-looks-out-across-america/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [It's certainly not too late to change to the winning side. But you know, you also have the freedom to stay just where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/it-s-certainly-not-too-late-to-change-to-the-winning-side-but-you/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [And children, if your parents haven't been teaching you what it means to be an American, let 'em know and nail 'em on it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/and-children-if-your-parents-haven-t-been-teaching-you-what-it-means/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Sitting at the table doesn't make you a diner, unless you eat some of what's on that plate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/sitting-at-the-table-doesn-t-make-you-a-diner-unless-you-eat-some-of/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Each generation of Americans must define what it means to be an American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/each-generation-of-americans-must-define-what-it-means-to-be-an/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [Every library answers a twofold need, which is often also a twofold obsession: that of conserving certain objects (books) and that of organizing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-perec/every-library-answers-a-twofold-need-which-is-often-also-a-twofold/) [Georges Perec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-perec/) > [And perhaps this has to do with what I sense is a turning away from the idea of religion as being about conserving a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pattison/and-perhaps-this-has-to-do-with-what-i-sense-is-a-turning-away-from/) [George Pattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pattison/) > [The whole world is burdened with young fogies. Old men with ossified minds are easily dealt with. But men who look young, act young,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/the-whole-world-is-burdened-with-young-fogies-old-men-with-ossified/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [The world needs water. For every bottle of wine you drink you contribute to conserving the drinking water reserves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-emile-victor/the-world-needs-water-for-every-bottle-of-wine-you-drink-you/) Paul-Emile Victor > [There are many things in America worth conserving. But I am one of those conservatives who believes the most important of those things is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyn-nofziger/there-are-many-things-in-america-worth-conserving-but-i-am-one-of/) [Lyn Nofziger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyn-nofziger/) ## More by Jack Kemp > [I think it is important for all those young out there - who someday hope to play real football, where you throw it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/i-think-it-is-important-for-all-those-young-out-there-who-someday/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [Conservatives define compassion not by the number of people who recieve some kind of government aid but rather by the number of people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/conservatives-define-compassion-not-by-the-number-of-people-who/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [I learned about the market's power when I was traded to the Buffalo Bills for $100.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/i-learned-about-the-market-s-power-when-i-was-traded-to-the-buffalo/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [I think Bush understands the Internet and the incredible expansion of global e-commerce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/i-think-bush-understands-the-internet-and-the-incredible-expansion-of/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [There's no limit to what free men and free women in a free market with free enterprise can accomplish when people are free to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/there-s-no-limit-to-what-free-men-and-free-women-in-a-free-market/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [There's always cause for concern if bad policies are pursued.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/there-s-always-cause-for-concern-if-bad-policies-are-pursued/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [The Soviet Union represents a threat in terms of might. It is a joke in terms of its economy and what it has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/the-soviet-union-represents-a-threat-in-terms-of-might-it-is-a-joke/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [You don't boo at a Kemp rally. You boo at football games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/you-don-t-boo-at-a-kemp-rally-you-boo-at-football-games/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [I have come to think that capital punishment should be abolished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/i-have-come-to-think-that-capital-punishment-should-be-abolished/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [I don't use labels a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/i-don-t-use-labels-a-lot/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [Affirmative action based on quotas is wrong - wrong because it is antithetical to the genius of the American idea: individual liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/affirmative-action-based-on-quotas-is-wrong-wrong-because-it-is/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [There are a lot of grotesqueries in politics, not the least of which is the fund-raising side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/there-are-a-lot-of-grotesqueries-in-politics-not-the-least-of-which/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [In a recent fire Bob Dole's library burned down. Both books were lost. And he hadn't even finished coloring one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/in-a-recent-fire-bob-dole-s-library-burned-down-both-books-were-lost/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [Republicans many times can't get the words 'equality of opportunity' out of their mouths. Their lips do not form that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/republicans-many-times-can-t-get-the-words-equality-of-opportunity/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [I've been a kind of a wildcatter. I've been able to say anything I wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/i-ve-been-a-kind-of-a-wildcatter-i-ve-been-able-to-say-anything-i/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) [Explore all 84 Jack Kemp quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) ## 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": "We are all the sons or daughters of immigrants - some more recent than others - but all dedicated to the triumph of an idea that serves as the touchstone of what it means to be an American. 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