--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No American is ever made better off by…" description: "\"No American is ever made better off by pulling a fellow American down, and all of us are made better off whenever any one of us is made better off.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/john-f-kennedy-246_america_no-american-is-ever-made-better-off-by-p_345679.jpg" --- # No American is ever made better off by pulling a fellow… ![“No American is ever made better off by pulling a fellow American down, and all of us are made better off whenever any one of us is made better off.” quote by John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/john-f-kennedy-246_america_no-american-is-ever-made-better-off-by-p_345679.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/john-f-kennedy-246_america_no-american-is-ever-made-better-off-by-p_345679.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/john-f-kennedy-246_america_no-american-is-ever-made-better-off-by-p_345679.jpg) > “No American is ever made better off by pulling a fellow American down, and all of us are made better off whenever any one of us is made better off.” [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Collective prosperity grows when individuals uplift each other rather than undermine. **In simple terms:** Helping others benefits everyone. Key Takeaway Promote cooperation over competition. Themes cooperation mutual benefit social responsibility economics ethics Mood optimistic inspirational Type political motivational When to use this quote - community building - business practices - political discourse Key Concepts public policy social psychology economics Questions to Reflect On - How can societies ensure equal opportunities for uplift? - What policies best support collective advancement? A Different Perspective The statement may overlook systemic barriers to success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [American Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-better-731031/) [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Better Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-better/) [Down and](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down-and/) [Fellow American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellow-american-3203145/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) ## Related quotes > [It's not easy playing a fellow American. I obviously want all of us to do well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sofia-kenin/it-s-not-easy-playing-a-fellow-american-i-obviously-want-all-of-us-to/) [Sofia Kenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sofia-kenin/) > [“I may not be the greatest American, but I am a better American than all the people born in Canada that still live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-may-not-be-the-greatest-american-but-i-am-a-better-american-than/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [American can do better, and help is on the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/american-can-do-better-and-help-is-on-the-way/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [No matter what your profession – doctor, lawyer, architect, accountant – if you are an American, you better be good at the touchy-feely service…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-matter-what-your-profession-doctor-lawyer-architect-accountant-if/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I understand things that are American, for better or worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-understand-things-that-are-american-for-better-or-worse/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [Instead of worrying about who's American and who's not, here's a better idea: Create incentives for any global company to do what we'd like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/instead-of-worrying-about-who-s-american-and-who-s-not-here-s-a/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/when-we-strive-to-become-better-than-we-are-everything-around-us/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The more relaxed you are, the better you are at everything: the better you are with your loved ones, the better you are with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-murray/the-more-relaxed-you-are-the-better-you-are-at-everything-the-better/) [Bill Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-murray/) > [We're all better off...when we're all better off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-liu/we-re-all-better-off-when-we-re-all-better-off/) [Eric Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-liu/) > [For me, what is more important is to get better and better every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-shankar/for-me-what-is-more-important-is-to-get-better-and-better-every-day/) [Vijay Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-shankar/) > [The moment someone tells you that you're not good enough, is the moment you know you're better off than they are, and better off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-moment-someone-tells-you-that-you-re-not-good-enough-is-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The more you read, the better you get, the more better you get, the more you like it; and the more you like it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-trelease/the-more-you-read-the-better-you-get-the-more-better-you-get-the-more/) [Jim Trelease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-trelease/) > [“You better be a better judge of character than the character judging you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cinder-rella/you-better-be-a-better-judge-of-character-than-the-character-judging/) [Cinder Rella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cinder-rella/) > [To copy the truth can be a good thing, but to invent the truth is better, much better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuseppe-verdi/to-copy-the-truth-can-be-a-good-thing-but-to-invent-the-truth-is/) [Giuseppe Verdi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuseppe-verdi/) > [I'm looking forward to getting better, to be a better player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-valanciunas/i-m-looking-forward-to-getting-better-to-be-a-better-player/) [Jonas Valanciunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-valanciunas/) ## More by John F. Kennedy > [“We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-shall-pay-any-price-bear-any-burden-meet-any-hardship-support-any/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We stand today on the edge of a new frontier - the frontier of the 1960's - a frontier of unknown opportunities and perils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-stand-today-on-the-edge-of-a-new-frontier-the-frontier-of-the-1960/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We will neglect our cities to our peril, for in neglecting them we neglect the nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-will-neglect-our-cities-to-our-peril-for-in-neglecting-them-we/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We must recognize that every nation determines its policies in terms of its own interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-must-recognize-that-every-nation-determines-its-policies-in-terms/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Someone always needs rescuing, yet there's only one person who ever seems to understand you. It's a lot like being Lassie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/someone-always-needs-rescuing-yet-there-s-only-one-person-who-ever/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Student loans have been helpful to many. But they offer neither incentive nor assistance to those students who, by reason of family or other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/student-loans-have-been-helpful-to-many-but-they-offer-neither/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Great crises produce great men, and great deeds of courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/great-crises-produce-great-men-and-great-deeds-of-courage/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [There comes a point where you see no evidence that the carrot and diplomacy are working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/there-comes-a-point-where-you-see-no-evidence-that-the-carrot-and/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Suspicion on one side breeds suspicion on the other, and new weapons beget counter-weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/suspicion-on-one-side-breeds-suspicion-on-the-other-and-new-weapons/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We have some of the most influential Members of Congress here today, and I do hope that we can get this appropriation for these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-have-some-of-the-most-influential-members-of-congress-here-today/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Disarmament without checks is but a shadow - and a community without law is but a shell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/disarmament-without-checks-is-but-a-shadow-and-a-community-without/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [This is one country. It has become one country because all of us and all the people who came here had an equal chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/this-is-one-country-it-has-become-one-country-because-all-of-us-and/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [“The courage of life is often a less dramatic spectacle than the courage of a final moment; but it is no less a magnificent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-courage-of-life-is-often-a-less-dramatic-spectacle-than-the/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Washington is a city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/washington-is-a-city-of-southern-efficiency-and-northern-charm/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Peace does not rest in the charters and covenants alone. It lies in the hearts and minds of all people. So let us not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/peace-does-not-rest-in-the-charters-and-covenants-alone-it-lies-in/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) [Explore all 824 John F. Kennedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) ## 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": "No American is ever made better off by pulling a fellow American down, and all of us are made better off whenever any one of us is made better off.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John F. 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