--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are the nation of human progress, and…" description: "\"“We are the nation of human progress, and who will, what can, set limits to our onward march?”\" — John L. O'Sullivan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/john-l-o-sullivan-88377_human-progress_we-are-the-nation-of-human-progress-and_1973433.jpg" --- # We are the nation of human progress, and who will, what… ![“We are the nation of human progress, and who will, what can, set limits to our onward march?” quote by John L. O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/john-l-o-sullivan-88377_human-progress_we-are-the-nation-of-human-progress-and_1973433.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/john-l-o-sullivan-88377_human-progress_we-are-the-nation-of-human-progress-and_1973433.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/john-l-o-sullivan-88377_human-progress_we-are-the-nation-of-human-progress-and_1973433.jpg) > ““We are the nation of human progress, and who will, what can, set limits to our onward march?”” [John L. O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-o-sullivan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human progress is boundless; we must continually push forward without self‑imposed limits. **In simple terms:** Progress has no limits. Key Takeaway Embrace limitless ambition. Themes progress human potential optimism Mood optimistic determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - innovation - exploration - policy making - education reform Key Concepts expansion future‑orientation Questions to Reflect On - What limits should we still consider? - How can ambition be balanced with responsibility? A Different Perspective Overconfidence may ignore practical constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Human progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-progress/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Limits Onward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits-onward-3326515/) [March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/march/) [Nation Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation-human-3326516/) [Onward March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/onward-march-1544187/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) ## Related quotes > [“From family to nation, every human group is a society of island universes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/from-family-to-nation-every-human-group-is-a-society-of-island/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [How can I come from a nation? How can a human being come from a concept?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taiye-selasi/how-can-i-come-from-a-nation-how-can-a-human-being-come-from-a-concept/) [Taiye Selasi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taiye-selasi/) > [Quite frankly, black folks have always been at the core of what it's meant to make this nation human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/quite-frankly-black-folks-have-always-been-at-the-core-of-what-it-s/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [Every nation, every human being that came across earth had a song and sang in some way to their God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-dorsey/every-nation-every-human-being-that-came-across-earth-had-a-song-and/) [Thomas A. Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-dorsey/) > [The onward march of the human race requires that the heights around it constantly blaze with noble lessons of courage. Deeds of daring dazzle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/the-onward-march-of-the-human-race-requires-that-the-heights-around-2/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [If the church would only be the church- if Christians would only be Christians- nothing could halt our onward march.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/if-the-church-would-only-be-the-church-if-christians-would-only-be/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [No tin-hat brigade of goose-stepping vigilantes or bibble-babbling mob of blackguarding and corporation paid scoundrels will prevent the onward march of labor, or divert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-lewis/no-tin-hat-brigade-of-goose-stepping-vigilantes-or-bibble-babbling/) [John L. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-lewis/) > [It is the unshakeable determination and will of our Party to put forward young people in the vanguard of the ranks of the general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-jong-un/it-is-the-unshakeable-determination-and-will-of-our-party-to-put/) [Kim Jong-un](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-jong-un/) > [While the white man keeps the impetus of his own proud, onward march, the dark races will yield and serve, perforce. But let the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/while-the-white-man-keeps-the-impetus-of-his-own-proud-onward-march/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [We build but to tear down. Most of our work and resource is squandered. Our onward march is marked by devastation. Everywhere there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/we-build-but-to-tear-down-most-of-our-work-and-resource-is-squandered/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) > [“When an invading force crosses a river in its onward march, do not advance to meet it in mid-stream.  It will be best to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/when-an-invading-force-crosses-a-river-in-its-onward-march-do-not/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [However, President Obama's unwillingness to attend the Paris march is a personal failing on his part that I believe does damage to the pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-ungar/however-president-obama-s-unwillingness-to-attend-the-paris-march-is/) [Rick Ungar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-ungar/) > [It is not the child as a physical but as a psychic being that can provide a strong impetus to the betterment of mankind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/it-is-not-the-child-as-a-physical-but-as-a-psychic-being-that-can/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [“Whereas liberalism merged with the milder versions of nationalism to protect the unique experiences of each human community, evolutionary humanists such as Hitler identified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/whereas-liberalism-merged-with-the-milder-versions-of-nationalism-to/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) ## More by John L. O'Sullivan > [“Mr. Melville is evidently trying to ascertain how far the public will consent to be imposed upon. He is gauging, at once, our gullibilty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-o-sullivan/mr-melville-is-evidently-trying-to-ascertain-how-far-the-public-will/) [John L. O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-o-sullivan/) > [“The best government is that which governs least.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-o-sullivan/the-best-government-is-that-which-governs-least/) [John L. O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-o-sullivan/) [Explore all 3 John L. O'Sullivan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-o-sullivan/) ## More Human progress quotes > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [“Whereas liberalism merged with the milder versions of nationalism to protect the unique experiences of each human community, evolutionary humanists such as Hitler identified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/whereas-liberalism-merged-with-the-milder-versions-of-nationalism-to/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [It is not the child as a physical but as a psychic being that can provide a strong impetus to the betterment of mankind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/it-is-not-the-child-as-a-physical-but-as-a-psychic-being-that-can/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [War, and the preparation for war, are the two greatest obstacles to human progress, fostering a vicious cycle of arms buildups, violence and poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/war-and-the-preparation-for-war-are-the-two-greatest-obstacles-to/) [Oscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [Knowledge of Nature is an account at bank, where each dividend is added to the principal and the interest is ever compounded; and hence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grove-karl-gilbert/knowledge-of-nature-is-an-account-at-bank-where-each-dividend-is/) [Grove Karl Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grove-karl-gilbert/) > [“In order to build a truly wise society devoid of any kind of existential crisis, it is imperative that the individuals foster a healthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/in-order-to-build-a-truly-wise-society-devoid-of-any-kind-of/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Great steps in human progress are made by things that don't work the way philosophy thought they should. If things always worked the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/great-steps-in-human-progress-are-made-by-things-that-don-t-work-the/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) > [Alcoholism, the opium habit and tobaccoism are a trio of poison habits which have been weighty handicaps to human progress during the last three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harvey-kellogg/alcoholism-the-opium-habit-and-tobaccoism-are-a-trio-of-poison-habits/) [John Harvey Kellogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harvey-kellogg/) > [Thank God for the creative ideas that enrich life by adding your own creative contributions to human progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thank-god-for-the-creative-ideas-that-enrich-life-by-adding-your-own/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The releasing of attachment to object and certain beliefs was already indelibly written as a very necessary step in my human progress toward being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlo-morgan/the-releasing-of-attachment-to-object-and-certain-beliefs-was-already/) [Marlo Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlo-morgan/) > [The whole hope of human progress is suspended on the ever-growing influence of the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-seward/the-whole-hope-of-human-progress-is-suspended-on-the-ever-growing/) [William H. Seward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-seward/) > [The brain is conceded to be the master organ of the body, the regulator of life, the source of human progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-tilney/the-brain-is-conceded-to-be-the-master-organ-of-the-body-the/) [Frederick Tilney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-tilney/) > [“Of the Wobblies, most probably, but not just them. Of hope, perhaps, that her country might rise to the challenge, might override the legacies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-downing/of-the-wobblies-most-probably-but-not-just-them-of-hope-perhaps-that/) [David Downing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-downing/) > [To be sure, the doctrine of a personal God interfering with natural events could never be refuted, in the real sense, by science, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/to-be-sure-the-doctrine-of-a-personal-god-interfering-with-natural/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“Without constructive skepticism, without human progress.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-zhu/without-constructive-skepticism-without-human-progress/) [Pearl Zhu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-zhu/) [Browse all 210 Human progress quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-progress/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We are the nation of human progress, and who will, what can, set limits to our onward march?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John L. 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