--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Americans have always believed…" description: "\"Americans have always believed that-within the law-all kinds of people should be allowed to take the initiative in all kinds of activities. And out of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/205/john-w-gardner-7687_activity_americans-have-always-believed-that-with_979752.jpg" --- # Americans have always believed that-within the law-all… ![“Americans have always believed that-within the law-all kinds of people should be allowed to take the initiative in all kinds of activities. And out of that pluralism has come virtually all of our creativity. Freedom is real only to the extent that there are diverse alternatives.” quote by John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/205/john-w-gardner-7687_activity_americans-have-always-believed-that-with_979752.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/205/john-w-gardner-7687_activity_americans-have-always-believed-that-with_979752.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/205/john-w-gardner-7687_activity_americans-have-always-believed-that-with_979752.jpg) > “Americans have always believed that-within the law-all kinds of people should be allowed to take the initiative in all kinds of activities. And out of that pluralism has come virtually all of our creativity. Freedom is real only to the extent that there are diverse alternatives.” [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societal creativity thrives when law permits diverse people to act freely across many activities. **In simple terms:** Freedom fuels creativity through diverse choices. Key Takeaway Encourage inclusive policies that allow varied initiatives. Themes pluralism creativity freedom diversity Mood optimistic reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - public policy design - community projects - entrepreneurial ventures - educational curricula Key Concepts social capital innovation civic engagement Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance diversity with unity? - What policies best protect pluralism? A Different Perspective Too much diversity can hinder consensus and coordinated action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activities Pluralism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activities-pluralism-1937286/) [Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) [All kinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-kinds/) [Alternatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alternatives/) [Always believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always-believe/) [Americans Believed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans-believed-1034595/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Creativity Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity-freedom-396296/) [Diverse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diverse/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Initiative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/initiative/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pluralism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pluralism/) [Pluralism Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pluralism-come-1937287/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) ## Related quotes > [“But a society in which pluralism is not undergirded by some shared values and held together by some measure of mutual trust simply cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/but-a-society-in-which-pluralism-is-not-undergirded-by-some-shared/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [ Perhaps the most striking feature of the \[nonprofit\] sector is its relative freedom from constraints and its resulting pluralism. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/perhaps-the-most-striking-feature-of-the-nonprofit-sector-is-its/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [“If personal space is vital to creativity, so is freedom from "peer pressure".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/if-personal-space-is-vital-to-creativity-so-is-freedom-from-peer/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [What attracted me was less art itself than the artist’s life and all that it meant for me: the idea of creativity and freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bonnard/what-attracted-me-was-less-art-itself-than-the-artist-s-life-and-all/) [Pierre Bonnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bonnard/) > [When you aren't satisfied with what has already been done, make something better. That is the greatest responsibility and the true freedom of creativity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/when-you-aren-t-satisfied-with-what-has-already-been-done-make/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [It's hard to be fully creative without structure and constraint. Try to paint without a canvas. Creativity and freedom are two sides of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/it-s-hard-to-be-fully-creative-without-structure-and-constraint-try/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [Uncertainty is the fertile ground of pure creativity and freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/uncertainty-is-the-fertile-ground-of-pure-creativity-and-freedom/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Creativity and freedom are two sides of the same coin. I like the best of both worlds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/creativity-and-freedom-are-two-sides-of-the-same-coin-i-like-the-best/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [“Although most Americans believed in Manifest Destiny, few could agree on exactly which lands the United States was supposed to govern.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-carey-jr/although-most-americans-believed-in-manifest-destiny-few-could-agree/) [Charles W. Carey Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-carey-jr/) > [When you arent satisfied with what has already been done, make something better. That is the greatest responsibility and the true freedom of creativity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suman-rai/when-you-arent-satisfied-with-what-has-already-been-done-make/) [Suman Rai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suman-rai/) > [“Generally speaking, Americans cussed, smoke, and drank, and the Shamys had it on good authority that a fair number of them used drugs. Americans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohja-kahf/generally-speaking-americans-cussed-smoke-and-drank-and-the-shamys/) [Mohja Kahf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohja-kahf/) > [Innovating today is about creativity; it is about the freedom to act... if you look at the big conglomerate... it's highly regulated. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-kaeser/innovating-today-is-about-creativity-it-is-about-the-freedom-to-act/) [Joe Kaeser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-kaeser/) > [In the wisdom of uncertainty lies the freedom from our past, from the known, from the prison of past conditioning. Uncertainty is the fertile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/in-the-wisdom-of-uncertainty-lies-the-freedom-from-our-past-from-the/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Americans once believed that their prosperity and way of life depended on having assured access to Persian Gulf oil. Today, that is no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bacevich/americans-once-believed-that-their-prosperity-and-way-of-life/) [Andrew Bacevich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bacevich/) > [It's one of the things I really admire about Sly - we were all allowed to use our creativity, to have freedom of expression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-graham/it-s-one-of-the-things-i-really-admire-about-sly-we-were-all-allowed/) [Larry Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-graham/) ## More by John W. Gardner > [“We are continually faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/we-are-continually-faced-with-a-series-of-great-opportunities/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [One man interacting creatively with others can move the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/one-man-interacting-creatively-with-others-can-move-the-world/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [To sensible men, every day is a day of reckoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/to-sensible-men-every-day-is-a-day-of-reckoning/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [All excellence involves discipline and tenacity of purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/all-excellence-involves-discipline-and-tenacity-of-purpose/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [Tax reduction has an almost irresistible appeal to the politician, and it is no doubt also gratifying to the citizen. It means more dollars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/tax-reduction-has-an-almost-irresistible-appeal-to-the-politician-and/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [We get richer and richer in filthier and filthier communities until we reach a final state of affluent misery - crocus on a garbage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/we-get-richer-and-richer-in-filthier-and-filthier-communities-until/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [At home we have lost the capacity to see what is before us. Travel shakes us out of our apathy, and we regain an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/at-home-we-have-lost-the-capacity-to-see-what-is-before-us-travel/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [Some people have greatness thrust upon them. Few have excellence thrust upon them ... They achieve it. They do not achieve it unwittingly by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/some-people-have-greatness-thrust-upon-them-few-have-excellence/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [Leaders come in many forms, with many styles and diverse qualities. There are quiet leaders and leaders one can hear in the next county.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/leaders-come-in-many-forms-with-many-styles-and-diverse-qualities/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [The ultimate goal of the educational system is to shift to the individual the burden of pursuing his education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/the-ultimate-goal-of-the-educational-system-is-to-shift-to-the/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [The first and last task of aleader is to keep hope alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/the-first-and-last-task-of-aleader-is-to-keep-hope-alive/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [An excellent plumber is infinitely more admirable than an incompetent philosopher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/an-excellent-plumber-is-infinitely-more-admirable-than-an-incompetent/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [There is no learning without some difficulty and fumbling. If you want to keep on learning, you must keep on risking failure-all your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/there-is-no-learning-without-some-difficulty-and-fumbling-if-you-want/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [All of us celebrate our values in our behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/all-of-us-celebrate-our-values-in-our-behavior/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [Some people seem to believe that for each problem there is a solution readily available - a solution that can be promptly achieved by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/some-people-seem-to-believe-that-for-each-problem-there-is-a-solution/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Explore all 88 John W. Gardner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) ## More Activity quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/) [Gero Miesenbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gero-miesenbock/) > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/) [Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/) > [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Americans have always believed that-within the law-all kinds of people should be allowed to take the initiative in all kinds of activities. 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