--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This country is based on a simple…" description: "\"This country is based on a simple bargain, and that bargain is if you work hard, you get to get ahead.\" — Katie McGinty" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/katie-mcginty-26162_ahead_this-country-is-based-on-a-simple-bargai_1565278.jpg" --- # This country is based on a simple bargain, and that… ![“This country is based on a simple bargain, and that bargain is if you work hard, you get to get ahead.” quote by Katie McGinty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/katie-mcginty-26162_ahead_this-country-is-based-on-a-simple-bargai_1565278.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/katie-mcginty-26162_ahead_this-country-is-based-on-a-simple-bargai_1565278.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/katie-mcginty-26162_ahead_this-country-is-based-on-a-simple-bargai_1565278.jpg) > “This country is based on a simple bargain, and that bargain is if you work hard, you get to get ahead.” [Katie McGinty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcginty/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The nation's promise is that hard work leads to upward mobility, but this is a simplified view. **In simple terms:** Hard work supposedly leads to success. Key Takeaway Recognize effort but question systemic barriers. Themes meritocracy hard work social contract Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - education pursuit - entrepreneurship - policy advocacy Key Concepts economic theory social mobility Questions to Reflect On - Is hard work truly sufficient for success? - What factors limit upward mobility? A Different Perspective Hard work alone often isn’t enough due to inequality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bargain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bargain/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/) ## Related quotes > [A bargain is a bargain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lyly/a-bargain-is-a-bargain/) [John Lyly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lyly/) > [When the chips are down and it seems like it's so hard for you to move ahead. Just know that I am by your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danity-kane/when-the-chips-are-down-and-it-seems-like-it-s-so-hard-for-you-to/) [Danity Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danity-kane/) > [“I water my driveway, and I drive a hard bargain to work (it gets great gas mileage).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-water-my-driveway-and-i-drive-a-hard-bargain-to-work-it-gets-great/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [My heart is a bargain today. Will you take it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/my-heart-is-a-bargain-today-will-you-take-it/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) > [A bargain is something you dont need at a price you cant resist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sangfroid-stalker/a-bargain-is-something-you-dont-need-at-a-price-you-cant-resist/) [SangFroid Stalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sangfroid-stalker/) > [Bargain disturb our inner peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kishore-bansal/bargain-disturb-our-inner-peace/) [Kishore Bansal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kishore-bansal/) > [On a good bargain think twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/on-a-good-bargain-think-twice/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [Never trade a secret, you'll always get the short end of the bargain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/never-trade-a-secret-you-ll-always-get-the-short-end-of-the-bargain/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [I'm a bargain shopper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheyenne-kimball/i-m-a-bargain-shopper/) [Cheyenne Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheyenne-kimball/) > [“Employment bargains your life and time for a piece of currency”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/employment-bargains-your-life-and-time-for-a-piece-of-currency/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Public employees should have the right to bargain for better wages and working conditions, just like all employees do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/public-employees-should-have-the-right-to-bargain-for-better-wages/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [“Knowledge was scattered treasure, education organized it into art, commerce and science.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/knowledge-was-scattered-treasure-education-organized-it-into-art/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“LIFE is the biggest bargain you can get.You get it for FREE! Yiddish saying”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiddish/life-is-the-biggest-bargain-you-can-get-you-get-it-for-free-yiddish/) Yiddish > [Part of the bargain of being alive is that one takes a chance at dying a premature or painful death, be it from violence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/part-of-the-bargain-of-being-alive-is-that-one-takes-a-chance-at/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [During three decades from 1947 to 1977, the nation implemented what might be called a basic bargain with American workers. Employers paid them enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/during-three-decades-from-1947-to-1977-the-nation-implemented-what/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) ## More by Katie McGinty > [The portfolio standard was enacted when I was secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection. It created investment, generated jobs, and gave a boost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcginty/the-portfolio-standard-was-enacted-when-i-was-secretary-of-the/) [Katie McGinty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcginty/) > [Our family story here is one that we're proud of, and that is that, as the ninth of 10 kids in our family, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcginty/our-family-story-here-is-one-that-we-re-proud-of-and-that-is-that-as/) [Katie McGinty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcginty/) > [Pennsylvania has some of the best science in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcginty/pennsylvania-has-some-of-the-best-science-in-the-world/) [Katie McGinty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcginty/) > [I don't support a moratorium. I think the responsible production and use of the Marcellus Shale gas is actually part of the secret sauce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcginty/i-don-t-support-a-moratorium-i-think-the-responsible-production-and/) [Katie McGinty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcginty/) > [I want to be part of making sure that decent, honorable, humble, hardworking people in Pennsylvania can look their kids in the eyes. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcginty/i-want-to-be-part-of-making-sure-that-decent-honorable-humble/) [Katie McGinty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcginty/) > [I think the governor has short-changed the people of Pennsylvania with respect to shale gas, both with respect to the environment and the economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcginty/i-think-the-governor-has-short-changed-the-people-of-pennsylvania/) [Katie McGinty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcginty/) > [At a time when families are incredibly squeezed, it's essential that we provide a living wage for people who work hard and that women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcginty/at-a-time-when-families-are-incredibly-squeezed-it-s-essential-that/) [Katie McGinty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcginty/) > [As a mom, I'm going to be out there still fighting to make sure that every beautiful child has good schools, same communities, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcginty/as-a-mom-i-m-going-to-be-out-there-still-fighting-to-make-sure-that/) [Katie McGinty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcginty/) > [We need to put a priority on environment, health, and safety protections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcginty/we-need-to-put-a-priority-on-environment-health-and-safety-protections/) [Katie McGinty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcginty/) > [You have to get out there and compete. You have to work hard. People aren't just going to come knocking on your door and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcginty/you-have-to-get-out-there-and-compete-you-have-to-work-hard-people/) [Katie McGinty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcginty/) > [Women need to double and triple men to demonstrate their experience and qualifications.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcginty/women-need-to-double-and-triple-men-to-demonstrate-their-experience/) [Katie McGinty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcginty/) > [Pat Toomey has worked to allow suspected terrorists to buy guns in this country, and that is just an outrageous position. Of all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcginty/pat-toomey-has-worked-to-allow-suspected-terrorists-to-buy-guns-in/) [Katie McGinty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcginty/) > [People, including business leaders, are willing to be open-minded about investment dollars when they know where they are going - and what purpose they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcginty/people-including-business-leaders-are-willing-to-be-open-minded-about/) [Katie McGinty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcginty/) > [States like Massachusetts and New York are working aggressively to keep and grow life sciences companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcginty/states-like-massachusetts-and-new-york-are-working-aggressively-to/) [Katie McGinty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcginty/) > [I very happily stand for the right of every man and woman in Pennsylvania to have their voice heard in elections. And when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcginty/i-very-happily-stand-for-the-right-of-every-man-and-woman-in/) [Katie McGinty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcginty/) [Explore all 22 Katie McGinty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcginty/) ## More Ahead quotes > [Anybody who thinks that they should lead the country should go ahead and put their hat in the ring. I am not among them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schatz/anybody-who-thinks-that-they-should-lead-the-country-should-go-ahead/) [Brian Schatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schatz/) > [If I have a problem with somebody, I go ahead and say what's on my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-hulkenberg/if-i-have-a-problem-with-somebody-i-go-ahead-and-say-what-s-on-my-mind/) [Nico Hulkenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-hulkenberg/) > [I once invested in a risky business. Quite a few people warned me not to do so, but I still went ahead and invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautam-rode/i-once-invested-in-a-risky-business-quite-a-few-people-warned-me-not/) [Gautam Rode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautam-rode/) > [“What lies behind us is nothing compared to what lies within us and ahead of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/what-lies-behind-us-is-nothing-compared-to-what-lies-within-us-and/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [In Life, We May Never Get The Same Opportunity Again, But There's Always Something Better Ahead...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/in-life-we-may-never-get-the-same-opportunity-again-but-there-s/) Pacifiersucker > [Makeup is only fun if it's occasional and capricious - just like it's a treat to have an empty day ahead, but it wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/makeup-is-only-fun-if-it-s-occasional-and-capricious-just-like-it-s-a/) [Victoria Coren Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/) > [There is no such thing as disposable time if you want to stay ahead of the game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-such-thing-as-disposable-time-if-you-want-to-stay-ahead/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm the kind of guy who comes home and checks scores for everything. I'm a sports fan in general, so I pretty much keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chadwick-boseman/i-m-the-kind-of-guy-who-comes-home-and-checks-scores-for-everything-i/) [Chadwick Boseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chadwick-boseman/) > [People are flying you places in business class. Everyone wants to take pictures of you and find out information about you. It's a freak-out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yolandi-visser/people-are-flying-you-places-in-business-class-everyone-wants-to-take/) [Yolandi Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yolandi-visser/) > [I wasn't putting my all into it and I was still managing to score goals, and that gave me something to dream about, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gray/i-wasn-t-putting-my-all-into-it-and-i-was-still-managing-to-score/) [Andre Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gray/) > [There's no limit to what you can accomplish, but there's always someone one step ahead of you, so it's a constant uphill battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mary-stewart/there-s-no-limit-to-what-you-can-accomplish-but-there-s-always/) [Catherine Mary Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mary-stewart/) > [I was never bothered about my position in the industry. If I had believed in it, I wouldn't have allowed anyone to get ahead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dharmendra/i-was-never-bothered-about-my-position-in-the-industry-if-i-had/) [Dharmendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dharmendra/) > [I don't want to look too far ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jofra-archer/i-don-t-want-to-look-too-far-ahead/) [Jofra Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jofra-archer/) > [“one who takes the first step always remains one step ahead”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabi-shaheen/one-who-takes-the-first-step-always-remains-one-step-ahead/) Rabi Shaheen > [I am not interested to sing in Bollywood. I sing for only those actors whom I admire. I sing free of cost for them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-honey-singh/i-am-not-interested-to-sing-in-bollywood-i-sing-for-only-those-actors/) [Yo Yo Honey Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-honey-singh/) Browse all 1,773 Ahead quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This country is based on a simple bargain, and that bargain is if you work hard, you get to get ahead.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Katie McGinty" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcginty/this-country-is-based-on-a-simple-bargain-and-that-bargain-is-if-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ahead" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcginty/this-country-is-based-on-a-simple-bargain-and-that-bargain-is-if-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/katie-mcginty-26162_ahead_this-country-is-based-on-a-simple-bargai_1565278.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/katie-mcginty-26162_ahead_this-country-is-based-on-a-simple-bargai_1565278.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/katie-mcginty-26162_ahead_this-country-is-based-on-a-simple-bargai_1565278.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This country is based on a simple bargain, and that bargain is if you work hard, you get to get ahead.” — Katie McGinty", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Katie McGinty", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcginty/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "This country is based on a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcginty/this-country-is-based-on-a-simple-bargain-and-that-bargain-is-if-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcginty/this-country-is-based-on-a-simple-bargain-and-that-bargain-is-if-you/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```