---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: America is a flawed land but a great one…"
description: "\"America is a flawed land but a great one indeed.\" — Kerby Jean-Raymond"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/kerby-jean-raymond-14009_america_america-is-a-flawed-land-but-a-great-one_1373698.jpg"
---

#  America is a flawed land but a great one indeed.

![“America is a flawed land but a great one indeed.” quote by Kerby Jean-Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/kerby-jean-raymond-14009_america_america-is-a-flawed-land-but-a-great-one_1373698.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/kerby-jean-raymond-14009_america_america-is-a-flawed-land-but-a-great-one_1373698.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/kerby-jean-raymond-14009_america_america-is-a-flawed-land-but-a-great-one_1373698.jpg)

> “America is a flawed land but a great one indeed.”

[Kerby Jean-Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerby-jean-raymond/)

## 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 flaws coexist with its capacity for greatness, urging continual improvement.

**In simple terms:** America is imperfect but capable of greatness.

Key Takeaway

Work toward national betterment.

Themes

politics optimism critique

Mood

hopeful critical

Type

political inspirational

When to use this quote

- community service
- policy advocacy
- education reform
- public discourse

Key Concepts

national identity social progress civic duty

Questions to Reflect On

- What specific flaws need addressing?
- How can you contribute to national progress?

A Different Perspective

Greatness can mask systemic issues.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America Flawed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-flawed-4736642/) [Flawed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flawed/) [Flawed Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flawed-land-4736643/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Indeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indeed/) [Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/land/) [Land Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/land-great-510062/)

## Related quotes

> [The United States of America is a flawed society. As it comprises human beings, it must be flawed. But in terms of the goodness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-united-states-of-america-is-a-flawed-society-as-it-comprises/)

[Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/)

> [Fishes live in the sea, as men do on land: the great ones eat up the little ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pericles/fishes-live-in-the-sea-as-men-do-on-land-the-great-ones-eat-up-the/)

[Pericles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pericles/)

> [“You must invest quality time in your land to become great”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/you-must-invest-quality-time-in-your-land-to-become-great/)

[Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/)

> [It is pleasant, when the sea runs high, to view from land the great distress of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/it-is-pleasant-when-the-sea-runs-high-to-view-from-land-the-great/)

[Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/)

> [We are truly the land of the great. From the rock shores of... Hawaii... to the beautiful sandy beaches of... Hawaii... America is our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/we-are-truly-the-land-of-the-great-from-the-rock-shores-of-hawaii-to/)

[Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/)

> [“Our land is more valuable than your money. As long as the sun shines and the waters flow, this land will be here to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous-blackfoot-chief/our-land-is-more-valuable-than-your-money-as-long-as-the-sun-shines/)

[Anonymous Blackfoot Chief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous-blackfoot-chief/)

> [Land is a great example of how we can manage and invest in sustainable infrastructure for economic, social, and environmental gains. Its use -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/land-is-a-great-example-of-how-we-can-manage-and-invest-in/)

[Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/)

> [It is pleasurable, when winds disturb the waves of a great sea, to gaze out from land upon the great trials of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/it-is-pleasurable-when-winds-disturb-the-waves-of-a-great-sea-to-gaze/)

[Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/)

> [From the top of a high rock, I obtained a good few of the most extensive and dreary wilderness I ever beheld. It chilled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-james-audubon/from-the-top-of-a-high-rock-i-obtained-a-good-few-of-the-most/)

[John James Audubon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-james-audubon/)

> [War, we are told, shapes character; it resolves the major questions of international politics, consolidates nations, and indeed, constitutes the principal factor in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-ducommun/war-we-are-told-shapes-character-it-resolves-the-major-questions-of/)

[Elie Ducommun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-ducommun/)

> [To be born in Wales, not with a silver spoon in your mouth, but, with music in your blood and with poetry in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-harris/to-be-born-in-wales-not-with-a-silver-spoon-in-your-mouth-but-with/)

[Brian Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-harris/)

> [I am indeed a fan of John le Carre's novels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/i-am-indeed-a-fan-of-john-le-carre-s-novels/)

[Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/)

> [Whether Earth was deliberately terraformed, in other words, or whether it was seeded with the spores of life from crashed comets or whether, indeed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-hancock/whether-earth-was-deliberately-terraformed-in-other-words-or-whether/)

[Graham Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-hancock/)

> [The cognitive skills that underpin resilience, then, seem like they can indeed be learned over time, creating resilience where there was none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-konnikova/the-cognitive-skills-that-underpin-resilience-then-seem-like-they-can/)

[Maria Konnikova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-konnikova/)

> [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. I see a planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/like-many-other-scientists-who-hold-the-catholic-faith-i-see-the/)

[Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/)

## More by Kerby Jean-Raymond

> [I hope that people who don't believe depression is a real thing will stop calling people crazy, because that's dismissive and not a medical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerby-jean-raymond/i-hope-that-people-who-don-t-believe-depression-is-a-real-thing-will/)

[Kerby Jean-Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerby-jean-raymond/)

> [We're always ready for a pick-up game. I walk through the park on the way home every day and just think to myself, 'I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerby-jean-raymond/we-re-always-ready-for-a-pick-up-game-i-walk-through-the-park-on-the/)

[Kerby Jean-Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerby-jean-raymond/)

> [Is the 'black designer' label there to warn everyone not to have the same level of expectations for me, or is it some type…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerby-jean-raymond/is-the-black-designer-label-there-to-warn-everyone-not-to-have-the/)

[Kerby Jean-Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerby-jean-raymond/)

> [I think that when you rally powerful voices around powerful issues, what you get are positive results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerby-jean-raymond/i-think-that-when-you-rally-powerful-voices-around-powerful-issues/)

[Kerby Jean-Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerby-jean-raymond/)

> [If I'm going to be the black designer, I'm going to tell it my way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerby-jean-raymond/if-i-m-going-to-be-the-black-designer-i-m-going-to-tell-it-my-way/)

[Kerby Jean-Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerby-jean-raymond/)

> [I grew up thinking my father was tacky. There was no color coordination. It was whatever was cool. 'These sweatpants are cool. I'll wear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerby-jean-raymond/i-grew-up-thinking-my-father-was-tacky-there-was-no-color/)

[Kerby Jean-Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerby-jean-raymond/)

> [Financing is always the hard part, especially if you don't have friends or family to back you, which was my case and the case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerby-jean-raymond/financing-is-always-the-hard-part-especially-if-you-don-t-have/)

[Kerby Jean-Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerby-jean-raymond/)

> [The world absolutely needs your voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerby-jean-raymond/the-world-absolutely-needs-your-voice/)

[Kerby Jean-Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerby-jean-raymond/)

> [I'm desperately trying to unplug. The last thing I want is a watch that connects to my phone which connects to my iPad that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerby-jean-raymond/i-m-desperately-trying-to-unplug-the-last-thing-i-want-is-a-watch/)

[Kerby Jean-Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerby-jean-raymond/)

> [I played baseball, was on the basketball team in high school, did crew at Hofstra, and randomly played ultimate frisbee, too. But none of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerby-jean-raymond/i-played-baseball-was-on-the-basketball-team-in-high-school-did-crew/)

[Kerby Jean-Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerby-jean-raymond/)

> [With things that I'm going through, whether they be on a small scale or a large scale, I'm thinking, 'Who else is going through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerby-jean-raymond/with-things-that-i-m-going-through-whether-they-be-on-a-small-scale/)

[Kerby Jean-Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerby-jean-raymond/)

> [I've never seen Ralph Lauren, Rick Owens, or Raf Simons described as white designers. They are just designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerby-jean-raymond/i-ve-never-seen-ralph-lauren-rick-owens-or-raf-simons-described-as/)

[Kerby Jean-Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerby-jean-raymond/)

> ['Bernie versus Bernie,' for me, is these two extremes of capitalism. It's Bernie Sanders, the ultimate socialist, and Bernie Madoff, the ultimate capitalist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerby-jean-raymond/bernie-versus-bernie-for-me-is-these-two-extremes-of-capitalism-it-s/)

[Kerby Jean-Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerby-jean-raymond/)

> [One of the things about runways that I hate is that you can't accommodate so many people because you don't have those in-and-out privileges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerby-jean-raymond/one-of-the-things-about-runways-that-i-hate-is-that-you-can-t/)

[Kerby Jean-Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerby-jean-raymond/)

> [I've always felt like an outcast. My aesthetic is very high-end, but I still get classified as streetwear. There's really no other reason for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerby-jean-raymond/i-ve-always-felt-like-an-outcast-my-aesthetic-is-very-high-end-but-i/)

[Kerby Jean-Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerby-jean-raymond/)

[Explore all 48 Kerby Jean-Raymond quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerby-jean-raymond/)

## 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": "America is a flawed land but a great one indeed.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Kerby Jean-Raymond"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerby-jean-raymond/america-is-a-flawed-land-but-a-great-one-indeed/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "America"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerby-jean-raymond/america-is-a-flawed-land-but-a-great-one-indeed/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/kerby-jean-raymond-14009_america_america-is-a-flawed-land-but-a-great-one_1373698.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/kerby-jean-raymond-14009_america_america-is-a-flawed-land-but-a-great-one_1373698.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/kerby-jean-raymond-14009_america_america-is-a-flawed-land-but-a-great-one_1373698.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“America is a flawed land but a great one indeed.” — Kerby Jean-Raymond",
                "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": "Kerby Jean-Raymond",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerby-jean-raymond/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "America is a flawed land but...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerby-jean-raymond/america-is-a-flawed-land-but-a-great-one-indeed/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerby-jean-raymond/america-is-a-flawed-land-but-a-great-one-indeed/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
