Ambition Quote by Lewis H. Lapham
“What joins the Americans one to another is not a common ancestry, language or race, but a shared work of the imagination that looks forward to the making of a future, not backward to the insignia of the past. Their enterprise is underwritten by a Constitution that allows for the widest horizons of sight and the broadest range of expression, supports the liberties of the people as opposed to the ambitions of the state, and stands as premise for a narrative rather than plan for an invasion or a monument. The narrative was always plural; not one story, many stories.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The American Narrative, The Atlantic, 1990
The United States unites not by ethnicity or language but by a collective imagination that envisions future possibilities, guided by a flexible Constitution protecting liberty and expression.
In simple terms: America is bound by shared dreams and a flexible Constitution, not by race or language.
Key Takeaway
Foster inclusive, future‑focused dialogue.
Themes
identity
imagination
constitution
pluralism
Mood
hopeful
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- education reform
- civic engagement
- policy making
- community storytelling
Key Concepts
democracy
national myth
collective imagination
Questions to Reflect On
- How does shared imagination influence policy?
- What role do diverse stories play in national identity?
A Different Perspective
The emphasis on imagination may overlook material inequalities that also shape unity.
![“[For American consumer society], the country's reserves of ignorance constitute a natural resource as precious as the Mississippi River or the long-lost herds of buffalo.” quote by Lewis H. Lapham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6b0/lewis-h-lapham-7190_buffalo_for-american-consumer-society-the-countr_157122.jpg)
