--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No matter how big a nation is, it is no…" description: "\"No matter how big a nation is, it is no stronger that its weakest people, and as long as you keep a person down, some part of you has to be down there ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/191/marian-anderson-20831_nations_no-matter-how-big-a-nation-is-it-is-no-s_1852094.jpg" --- # No matter how big a nation is, it is no stronger that its… ![“No matter how big a nation is, it is no stronger that its weakest people, and as long as you keep a person down, some part of you has to be down there to hold him down, so it means you cannot soar as you might otherwise” quote by Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/191/marian-anderson-20831_nations_no-matter-how-big-a-nation-is-it-is-no-s_1852094.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/191/marian-anderson-20831_nations_no-matter-how-big-a-nation-is-it-is-no-s_1852094.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/191/marian-anderson-20831_nations_no-matter-how-big-a-nation-is-it-is-no-s_1852094.jpg) > “No matter how big a nation is, it is no stronger that its weakest people, and as long as you keep a person down, some part of you has to be down there to hold him down, so it means you cannot soar as you might otherwise” [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A nation's strength depends on the welfare of its most vulnerable citizens; oppression of any individual drags down the whole society. **In simple terms:** A country is only as strong as its weakest people. Key Takeaway Lift everyone to empower the whole. Themes equality social justice human dignity Mood determined hopeful Type activist inspirational When to use this quote - policy reform - community support - education programs - healthcare access Key Concepts Human rights collective responsibility systemic oppression Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure the most vulnerable are protected? - What policies best uplift the marginalized? A Different Perspective If the weakest are ignored, overall progress stalls. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [As long as you keep a person down, some part of you has to be down there to hold him down, so it means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/as-long-as-you-keep-a-person-down-some-part-of-you-has-to-be-down/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [“The weakest of my people does not fear death. It is the Bent One, the lord of your world, who wastes your lives and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/the-weakest-of-my-people-does-not-fear-death-it-is-the-bent-one-the/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [The people who have lost Faith and Respect for themselves are the Weakest people...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prasad-bachhav/the-people-who-have-lost-faith-and-respect-for-themselves-are-the/) [Prasad Bachhav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prasad-bachhav/) > [Must I remind you that a chain is no stronger than its weakest link?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-cady/must-i-remind-you-that-a-chain-is-no-stronger-than-its-weakest-link/) [Jerome Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-cady/) > [No brain is stronger than its weakest think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-brain-is-stronger-than-its-weakest-think/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A bridge is no stronger than its weakest span.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-may-hall/a-bridge-is-no-stronger-than-its-weakest-span/) [Tina May Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-may-hall/) > [“A man is no stronger than his weakest artery. They offer a point of least resistance, and upon the degree of resistance does their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-may-hall/a-man-is-no-stronger-than-his-weakest-artery-they-offer-a-point-of/) [Tina May Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-may-hall/) > [A chain is no stronger than its weakest link, and life is after all a chain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/a-chain-is-no-stronger-than-its-weakest-link-and-life-is-after-all-a/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [A pattern is either right or wrong...it is no stronger than its weakest point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-morris/a-pattern-is-either-right-or-wrong-it-is-no-stronger-than-its-weakest/) [William Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-morris/) > [President Trump's efforts have made the American people safer and our nation stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/president-trump-s-efforts-have-made-the-american-people-safer-and-our/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [It should be clear by now that a nation can be no stronger abroad than she is at home. Only an America which practices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/it-should-be-clear-by-now-that-a-nation-can-be-no-stronger-abroad/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Maybe some things that weren't so great were said about the Irish when they came. But Americans've done well by absorbing immigrants and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kaine/maybe-some-things-that-weren-t-so-great-were-said-about-the-irish/) [Tim Kaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kaine/) > [For all of our history, it has been an article of faith that we in America bestow unto our children and grandchildren a nation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/for-all-of-our-history-it-has-been-an-article-of-faith-that-we-in/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) > [We all know that lower taxes will grow our economy and make our nation stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/we-all-know-that-lower-taxes-will-grow-our-economy-and-make-our/) [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) > [I know as a nation we are stronger because of our immigrant tradition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-know-as-a-nation-we-are-stronger-because-of-our-immigrant-tradition/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) ## More by Marian Anderson > [The minute a person whose word means a great deal dares to take the open-hearted and courageous way, many others follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/the-minute-a-person-whose-word-means-a-great-deal-dares-to-take-the/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [“Sometimes racial prejudice is like a hair across your cheek. You can't see it, you can't find it with your fingers, but you keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/sometimes-racial-prejudice-is-like-a-hair-across-your-cheek-you-can-t/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [Leadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/leadership-should-be-born-out-of-the-understanding-of-the-needs-of/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [Fear is a disease that eats away at logic and makes man inhuman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/fear-is-a-disease-that-eats-away-at-logic-and-makes-man-inhuman/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [I forgave the DAR many years ago. You lose a lot of time hating people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/i-forgave-the-dar-many-years-ago-you-lose-a-lot-of-time-hating-people/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [None of us is responsible for the...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/none-of-us-is-responsible-for-the/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [Prejudice: Sometimes it's like a hair across your cheek. You can't see it, you can't find it with your fingers, but you keep brushing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/prejudice-sometimes-it-s-like-a-hair-across-your-cheek-you-can-t-see/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [I have a great belief in the future of my people and my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/i-have-a-great-belief-in-the-future-of-my-people-and-my-country/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [None of us is responsible for the complexion of his skin. This fact of nature offers no clue to the character or quality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/none-of-us-is-responsible-for-the-complexion-of-his-skin-this-fact-of/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [When you stop having dreams and ideals - well, you might as well stop altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/when-you-stop-having-dreams-and-ideals-well-you-might-as-well-stop/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [Sometimes you're overwhelmed when a thing comes, and you do not realize the magnitude of the affair at that moment. When you get away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/sometimes-you-re-overwhelmed-when-a-thing-comes-and-you-do-not/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [The minute a person whose word means a great deal to others dare to take the open-hearted and courageous way, many others follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/the-minute-a-person-whose-word-means-a-great-deal-to-others-dare-to/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [There are many persons ready to do what is right because in their hearts they know it is right. But they hesitate, waiting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/there-are-many-persons-ready-to-do-what-is-right-because-in-their/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [Prayer begins where human capacity ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/prayer-begins-where-human-capacity-ends/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [Everyone has a gift for something, even if it is the gift of being a good friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/everyone-has-a-gift-for-something-even-if-it-is-the-gift-of-being-a/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) [Explore all 30 Marian Anderson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) ## More Nations quotes > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/) [Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/) > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) Brian Reade > [Imagination is the greatest nation in the world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/imagination-is-the-greatest-nation-in-the-world/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) James T. Conway > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/throughout-our-history-the-words-of-the-declaration-have-inspired/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [ When the fountains of government \[borrowing\] abundance began to dry up, when through lack of funds and the impossibility of negotiating fresh loans the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-flynn/when-the-fountains-of-government-borrowing-abundance-began-to-dry-up/) [John T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-flynn/) > [Poetry fettered, fetters the human race. Nations are destroyed or flourish in proportion as their poetry, painting, and music are destroyed or flourish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/poetry-fettered-fetters-the-human-race-nations-are-destroyed-or/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Nations sometimes flourish by denying the crimes that brought them into being. Only when the original invasion, occupation, extermination or usurpation has been safely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/nations-sometimes-flourish-by-denying-the-crimes-that-brought-them/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [Tell me how much a nation knows about its own language, and I will tell you how much that nation knows about its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/tell-me-how-much-a-nation-knows-about-its-own-language-and-i-will/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) [Browse all 8,022 Nations quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No matter how big a nation is, it is no stronger that its weakest people, and as long as you keep a person down, some part of you has to be down there to hold him down, so it means you cannot soar as you might otherwise", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marian Anderson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/no-matter-how-big-a-nation-is-it-is-no-stronger-that-its-weakest/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Nations" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/no-matter-how-big-a-nation-is-it-is-no-stronger-that-its-weakest/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/191/marian-anderson-20831_nations_no-matter-how-big-a-nation-is-it-is-no-s_1852094.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/191/marian-anderson-20831_nations_no-matter-how-big-a-nation-is-it-is-no-s_1852094.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/191/marian-anderson-20831_nations_no-matter-how-big-a-nation-is-it-is-no-s_1852094.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No matter how big a nation is, it is no stronger that its weakest people, and as long as you keep a person…” — Marian Anderson", "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": "Marian Anderson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "No matter how big a nation...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/no-matter-how-big-a-nation-is-it-is-no-stronger-that-its-weakest/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/no-matter-how-big-a-nation-is-it-is-no-stronger-that-its-weakest/#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 } } ] } ```