Farewell address Quote by Mary Beth Smith
““Our citizens must act as Americans; not as Americans with a prefix and qualifications; not as Irish-Americans, German-Americans, native Americans—but as Americans pure and simple.28 We must have only one language here, he said, “the language of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, of Lincoln’s Gettysburg speech and Second Inaugural, and of Washington’s farewell address.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Unknown political rally, date unknown
Advocates for a unified national identity, urging citizens to prioritize shared values over ethnic or cultural distinctions.
In simple terms: Promote a single American identity over sub‑identities.
Key Takeaway
Embrace common civic values.
Themes
nationalism
unity
identity
citizenship
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- public policy
- education
- media commentary
Key Concepts
civic integration
cultural assimilation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance unity with cultural pluralism?
- What are the risks of enforcing a single language?
A Different Perspective
May suppress cultural diversity and alienate minority groups.
