--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: America is not just a power, it is a…" description: "\"America is not just a power, it is a promise. It is not enough for our country to be extraordinary in might; it must be exemplary in meaning.\" — Nelson..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/nelson-rockefeller-26512_america_america-is-not-just-a-power-it-is-a-prom_2147025.jpg" --- # America is not just a power, it is a promise. It is not… ![“America is not just a power, it is a promise. It is not enough for our country to be extraordinary in might; it must be exemplary in meaning.” quote by Nelson Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/nelson-rockefeller-26512_america_america-is-not-just-a-power-it-is-a-prom_2147025.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/nelson-rockefeller-26512_america_america-is-not-just-a-power-it-is-a-prom_2147025.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/nelson-rockefeller-26512_america_america-is-not-just-a-power-it-is-a-prom_2147025.jpg) > “America is not just a power, it is a promise. It is not enough for our country to be extraordinary in might; it must be exemplary in meaning.” [Nelson Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-rockefeller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power must be paired with moral purpose to fulfill a nation's promise. **In simple terms:** Power needs purpose. Key Takeaway Align strength with meaning. Themes power purpose national identity Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - policy making - international relations - public service - educational reform Key Concepts ethical leadership social responsibility visionary ideals Questions to Reflect On - What does an exemplary nation look like? - How can individuals influence national purpose? A Different Perspective Power without purpose can lead to corruption. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-just-500541/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Country Extraordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country-extraordinary-2963507/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Exemplary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exemplary/) [Extraordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extraordinary/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Power Promise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-promise-1846892/) [Promise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promise/) ## Related quotes > [As a country, we have extraordinary potential. We have some of the most creative minds, innovative companies and impressive universities in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-reeves/as-a-country-we-have-extraordinary-potential-we-have-some-of-the-most/) [Rachel Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-reeves/) > [“money’s just an idea, it has power. Only it’s not real power. Just the promise of power. But that promise is enough so long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/money-s-just-an-idea-it-has-power-only-it-s-not-real-power-just-the/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“This is the power and promise of science fiction, this magic of creating and living in every possible future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kameron-hurley/this-is-the-power-and-promise-of-science-fiction-this-magic-of/) [Kameron Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kameron-hurley/) > [The country is in an extraordinary ferment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hamilton-maxwell/the-country-is-in-an-extraordinary-ferment/) [William Hamilton Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hamilton-maxwell/) > [America is more than just a place...it's an idea. It's the only country founded on an idea. Our rights come from nature and God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/america-is-more-than-just-a-place-it-s-an-idea-it-s-the-only-country/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [If America were in a just war I'd volunteer for the front line. I'd do the shuffling and win the war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/if-america-were-in-a-just-war-i-d-volunteer-for-the-front-line-i-d-do/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [America just reaped what it had been sowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/america-just-reaped-what-it-had-been-sowing/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [America is just downright mean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/america-is-just-downright-mean/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [Let's begin to cover the main street of America... just to see what the heck occurs on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-stryker/let-s-begin-to-cover-the-main-street-of-america-just-to-see-what-the/) [Roy Stryker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-stryker/) > [Black America surely faces an existential crisis, but not the one imagined in the condescending news media - of somehow getting non-black America to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/black-america-surely-faces-an-existential-crisis-but-not-the-one/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [America... just a nation of two hundred million used car salesmen with all the money we need to buy guns and no qualms about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/america-just-a-nation-of-two-hundred-million-used-car-salesmen-with/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [America is not just a country, it's an idea, and real Americans are getting busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bono/america-is-not-just-a-country-it-s-an-idea-and-real-americans-are/) [Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bono/) > [Why do you sound surprised? I love America. Just because I think gay dudes should be allowed to adopt kids and we should all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz/why-do-you-sound-surprised-i-love-america-just-because-i-think-gay/) [LIZ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz/) > [It is so great to sleep in safe, glorious, beautiful America. I just cannot get over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/it-is-so-great-to-sleep-in-safe-glorious-beautiful-america-i-just/) [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) > [In America, you're just an American. You're accepted. It doesn't matter that you're of whatever race. If anything, I'm British, and that's it. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-wong/in-america-you-re-just-an-american-you-re-accepted-it-doesn-t-matter/) [Benedict Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-wong/) ## More by Nelson Rockefeller > [The chief problem of the low-income farmers is poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-rockefeller/the-chief-problem-of-the-low-income-farmers-is-poverty/) [Nelson Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-rockefeller/) > [Politics, of course, requires sweat, work, combat, and organization. But these should not be ugly words for and free people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-rockefeller/politics-of-course-requires-sweat-work-combat-and-organization-but/) [Nelson Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-rockefeller/) > [The secret to success is to own nothing, but control everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-rockefeller/the-secret-to-success-is-to-own-nothing-but-control-everything/) [Nelson Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-rockefeller/) > [It is essential that we enable young people to see themselves as participants in one of the most exciting eras in history, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-rockefeller/it-is-essential-that-we-enable-young-people-to-see-themselves-as/) [Nelson Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-rockefeller/) > [No man can hope to be elected in his state without being photographed eating a hot dog at Nathan's Famous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-rockefeller/no-man-can-hope-to-be-elected-in-his-state-without-being-photographed/) [Nelson Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-rockefeller/) > [You have a challenge; never quit!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-rockefeller/you-have-a-challenge-never-quit/) [Nelson Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-rockefeller/) > [As President, I would work toward international creation of a new world order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-rockefeller/as-president-i-would-work-toward-international-creation-of-a-new/) [Nelson Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-rockefeller/) > [There are many other possibilities more enlightening than the struggle to become the local doctor's most affluent ulcer case.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-rockefeller/there-are-many-other-possibilities-more-enlightening-than-the/) [Nelson Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-rockefeller/) > [There are three periods in life: youth, middle age and "how well you look".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-rockefeller/there-are-three-periods-in-life-youth-middle-age-and-how-well-you-look/) [Nelson Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-rockefeller/) > [The United Nations, he told an audience at Harvard University, 'has not been able-nor can it be able-to shape a new world order which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-rockefeller/the-united-nations-he-told-an-audience-at-harvard-university-has-not/) [Nelson Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-rockefeller/) > [Never forget that the most powerful force on earth is love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-rockefeller/never-forget-that-the-most-powerful-force-on-earth-is-love/) [Nelson Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-rockefeller/) > [A man should make all he can, and give all he can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-rockefeller/a-man-should-make-all-he-can-and-give-all-he-can/) [Nelson Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-rockefeller/) > [I am a great believer in planning- economic, social, political, military, total world planning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-rockefeller/i-am-a-great-believer-in-planning-economic-social-political-military/) [Nelson Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-rockefeller/) > [You can't leave footprints in the sands of time while sitting down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-rockefeller/you-can-t-leave-footprints-in-the-sands-of-time-while-sitting-down/) [Nelson Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-rockefeller/) > [There is no doubt that many expensive national projects may add to our prestige or serve science. But none of them must take precedence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-rockefeller/there-is-no-doubt-that-many-expensive-national-projects-may-add-to/) [Nelson Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-rockefeller/) [Explore all 21 Nelson Rockefeller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-rockefeller/) ## 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 not just a power, it is a promise. 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