--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Here, both the humblest and the most…" description: "\"“Here, both the humblest and the most illustrious citizens alike know that nothing is owed to them and that everything has to be earned. That's what co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18b/nicolas-sarkozy-addressing-con_freedom_here-both-the-humblest-and-the-most-illu_1858341.jpg" --- # Here, both the humblest and the most illustrious citizens… ![“Here, both the humblest and the most illustrious citizens alike know that nothing is owed to them and that everything has to be earned. That's what constitutes the moral value of America. America did not teach men the idea of freedom; she taught them how to practice it.” quote by Nicolas Sarkozy Addressing Congress in 2007](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18b/nicolas-sarkozy-addressing-con_freedom_here-both-the-humblest-and-the-most-illu_1858341.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18b/nicolas-sarkozy-addressing-con_freedom_here-both-the-humblest-and-the-most-illu_1858341.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18b/nicolas-sarkozy-addressing-con_freedom_here-both-the-humblest-and-the-most-illu_1858341.jpg) > ““Here, both the humblest and the most illustrious citizens alike know that nothing is owed to them and that everything has to be earned. That's what constitutes the moral value of America. America did not teach men the idea of freedom; she taught them how to practice it.”” Nicolas Sarkozy Addressing Congress in 2007 ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. America values earned effort over entitlement; freedom is not taught as an abstract ideal but practiced daily. **In simple terms:** America rewards hard work and teaches freedom through practice. Key Takeaway Focus on earning and practicing freedom. Themes freedom work ethic American values citizenship social contract Mood inspirational patriotic assertive Type Freedom:1 Moral Value:0 Freedom Taught:0 America Did:0 Value America:0 Constitutes Moral:0 When to use this quote - school curricula - public service programs - community projects - policy speeches Key Concepts political philosophy civic education national identity Questions to Reflect On - How does society balance meritocracy with equal opportunity? - What role does government play in teaching practical freedom? A Different Perspective Hard work alone may not guarantee freedom for all. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) ## Related quotes > [Black women's lives have never been shown any value in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/black-women-s-lives-have-never-been-shown-any-value-in-america/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [I grew up in a family where there was absolute freedom. We were taught to make our own decisions. I'll give my son the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardik-pandya/i-grew-up-in-a-family-where-there-was-absolute-freedom-we-were-taught/) [Hardik Pandya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardik-pandya/) > [“Freedom, as I have been taught to understand as a political being in exile- to be protected by law, to be able to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsering-wangmo-dhompa/freedom-as-i-have-been-taught-to-understand-as-a-political-being-in/) [Tsering Wangmo Dhompa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsering-wangmo-dhompa/) > [“What he taught was very simple. He taught that we are all greater than we know and that wisdom is the means to freedom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/what-he-taught-was-very-simple-he-taught-that-we-are-all-greater-than/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able truly to care about other people and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/the-really-important-kind-of-freedom-involves-attention-and-awareness-2/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [Prison was a blessing. Going to prison was the greatest thing that happened to me. It showed me that I wasn't infallible. It showed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-james/prison-was-a-blessing-going-to-prison-was-the-greatest-thing-that/) [Rick James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-james/) > [We can't bypass our heritage. We can't bypass the knowledge of who we are. You don't take a DNA test to see if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/we-can-t-bypass-our-heritage-we-can-t-bypass-the-knowledge-of-who-we/) [Anthony Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/) > [I hope that more children have the same opportunities as me, with the same parents as me, that let me be an individual, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/i-hope-that-more-children-have-the-same-opportunities-as-me-with-the/) [Johnny Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weir/) > [When we decided we wanted to do something, we did it 100 percent. When we decided we wanted to make it big in America,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-kerr/when-we-decided-we-wanted-to-do-something-we-did-it-100-percent-when/) [Jim Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-kerr/) > [America did not invent human rights. In a very real sense human rights invented America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/america-did-not-invent-human-rights-in-a-very-real-sense-human-rights/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [In America, kids would go to college and get out and buy a second-hand car and go across the country and discover America. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-klein/in-america-kids-would-go-to-college-and-get-out-and-buy-a-second-hand/) [William Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-klein/) > [Could America exist without an income tax? The idea seems radical, yet in truth America did just fine without a federal income tax for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/could-america-exist-without-an-income-tax-the-idea-seems-radical-yet/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [America did not need to be discovered because quite simply America had the American-Indians. There were whole groups of people that already lived there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-castro-espin/america-did-not-need-to-be-discovered-because-quite-simply-america/) [Alejandro Castro Espin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-castro-espin/) > [“What made America great was her ability to transform her own dream into hope for all mankind. America did not tell the millions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-sarkozy/what-made-america-great-was-her-ability-to-transform-her-own-dream/) [Nicolas Sarkozy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-sarkozy/) > [...what happened in New York and Washington is the same thing that England and America did to Berlin every day for three years during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemmy-kilmister/what-happened-in-new-york-and-washington-is-the-same-thing-that/) [Lemmy Kilmister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemmy-kilmister/) ## More Freedom quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [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/) > [We live in the greatest country in the world because of the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/we-live-in-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-because-of-the-veterans/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“No one was more surprised than I to realize that my newfound freedom had been purchased by giving up on eternity and settling for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-jessop/no-one-was-more-surprised-than-i-to-realize-that-my-newfound-freedom/) [Carolyn Jessop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-jessop/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“In any case, white people, who had robbed black people of their liberty and who profited by this theft every hour that they lived,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-any-case-white-people-who-had-robbed-black-people-of-their-liberty/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [“It breaks my heart. Better than your words, your eye tells me all your peril. You are not yet free, you still search for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-breaks-my-heart-better-than-your-words-your-eye-tells-me-all-your/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) [Browse all 30,110 Freedom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Here, both the humblest and the most illustrious citizens alike know that nothing is owed to them and that everything has to be earned. That's what constitutes the moral value of America. America did not teach men the idea of freedom; she taught them how to practice it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nicolas Sarkozy Addressing Congress in 2007" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-sarkozy-addressing-congress-in-2007/here-both-the-humblest-and-the-most-illustrious-citizens-alike-know/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Freedom" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-sarkozy-addressing-congress-in-2007/here-both-the-humblest-and-the-most-illustrious-citizens-alike-know/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18b/nicolas-sarkozy-addressing-con_freedom_here-both-the-humblest-and-the-most-illu_1858341.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18b/nicolas-sarkozy-addressing-con_freedom_here-both-the-humblest-and-the-most-illu_1858341.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18b/nicolas-sarkozy-addressing-con_freedom_here-both-the-humblest-and-the-most-illu_1858341.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Here, both the humblest and the most illustrious citizens alike know that nothing is owed to them and that…” — Nicolas Sarkozy Addressing Congress in 2007", "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": "Nicolas Sarkozy Addressing Congress in 2007", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-sarkozy-addressing-congress-in-2007/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Here, both the humblest and the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-sarkozy-addressing-congress-in-2007/here-both-the-humblest-and-the-most-illustrious-citizens-alike-know/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-sarkozy-addressing-congress-in-2007/here-both-the-humblest-and-the-most-illustrious-citizens-alike-know/#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 } } ] } ```