--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Righteousness alone can exalt America as…" description: "\"Righteousness alone can exalt America as a nation. Whoever thou art, remember this; and in thy sphere practice virtue thyself, and encourage it in othe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/patrick-henry-3071_america_righteousness-alone-can-exalt-america-as_2908194.png" --- # Righteousness alone can exalt America as a nation. Whoever… ![“Righteousness alone can exalt America as a nation. Whoever thou art, remember this; and in thy sphere practice virtue thyself, and encourage it in others.” quote by Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/patrick-henry-3071_america_righteousness-alone-can-exalt-america-as_2908194.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/patrick-henry-3071_america_righteousness-alone-can-exalt-america-as_2908194.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/patrick-henry-3071_america_righteousness-alone-can-exalt-america-as_2908194.png) > “Righteousness alone can exalt America as a nation. Whoever thou art, remember this; and in thy sphere practice virtue thyself, and encourage it in others.” [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moral virtue elevates a nation; practice and promote it personally and socially. **In simple terms:** Virtue builds a strong nation. Key Takeaway Live and inspire virtue. Themes morality patriotism leadership virtue nation Mood motivational serious Type civic ethical When to use this quote - public service - community building - education - policy making Key Concepts political philosophy ethics civic education Questions to Reflect On - How can we foster virtue in institutions? - What role does personal morality play in politics? A Different Perspective Virtue alone may not address systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Righteousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteousness/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [ Righteousness alone can exalt them \[America\] as a nation. Reader! Whoever thou art, remember this, and in thy sphere practice virtue thyself and encourage… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/righteousness-alone-can-exalt-them-america-as-a-nation-reader-whoever/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [Our God, who art our winged self, it is thy will in us that willeth. It is thy desire in us that desireth. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/our-god-who-art-our-winged-self-it-is-thy-will-in-us-that-willeth-it/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [“Conquer thyself, till thou hast done this, thou art but a slave; for it is almost as well to be subjected to another's appetite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/conquer-thyself-till-thou-hast-done-this-thou-art-but-a-slave-for-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In this vast universe There is but one supreme truth- That God is our friend! By that truth meaning is given To the remote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-l-liebman/in-this-vast-universe-there-is-but-one-supreme-truth-that-god-is-our/) [Joshua L. Liebman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-l-liebman/) > [Disguise thyself as thou wilt, still, Slavery," said I, "still thou art a bitter draught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/disguise-thyself-as-thou-wilt-still-slavery-said-i-still-thou-art-a/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [If thy words are wise, they will not seem so to the foolish: if they are deep the shallow will not appreciate them. Think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/if-thy-words-are-wise-they-will-not-seem-so-to-the-foolish-if-they/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [But, oh, Thou bounteous Giver of all good, Thou art, of all Thy gifts, Thyself thy crown!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/but-oh-thou-bounteous-giver-of-all-good-thou-art-of-all-thy-gifts/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [When thou art offended at any man's fault, forthwith turn to thyself and reflect in what manner thou doest error thyself... For by attending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/when-thou-art-offended-at-any-man-s-fault-forthwith-turn-to-thyself/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Content not thyself that thou art virtuous in the general; for one link being wanting, the chain is defective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/content-not-thyself-that-thou-art-virtuous-in-the-general-for-one/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [Bring thyself to account each day ere thou art summoned to a reckoning; for death, unheralded, shall come upon thee and thou shalt be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baha-u-llah/bring-thyself-to-account-each-day-ere-thou-art-summoned-to-a/) [Bahá'u'lláh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baha-u-llah/) > [Prize not thyself by what thou hast, but by what thou art; he that values a jewel by her golden frame, or a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/prize-not-thyself-by-what-thou-hast-but-by-what-thou-art-he-that/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Whether this will prove a blessing or a curse, will depend upon the use our people will make of the blessings which a gracious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/whether-this-will-prove-a-blessing-or-a-curse-will-depend-upon-the/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [Happiness is the highest good, being a realization and perfect practice of virtue, which some can attain, while others have little or none of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/happiness-is-the-highest-good-being-a-realization-and-perfect/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“Perceiving the order of nature to be that individual happiness shall be inseparable from the practice of virtue, I am willing to hope it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/perceiving-the-order-of-nature-to-be-that-individual-happiness-shall/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) ## More by Patrick Henry > [You ought to be extremely cautious, watchful, jealous of your liberty; for instead of securing your rights, you may lose them forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/you-ought-to-be-extremely-cautious-watchful-jealous-of-your-liberty/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/guard-with-jealous-attention-the-public-liberty-suspect-everyone-who/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [I have now disposed of all my property to my family. There is one thing more I wish I could give them, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/i-have-now-disposed-of-all-my-property-to-my-family-there-is-one/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [My great objection to this government is, that it does not leave us the means of defending our rights, or of waging war against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/my-great-objection-to-this-government-is-that-it-does-not-leave-us/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [“When the American Spirit was in its youth, the language of America was different; Liberty, sir, was then the primary object.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/when-the-american-spirit-was-in-its-youth-the-language-of-america-was/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [Shall we, who have laid the proud British lion at our feet, now be afraid of his whelps?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/shall-we-who-have-laid-the-proud-british-lion-at-our-feet-now-be/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [It is when a people forget God, that tyrants forge their chains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/it-is-when-a-people-forget-god-that-tyrants-forge-their-chains/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [That religion, or the duty we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/that-religion-or-the-duty-we-owe-to-our-creator-and-the-manner-of/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [I shall act as I think my duty requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/i-shall-act-as-i-think-my-duty-requires/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [It is the business of a virtuous clergy to censure vice in every appearance of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/it-is-the-business-of-a-virtuous-clergy-to-censure-vice-in-every/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [Being a Christian... is a character which I prize far above all this world has or can boast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/being-a-christian-is-a-character-which-i-prize-far-above-all-this/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [Jealousy is the only vice that gives no pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/jealousy-is-the-only-vice-that-gives-no-pleasure/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > […I am sure that the dangers of this system (the Federal Constitution) are real, when those who have no similar interest with the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/i-am-sure-that-the-dangers-of-this-system-the-federal-constitution/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it! Almighty God! I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/is-life-so-dear-or-peace-so-sweet-as-to-be-purchased-at-the-price-of/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/that-religion-or-the-duty-which-we-owe-to-our-creator-and-the-manner/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) [Explore all 139 Patrick Henry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) ## 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. 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