American history Quote by Paul Kengor
![“[Ronald Reagan] called the image of [George] Washington praying on his knees in Valley Forge "the most sublime image in American history."” quote by Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/332/paul-kengor-14302_american-history_ronald-reagan-called-the-image-of-george_1957137.jpg)
“[Ronald Reagan] called the image of [George] Washington praying on his knees in Valley Forge "the most sublime image in American history."”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Reagan Legacy, Paul Kengor, 2012
Reagan praised Washington’s prayer at Valley Forge as the highest example of American devotion.
In simple terms: Washington’s prayer seen as ultimate American image.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the power of faith in national identity.
Themes
history
faith
patriotism
Mood
reflective
proud
Type
historical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- history classes
- ceremonial speeches
- civic education
Key Concepts
symbolism
spiritual resilience
national myth
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes this image so resonant?
- How does it shape American self‑image?
A Different Perspective
Interpretations of the event vary.
![“Speaking of [Ronald] Reagan on the faith of the founders, he was particularly fond of George Washington, who he cited nearly 200 times, and almost twice as much as all the presidents since [John F.]Kennedy combined.” quote by Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e03/paul-kengor-14302_faith_speaking-of-ronald-reagan-on-the-faith-o_1478331.jpg)
![“I was a child or didn't live through those presidents prior to [Ronald] Reagan, and thus didn't realize how little attention they had paid to the founders.” quote by Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/38b/paul-kengor-14302_attention_i-was-a-child-or-didn-t-live-through-tho_602258.jpg)
![“There's the unique case of Ronald Reagan, who cited [founders] some 850 times, and in a way that was absolutely fundamental to understanding Reagan's vision for America.” quote by Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a2f/paul-kengor-14302_america_there-s-the-unique-case-of-ronald-reagan_1157840.jpg)
![“I noticed some time ago that neither of the candidates are quoting the founders. If they are, they're doing it so rarely that I haven't noticed, or enough to be negligible. Certainly, neither is invoking the image of [George] Washington at Valley Forge or the Shining City Upon a Hill. In addition…” quote by Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/87e/paul-kengor-14302_barack_i-noticed-some-time-ago-that-neither-of_1467758.jpg)
![“Which founders have these presidents cited - and why? What did, say, President [Ronald] Reagan's view of George Washington, or President [Bill] Clinton's view of Thomas Jefferson, tell us about their view of America and where they intended to lead the country?In many cases, it told us a lot about…” quote by Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/35c/paul-kengor-14302_america_which-founders-have-these-presidents-cit_968419.jpg)
![“[Ronald] Reagan seems to be a man of some basic convictions and on the other hand willing to let others do the ground homework, the detailed work.” quote by Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7fd/helmut-schmidt-23706_be-a-man_ronald-reagan-seems-to-be-a-man-of-some_139379.jpg)
![“Everything [Ronald Reagan] got, the tax cuts, he had Democrats outnumbering him in the House and Senate everywhere. There were certain realities that he faced. But the biggest tax increase on Social Security was authored by none other than Bill Clinton.” quote by Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ade/rush-limbaugh-28_bills_everything-ronald-reagan-got-the-tax-cut_106367.jpg)
![“It is quite sad, to me, that that ideal, that vision and understanding [of American founding ], doesn't seem to be a part of the current political season.” quote by Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a05/paul-kengor-14302_currents_it-is-quite-sad-to-me-that-that-ideal-th_399953.jpg)
![“The presidents varied in the degree to which they cited the founders. Some, like JFK, LBJ, [Richard] Nixon, and [Bill] Clinton, cited them somewhat frequently, in the range of 100 to 200 times, though, regrettably, not in a thematic or notably profound or even interesting way. Others, like Gerald…” quote by Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9e3/paul-kengor-14302_bills_the-presidents-varied-in-the-degree-to-w_424735.jpg)
![“If our presidents, or potential presidents, don't know this or don't articulate [an America ideal], that's a blown opportunity. The president can teach as well as lead.” quote by Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2c6/paul-kengor-14302_america_if-our-presidents-or-potential-president_708330.jpg)
![“Ronald Reagan [ cite the founders] on behalf of emphasizing the faith of our founders, of limited government, of the uniqueness and exceptionalism of America, of a nation with a people facing another historic challenge beyond the American Revolution, and in contrasting the system of the United…” quote by Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7bc/paul-kengor-14302_america_ronald-reagan-cite-the-founders-on-behal_1038882.jpg)
![“Adam Clayton Powell's entire political career has to be looked at in the entire context of the American history and the history of, and the position of the Afro- American or negro in American history. [He] has done a remarkable job in fighting for rights of black people in this country. On the…” quote by Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/caa/malcolm-x-213_adam_adam-clayton-powell-s-entire-political-c_6932.jpg)
