--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only in America can someone start with…" description: "\"Only in America can someone start with nothing and achieve the American Dream. That's the greatness of this country.\" — Rafael Cruz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8de/rafael-cruz-12239_achieve_only-in-america-can-someone-start-with-n_3086638.jpg" --- # Only in America can someone start with nothing and achieve… ![“Only in America can someone start with nothing and achieve the American Dream. That's the greatness of this country.” quote by Rafael Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8de/rafael-cruz-12239_achieve_only-in-america-can-someone-start-with-n_3086638.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8de/rafael-cruz-12239_achieve_only-in-america-can-someone-start-with-n_3086638.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8de/rafael-cruz-12239_achieve_only-in-america-can-someone-start-with-n_3086638.jpg) > “Only in America can someone start with nothing and achieve the American Dream. That's the greatness of this country.” [Rafael Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-cruz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. America uniquely lets people start with nothing and achieve success, embodying its greatness. **In simple terms:** America offers chance for success from nothing. Key Takeaway Believe in opportunity. Themes American Dream opportunity hard work Mood optimistic patriotic Type motivational political When to use this quote - business startups - immigrant stories - policy debates - personal ambition Key Concepts Social mobility entrepreneurship national identity Questions to Reflect On - What barriers limit this dream? - How can society improve equal opportunity? A Different Perspective Not everyone can access the same opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [American dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-dream/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) ## Related quotes > [Are we a nation of guarantees or are we a nation of opportunities to achieve the American dream?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mcdonnell/are-we-a-nation-of-guarantees-or-are-we-a-nation-of-opportunities-to/) [Bob McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mcdonnell/) > [Imagine a legal immigration system that welcomes and celebrates those who come to achieve the American dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/imagine-a-legal-immigration-system-that-welcomes-and-celebrates-those/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [I couldn't achieve the American dream in Japan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shuji-nakamura/i-couldn-t-achieve-the-american-dream-in-japan/) [Shuji Nakamura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shuji-nakamura/) > [My father is from Greece, my mother is from Cuba, and I understand very much the aspirations of wanting to achieve the American dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-malliotakis/my-father-is-from-greece-my-mother-is-from-cuba-and-i-understand-very/) [Nicole Malliotakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-malliotakis/) > [We owe it to all our veterans to make sure they have a chance to achieve the American Dream, just like the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-duckworth/we-owe-it-to-all-our-veterans-to-make-sure-they-have-a-chance-to/) [Tammy Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-duckworth/) > [Our country was built upon the idea that if you work hard and play by the rules, you can achieve the 'American dream' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-harrison/our-country-was-built-upon-the-idea-that-if-you-work-hard-and-play-by/) [Jaime Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-harrison/) > [When you start to achieve success, you want to get more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-pirlo/when-you-start-to-achieve-success-you-want-to-get-more/) [Andrea Pirlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-pirlo/) > [Sometimes when life knocks you down, it wanted you to see that you can go higher than you were, you just have to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/sometimes-when-life-knocks-you-down-it-wanted-you-to-see-that-you-can/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) > [I will never, ever let you down. America will start winning again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-will-never-ever-let-you-down-america-will-start-winning-again/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America will start winning again, winning like never before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/america-will-start-winning-again-winning-like-never-before/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [There is nothing illegal about wanting to achieve the American dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/there-is-nothing-illegal-about-wanting-to-achieve-the-american-dream/) [Young Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/) > [It was the combination of hard work and a hand up that allowed me to become one of the first women to fly in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-duckworth/it-was-the-combination-of-hard-work-and-a-hand-up-that-allowed-me-to/) [Tammy Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-duckworth/) > [The road to success is not easy to navigate, but with hard work, drive and passion, it's possible to achieve the American dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-hilfiger/the-road-to-success-is-not-easy-to-navigate-but-with-hard-work-drive/) [Tommy Hilfiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-hilfiger/) > [I believe it is essential to have English as the official language of our National Government, for the English language is the tie that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-sensenbrenner/i-believe-it-is-essential-to-have-english-as-the-official-language-of/) [Jim Sensenbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-sensenbrenner/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) ## More by Rafael Cruz > [As a matter of fact, if we could communicate the truth, not only to the Hispanics but to the black population, all blacks should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-cruz/as-a-matter-of-fact-if-we-could-communicate-the-truth-not-only-to-the/) [Rafael Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-cruz/) > [Obamacare is going to destroy the elderly by denying care, by even perhaps denying treatment to people who are in catastrophic circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-cruz/obamacare-is-going-to-destroy-the-elderly-by-denying-care-by-even/) [Rafael Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-cruz/) > [If you do not learn English in this country, you cannot get anywhere. We are in America. We are not in Mexico, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-cruz/if-you-do-not-learn-english-in-this-country-you-cannot-get-anywhere/) [Rafael Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-cruz/) > [In 1962 and 1963, there were two abominable decisions out of the Supreme Court, and that was taking prayer out of school, and taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-cruz/in-1962-and-1963-there-were-two-abominable-decisions-out-of-the/) [Rafael Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-cruz/) > [I think we don't need to be talking about hyphenated Americans, because we are all Americans, and we all want the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-cruz/i-think-we-don-t-need-to-be-talking-about-hyphenated-americans/) [Rafael Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-cruz/) > [Everybody goes down to a least common denominator, and as a result, productivity goes down to zero. And we've seen that in every communist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-cruz/everybody-goes-down-to-a-least-common-denominator-and-as-a-result/) [Rafael Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-cruz/) > [ I came to the country \[U.S\] without speaking a word of English, without a penny, worked full time, 40 hours a week, went to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-cruz/i-came-to-the-country-u-s-without-speaking-a-word-of-english-without/) [Rafael Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-cruz/) > [I grew up in Cuba under a strong, military, oppressive dictatorship. So as a teenager, I found myself involved in a revolution. I remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-cruz/i-grew-up-in-cuba-under-a-strong-military-oppressive-dictatorship-so/) [Rafael Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-cruz/) > [As God commands us men to teach your wife, to teach your children - to be the spiritual leader of your family - you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-cruz/as-god-commands-us-men-to-teach-your-wife-to-teach-your-children-to/) [Rafael Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-cruz/) > [When you hear all these things about homosexual marriage, this has nothing to do with homosexual rights. The whole objective is the destruction of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-cruz/when-you-hear-all-these-things-about-homosexual-marriage-this-has/) [Rafael Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-cruz/) > [The Democrat is the party that's gonna keep you poor!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-cruz/the-democrat-is-the-party-that-s-gonna-keep-you-poor/) [Rafael Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-cruz/) > [Social justice is a cancer. Social justice means you are ruled by whatever the mob does. What social justice does is destroy individual responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-cruz/social-justice-is-a-cancer-social-justice-means-you-are-ruled-by/) [Rafael Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-cruz/) > [ How many times did we hear \[Barack\] Obama say, 'You didn't build that. You didn't build that - no, you need government.' We even… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-cruz/how-many-times-did-we-hear-barack-obama-say-you-didn-t-build-that-you/) [Rafael Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-cruz/) > [There is a reason why you see such an antagonism to religion. Because communism necessitates the destruction of religion for one reason. Communism needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-cruz/there-is-a-reason-why-you-see-such-an-antagonism-to-religion-because/) [Rafael Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-cruz/) > [Who was the founder of American education? John Dewey - you know that very well - card-carrying Communist. The American education system, in America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-cruz/who-was-the-founder-of-american-education-john-dewey-you-know-that/) [Rafael Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-cruz/) [Explore all 55 Rafael Cruz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-cruz/) ## More Achieve quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [I'm a film guy. I love it. When I read the screenplay, I knew that there would be no HD camera that could achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-taylor/i-m-a-film-guy-i-love-it-when-i-read-the-screenplay-i-knew-that-there/) Deon Taylor > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. 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Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [To achieve something you've never achieved before, you must become someone you've never been before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubham-joshi/to-achieve-something-you-ve-never-achieved-before-you-must-become/) [Shubham Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubham-joshi/) > [I've identified as bisexual since I was a teenager, and if we want to achieve equality for all in our policies, we need more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-hill/i-ve-identified-as-bisexual-since-i-was-a-teenager-and-if-we-want-to/) [Katie Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-hill/) Browse all 6,390 Achieve quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Only in America can someone start with nothing and achieve the American Dream. 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