--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People say America is exceptional. I…" description: "\"People say America is exceptional. I agree, but it's not the complexion of our skin or the twists in our DNA that make us unique. America is exceptiona..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ae/rand-paul-606_free_people-say-america-is-exceptional-i-agre_1231246.jpg" --- # People say America is exceptional. I agree, but it's not… ![“People say America is exceptional. I agree, but it's not the complexion of our skin or the twists in our DNA that make us unique. America is exceptional because we were founded upon the notion that everyone should be free to pursue life, liberty, and happiness.” quote by Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ae/rand-paul-606_free_people-say-america-is-exceptional-i-agre_1231246.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ae/rand-paul-606_free_people-say-america-is-exceptional-i-agre_1231246.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ae/rand-paul-606_free_people-say-america-is-exceptional-i-agre_1231246.jpg) > “People say America is exceptional. I agree, but it's not the complexion of our skin or the twists in our DNA that make us unique. America is exceptional because we were founded upon the notion that everyone should be free to pursue life, liberty, and happiness.” [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. America’s uniqueness stems from its founding principle of liberty, not race or genetics. **In simple terms:** Freedom is America’s core. Key Takeaway Uphold liberty for all. Themes freedom equality national identity Mood inspirational reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy debates - education - immigration reform - citizen activism Key Concepts political philosophy civil rights Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure liberty benefits everyone? - What policies reflect true freedom? A Different Perspective Idealism may overlook systemic inequities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America Exceptional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-exceptional-899508/) [Exceptional Agree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exceptional-agree-3808773/) [Exceptional Founded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exceptional-founded-3808772/) [Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Say America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-america-245897/) [Unique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unique/) [Unique America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unique-america-2142652/) ## Related quotes > [My opponent misses something important. When we say America is exceptional, it doesn't mean that people from other places don't feel deep national pride,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/my-opponent-misses-something-important-when-we-say-america-is/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [The State of the Union address is always a reminder of how unique America is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/the-state-of-the-union-address-is-always-a-reminder-of-how-unique/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [I'm thrilled in a way because musicals should be preserved. It's mostly unique to America, and they give us so much joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-andrews/i-m-thrilled-in-a-way-because-musicals-should-be-preserved-it-s/) [Julie Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-andrews/) > [It is inherent in human consciousness to improve. So there is nothing unique about a people searching for and creating ways to make their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-de-angelis/it-is-inherent-in-human-consciousness-to-improve-so-there-is-nothing/) [Barbara De Angelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-de-angelis/) > [Everybody has barriers to overcome, some more than others. I don't want to act like I'm all that unique. America's full of stories like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/everybody-has-barriers-to-overcome-some-more-than-others-i-don-t-want/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [What's unique about America is that the country itself was built upon oppression, it's in the very foundation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-turner-smith/what-s-unique-about-america-is-that-the-country-itself-was-built-upon/) [Jodie Turner-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-turner-smith/) > [Our higher education system is one of the things that makes America exceptional. There's no place else that has the assets we do when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/our-higher-education-system-is-one-of-the-things-that-makes-america/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“America is exceptional. Does that statement shock you? It shocks me to have to say it! To be forced by your doubt to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/america-is-exceptional-does-that-statement-shock-you-it-shocks-me-to/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [What makes America exceptional are the bonds that hold together the most diverse nation on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-makes-america-exceptional-are-the-bonds-that-hold-together-the/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [America still is an exceptional country. We love to lead and we love to win. And we do it, when we take on any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/america-still-is-an-exceptional-country-we-love-to-lead-and-we-love/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [America is exceptional: but because it yields the likes of Obama, not the likes of Bush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-liu/america-is-exceptional-but-because-it-yields-the-likes-of-obama-not/) [Eric Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-liu/) > [Washington's Corruption and Mendacity Is What Makes America 'Exceptional'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/washington-s-corruption-and-mendacity-is-what-makes-america/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [Clearly America is exceptional in its immorality, lack of human compassion, and disrespect for law and its founding document.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/clearly-america-is-exceptional-in-its-immorality-lack-of-human/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [America's exceptional nature confers upon us responsibilities. We are not exceptional because we say so; we are exceptional because, over and over, we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-whitehouse/america-s-exceptional-nature-confers-upon-us-responsibilities-we-are/) [Sheldon Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-whitehouse/) > [Affirming belief that America is an exceptional nation has become a test of patriotism in American politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/affirming-belief-that-america-is-an-exceptional-nation-has-become-a/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) ## More by Rand Paul > [I have a question, a question for the president: Do you hate all rich people, or just rich people who don't contribute to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-have-a-question-a-question-for-the-president-do-you-hate-all-rich/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I can tell you who's planning terroris attacks. The leaders of ISIL. And I can tell you where they're at. They're in Raqqa, Syria.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-can-tell-you-who-s-planning-terroris-attacks-the-leaders-of-isil/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [There comes a time, in the history of Nations when fear and forgetfulness cause a nation to hesitate, to waver and perhaps even to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/there-comes-a-time-in-the-history-of-nations-when-fear-and/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [As long as I sit at Henry Clay's desk, I will remember his lifelong desire to forge agreement, but I will also keep close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/as-long-as-i-sit-at-henry-clay-s-desk-i-will-remember-his-lifelong/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I believe people ought to be treated fairly under the law. I see no reason why if the marriage contract conveys certain things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-believe-people-ought-to-be-treated-fairly-under-the-law-i-see-no/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I think that, most importantly, when I see issues of war, I see them in a personal vein, and I am reluctant to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-that-most-importantly-when-i-see-issues-of-war-i-see-them-in/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I would have handled it differently than the mayor of Baltimore, that's for sure. I think it's a mistake to say, hey, guys, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-would-have-handled-it-differently-than-the-mayor-of-baltimore-that/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [We have to think before we act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-have-to-think-before-we-act/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I would introduce and support legislation to send Roe v. Wade back to the states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-would-introduce-and-support-legislation-to-send-roe-v-wade-back-to/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [President Obama, I think, wanted what was best for the country, but I think it didn't work well. I think we have the death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/president-obama-i-think-wanted-what-was-best-for-the-country-but-i/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I think it's a mistake to downgrade and say surveillance is no big deal. It is a huge deal that we are collecting millions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-it-s-a-mistake-to-downgrade-and-say-surveillance-is-no-big/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [We need a revival in the country,” Paul said. “We need another Great Awakening with tent revivals of thousands of people saying, 'reform or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-need-a-revival-in-the-country-paul-said-we-need-another-great/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [We do not project power from bankruptcy court. We're borrowing a million dollars a minute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-do-not-project-power-from-bankruptcy-court-we-re-borrowing-a/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I can use most of the tools that every American teenager can master. Maybe not all of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-can-use-most-of-the-tools-that-every-american-teenager-can-master/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) [Explore all 449 Rand Paul quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) ## 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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