--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For over two centuries, Americans have…" description: "\"For over two centuries, Americans have grown up in a society that rewards hard work, protects innovation, and allows its citizens to constantly break n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/497/renee-ellmers-39648_ability_for-over-two-centuries-americans-have-gr_1552747.jpg" --- # For over two centuries, Americans have grown up in a… ![“For over two centuries, Americans have grown up in a society that rewards hard work, protects innovation, and allows its citizens to constantly break new barriers. The key element to this success rests on freedom and the ability of individuals to strive toward achieving their dreams and making…” quote by Renee Ellmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/497/renee-ellmers-39648_ability_for-over-two-centuries-americans-have-gr_1552747.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/497/renee-ellmers-39648_ability_for-over-two-centuries-americans-have-gr_1552747.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/497/renee-ellmers-39648_ability_for-over-two-centuries-americans-have-gr_1552747.jpg) > “For over two centuries, Americans have grown up in a society that rewards hard work, protects innovation, and allows its citizens to constantly break new barriers. The key element to this success rests on freedom and the ability of individuals to strive toward achieving their dreams and making their children's futures better than their own.” [Renee Ellmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-ellmers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote asserts that America’s progress stems from freedom and individual ambition, enabling people to improve their own and their children’s futures. **In simple terms:** Freedom and ambition drive progress. Key Takeaway Pursue freedom and ambition for societal progress. Themes freedom ambition innovation progress future Mood optimistic motivational Type political inspirational When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - education - policy making - family planning Key Concepts individualism economic mobility innovation ecosystems social capital Questions to Reflect On - What freedoms are essential for innovation? - How can society reduce barriers to personal advancement? A Different Perspective May overlook systemic barriers that limit opportunity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Barriers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barriers/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Individuals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individuals/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Rewards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewards/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [The way I grew up playing, and the way most Americans have grown up, is that you hit the ball up in the air…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duval/the-way-i-grew-up-playing-and-the-way-most-americans-have-grown-up-is/) [David Duval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duval/) > [Being a Horseman isn't something you put on in the morning and take off at night. 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The creative mind exceeds this liberty in being able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-grudin/we-commonly-think-of-freedom-as-the-ability-to-define-alternatives/) [Robert Grudin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-grudin/) > [“This is what freedom is: the ability to enjoy and be exactly who you are without suppressing yourself in the form of judgment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ruiz-jr/this-is-what-freedom-is-the-ability-to-enjoy-and-be-exactly-who-you/) [Miguel Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ruiz-jr/) > [Coming off the back of our third record, there was a sense of freedom about our ability to write a body of work we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calum-hood/coming-off-the-back-of-our-third-record-there-was-a-sense-of-freedom/) [Calum Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calum-hood/) > [“Freedom is not the ability to act without any constraints whatsoever. Given the constraints under which all human beings operate, freedom is the ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-a-cantor/freedom-is-not-the-ability-to-act-without-any-constraints-whatsoever/) Paul A. Cantor > [You have the freedom, ability and authority to love your life. Just be you, then wait.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gangaji/you-have-the-freedom-ability-and-authority-to-love-your-life-just-be/) [Gangaji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gangaji/) > [Man's most sacred privilege is freedom of will, the ability to obey or disobey his Maker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hertz/man-s-most-sacred-privilege-is-freedom-of-will-the-ability-to-obey-or/) [Joseph Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hertz/) > [This is real freedom-the ability to enjoy the choices we make in every successive moment of the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/this-is-real-freedom-the-ability-to-enjoy-the-choices-we-make-in/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“Freedom is the ability to think, the ability to choose. Freedom is the ability to direct, to move your life where you decide, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cawdron/freedom-is-the-ability-to-think-the-ability-to-choose-freedom-is-the/) [Peter Cawdron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cawdron/) > [“We often confuse freedom with the ability to do whatever we want, thus becoming slaves to discipline and illusion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/we-often-confuse-freedom-with-the-ability-to-do-whatever-we-want-thus/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) ## More by Renee Ellmers > [You know I have had Tea Party support.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-ellmers/you-know-i-have-had-tea-party-support/) [Renee Ellmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-ellmers/) > [The reason women don't vote for Republicans is not that they haven't had the impact of Republican policies spelled out in simple enough terms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-ellmers/the-reason-women-don-t-vote-for-republicans-is-not-that-they-haven-t/) [Renee Ellmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-ellmers/) > [Men do tend to talk about things on a much higher level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-ellmers/men-do-tend-to-talk-about-things-on-a-much-higher-level/) [Renee Ellmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-ellmers/) > [Today, smartphones, tablets, and the Internet have allowed people to conduct business from anywhere at any time. But as we continue to progress, many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-ellmers/today-smartphones-tablets-and-the-internet-have-allowed-people-to/) [Renee Ellmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-ellmers/) > [Men do tend to talk about things on a much higher level. Many of my male colleagues, when they go to the House floor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-ellmers/men-do-tend-to-talk-about-things-on-a-much-higher-level-many-of-my/) [Renee Ellmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-ellmers/) > [If technology and communications can adapt to people's modern lifestyles, then why can't our labor laws follow suit? 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Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 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