--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the tenets that makes America so…" description: "\"One of the tenets that makes America so great is that we value the opportunity to have a battle of ideas and to elect the best possible representation ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/780/robert-blaha-29378_battle_one-of-the-tenets-that-makes-america-so_255160.jpg" --- # One of the tenets that makes America so great is that we… ![“One of the tenets that makes America so great is that we value the opportunity to have a battle of ideas and to elect the best possible representation of those ideas.” quote by Robert Blaha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/780/robert-blaha-29378_battle_one-of-the-tenets-that-makes-america-so_255160.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/780/robert-blaha-29378_battle_one-of-the-tenets-that-makes-america-so_255160.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/780/robert-blaha-29378_battle_one-of-the-tenets-that-makes-america-so_255160.jpg) > “One of the tenets that makes America so great is that we value the opportunity to have a battle of ideas and to elect the best possible representation of those ideas.” [Robert Blaha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blaha/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. America thrives when ideas compete and voters choose the most compelling representation. **In simple terms:** Free debate leads to better representation. Key Takeaway Encourage open discussion and informed voting. Themes democracy free speech political competition Mood optimistic concerned Type political inspirational When to use this quote - elections - town hall meetings - media debates - policy forums Key Concepts pluralism representative government public discourse Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure all ideas are heard fairly? - What safeguards protect against manipulation of public opinion? A Different Perspective If the battle of ideas is dominated by misinformation, the process falters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Representation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representation/) [Value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Every day that goes by and we don't win a ballgame, that's a missed opportunity for us to battle back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gardner/every-day-that-goes-by-and-we-don-t-win-a-ballgame-that-s-a-missed/) Brett Gardner > [A free press isn't the enemy of America; it's a big part of why makes America great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-karl/a-free-press-isn-t-the-enemy-of-america-it-s-a-big-part-of-why-makes/) [Jonathan Karl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-karl/) > [When you look at what makes America great, what makes America, you know, not great, our ups and our downs, Springfield represents all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-rose/when-you-look-at-what-makes-america-great-what-makes-america-you-know/) [Kevin Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-rose/) > [The gift I have to give to my fellow countrymen and people around the world, the facts are the Muslim community are our gift.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/the-gift-i-have-to-give-to-my-fellow-countrymen-and-people-around-the/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [For the son of immigrants to run for elected office, not even a generation after my parents got here, that's what makes America a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-gomez/for-the-son-of-immigrants-to-run-for-elected-office-not-even-a/) [Jimmy Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-gomez/) > [What makes America great is our commitment to our values of inclusivity and opportunity for all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/what-makes-america-great-is-our-commitment-to-our-values-of/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [“It is not in our forming battlements or bristling seacoasts, or our Army and Navy that makes America great - but rather our reliance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/it-is-not-in-our-forming-battlements-or-bristling-seacoasts-or-our/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [What makes America great was a government that was founded to be limited to doing one thing. I really believe the whole purpose of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/what-makes-america-great-was-a-government-that-was-founded-to-be/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [The very fact of seeking specialization is probably what makes America so great in these two hundred years. But also, the sensation that somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-leone/the-very-fact-of-seeking-specialization-is-probably-what-makes/) [Sergio Leone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-leone/) > [Let's not be too rough on our own ignorance, it's what makes America great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/let-s-not-be-too-rough-on-our-own-ignorance-it-s-what-makes-america/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [What makes America great is that we can come together during times of national tragedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/what-makes-america-great-is-that-we-can-come-together-during-times-of/) [Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/) > [What makes America great is that we were founded on a Judeo-Christian nation. That's very important for us to understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/what-makes-america-great-is-that-we-were-founded-on-a-judeo-christian/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [“America belongs to all who live here and call her home; of every color and background; that is central to what makes America great.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-lewis/america-belongs-to-all-who-live-here-and-call-her-home-of-every-color/) [Leland Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-lewis/) > [What makes America great is peaceful protests and exercising your constitutional rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-dowd/what-makes-america-great-is-peaceful-protests-and-exercising-your/) [Matthew Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-dowd/) > [What makes America great is that we're all so different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rippon/what-makes-america-great-is-that-we-re-all-so-different/) [Adam Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rippon/) ## More by Robert Blaha > [Send me to Washington, and if I can't make a difference, I'll voluntarily come back after just one term. Cut the deficit, slash illegal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blaha/send-me-to-washington-and-if-i-can-t-make-a-difference-i-ll/) [Robert Blaha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blaha/) > [I don't care about getting re-elected; I care about saving the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blaha/i-don-t-care-about-getting-re-elected-i-care-about-saving-the-country/) [Robert Blaha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blaha/) > [You won't ever hear me talk about whether my wife's prettier than your wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blaha/you-won-t-ever-hear-me-talk-about-whether-my-wife-s-prettier-than/) [Robert Blaha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blaha/) > [Why on earth do we keep sending bozos like Michael Bennet back to Washington when they fail to get anything done?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blaha/why-on-earth-do-we-keep-sending-bozos-like-michael-bennet-back-to/) [Robert Blaha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blaha/) > [We can't continue to put people lacking the ability to understand a business in a position to run a business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blaha/we-can-t-continue-to-put-people-lacking-the-ability-to-understand-a/) [Robert Blaha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blaha/) > [I don't think you'll find one person that says I shoot from the hip. What they say is, 'This guy talks eyeball to eyeball.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blaha/i-don-t-think-you-ll-find-one-person-that-says-i-shoot-from-the-hip/) [Robert Blaha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blaha/) > [I like the idea of the states to go out and the states to take fifty laboratories of the best thoughts and create best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blaha/i-like-the-idea-of-the-states-to-go-out-and-the-states-to-take-fifty/) [Robert Blaha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blaha/) > [Senator Michael Bennet and members of the permanent political class have empowered President Obama's policies and their own agendas rather than the needs of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blaha/senator-michael-bennet-and-members-of-the-permanent-political-class/) [Robert Blaha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blaha/) > [When I make a decision to run, I will make an investment, just like any business I've made investments in before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blaha/when-i-make-a-decision-to-run-i-will-make-an-investment-just-like-any/) [Robert Blaha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blaha/) > [You have to stand on your own two feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blaha/you-have-to-stand-on-your-own-two-feet/) [Robert Blaha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blaha/) > [We've lost tens and hundreds of thousands of jobs because of the way NAFTA was negotiated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blaha/we-ve-lost-tens-and-hundreds-of-thousands-of-jobs-because-of-the-way/) [Robert Blaha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blaha/) > [We must end illegal immigration, period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blaha/we-must-end-illegal-immigration-period/) [Robert Blaha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blaha/) > [It's an honor to be able to get in the fray and be a strong, mature voice for Coloradans, a voice uncensored and uncontrolled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blaha/it-s-an-honor-to-be-able-to-get-in-the-fray-and-be-a-strong-mature/) [Robert Blaha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blaha/) > [It's not about just a vote, it's about being a voice. There's a difference between being a person who just pushes the button and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blaha/it-s-not-about-just-a-vote-it-s-about-being-a-voice-there-s-a/) [Robert Blaha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blaha/) > [When you run for the U.S. Senate, it's a full game on. This is not for the faint of heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blaha/when-you-run-for-the-u-s-senate-it-s-a-full-game-on-this-is-not-for/) [Robert Blaha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blaha/) [Explore all 18 Robert Blaha quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blaha/) ## More Battle quotes > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [Only great and general battles can produce great results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/only-great-and-general-battles-can-produce-great-results/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [I knew Jimmy Dean. He tested for 'Battle Cry'. Paul Newman tested for 'Battle Cry'. I did nine tests to finally get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-knew-jimmy-dean-he-tested-for-battle-cry-paul-newman-tested-for/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Love is a battle," said Marie-Claude, still smiling. "And I plan to go on fighting. To the end." Love is a battle?" said Franz.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/love-is-a-battle-said-marie-claude-still-smiling-and-i-plan-to-go-on/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [It's almost ironic sitting here watching stories about Norm's courageous 'battle' with cancer. He actually did a bit on stage about how stupid that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/it-s-almost-ironic-sitting-here-watching-stories-about-norm-s/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [“Other folk thought the Rage was simple bloodlust, a berserk savagery that neither knew nor cared what its target was, and so it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-weber/other-folk-thought-the-rage-was-simple-bloodlust-a-berserk-savagery/) [David Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weber/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) [Browse all 4,526 Battle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One of the tenets that makes America so great is that we value the opportunity to have a battle of ideas and to elect the best possible representation of those ideas.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Blaha" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blaha/one-of-the-tenets-that-makes-america-so-great-is-that-we-value-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Battle" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blaha/one-of-the-tenets-that-makes-america-so-great-is-that-we-value-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/780/robert-blaha-29378_battle_one-of-the-tenets-that-makes-america-so_255160.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/780/robert-blaha-29378_battle_one-of-the-tenets-that-makes-america-so_255160.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/780/robert-blaha-29378_battle_one-of-the-tenets-that-makes-america-so_255160.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One of the tenets that makes America so great is that we value the opportunity to have a battle of ideas and…” — Robert Blaha", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Robert Blaha", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blaha/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "One of the tenets that makes...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blaha/one-of-the-tenets-that-makes-america-so-great-is-that-we-value-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blaha/one-of-the-tenets-that-makes-america-so-great-is-that-we-value-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```