America Quote by Robert Kennedy
“Our future may lie beyond our vision, but it is not completely beyond our control. It is the shaping impulse of America that neither fate nor nature nor the irresistible tides of history, but the work of our own hands, matched to reason and principle, that will determine our destiny. There is pride in that, even arrogance, but there is also experience and truth. In any event, it is the only way we can live.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Vision for America, 1964
Our destiny is shaped by collective effort, reason, and principle, not just fate or history.
In simple terms: We control our future through reasoned action.
Key Takeaway
Act deliberately to shape society.
Themes
responsibility
agency
national identity
future
Mood
hopeful
determined
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- community organizing
- education reform
Key Concepts
Collective agency
civic duty
Questions to Reflect On
- How can individuals balance personal agency with structural limits?
- What principles should guide national decision‑making?
A Different Perspective
Overconfidence can ignore systemic constraints.
![“I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. [salutes]” quote by Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3d2/bill-hicks-970_america_i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumor_655.jpg)
