--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A troubled and afflicted mankind looks to…" description: "\"A troubled and afflicted mankind looks to us, pleading for us to keep our rendezvous with destiny; that we will uphold the principles of self-reliance,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c2/ronald-reagan-119_character_a-troubled-and-afflicted-mankind-looks-t_1265638.jpg" --- # A troubled and afflicted mankind looks to us, pleading for… ![“A troubled and afflicted mankind looks to us, pleading for us to keep our rendezvous with destiny; that we will uphold the principles of self-reliance, self-discipline, morality, and, above all, responsible liberty for every individual that we will become that shining city on a hill.” quote by Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c2/ronald-reagan-119_character_a-troubled-and-afflicted-mankind-looks-t_1265638.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c2/ronald-reagan-119_character_a-troubled-and-afflicted-mankind-looks-t_1265638.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c2/ronald-reagan-119_character_a-troubled-and-afflicted-mankind-looks-t_1265638.jpg) > “A troubled and afflicted mankind looks to us, pleading for us to keep our rendezvous with destiny; that we will uphold the principles of self-reliance, self-discipline, morality, and, above all, responsible liberty for every individual that we will become that shining city on a hill.” [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A call for national self‑reliance, moral discipline, and liberty to build a hopeful future. **In simple terms:** Encourage personal responsibility and freedom to create a better society. Key Takeaway Promote self‑reliance and moral values. Themes self‑reliance morality freedom leadership optimism Mood inspirational determined Type political motivational When to use this quote - political campaigns - community organizing - education reform - public policy debates Key Concepts Americanism individualism civic duty Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance personal responsibility with social support? - What does “shining city on a hill” mean today? A Different Perspective May overlook systemic barriers that limit individual agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [City On A Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/city-on-a-hill/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Hills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hills/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Rendezvous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rendezvous/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-discipline/) [Self reliance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-reliance/) [Shining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shining/) ## Related quotes > [Our country is great because it is built on principles of self-reliance, opportunity, innovation, and compassion for others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/our-country-is-great-because-it-is-built-on-principles-of-self/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Our strategic dialogue with China can both protect American interests and uphold our principles, provided we are honest about our differences on human rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/our-strategic-dialogue-with-china-can-both-protect-american-interests/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [We are willing to uphold principles that have resulted in unprecedented prosperity and security throughout Europe and around the world. With the threat of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-are-willing-to-uphold-principles-that-have-resulted-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Let us resolve tonight that young Americans will always . . . find there a city of hope in a country that is free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/let-us-resolve-tonight-that-young-americans-will-always-find-there-a/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [America is, and always will be, a shining city on a hill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/america-is-and-always-will-be-a-shining-city-on-a-hill/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [We can meet our destiny, and that destiny to build a land here that will be, for all mankind, a shining city on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-can-meet-our-destiny-and-that-destiny-to-build-a-land-here-that/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [With our eyes fixed on the future, but recognizing the realities of today, we will achieve our destiny to be as a shining city…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/with-our-eyes-fixed-on-the-future-but-recognizing-the-realities-of/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [We're resolved tonight that young Americans will always see those Potomac lights, that they will always find here a city of hope in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-re-resolved-tonight-that-young-americans-will-always-see-those/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Obviously, the United States' own founding principles are self-determination. And I think what the United States and our allies want to do is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-w-tillerson/obviously-the-united-states-own-founding-principles-are-self/) [Rex W. Tillerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-w-tillerson/) > [Whenever there is a conflict between universal principles and self-interest, self-interest is likely to prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/whenever-there-is-a-conflict-between-universal-principles-and-self/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [There is no short and easy road, no magic cure for those ills which have afflicted mankind from the dawn of history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-kellogg/there-is-no-short-and-easy-road-no-magic-cure-for-those-ills-which/) [Frank B. Kellogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-b-kellogg/) > [Skepticism relieved two terrible diseases that afflicted mankind: anxiety and dogmatism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sextus-empiricus/skepticism-relieved-two-terrible-diseases-that-afflicted-mankind/) [Sextus Empiricus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sextus-empiricus/) > [Religion, charity, pure benevolence, and morals, mingled up with superstitious rites and ferocious cruelty, form in their combination institutions the most powerful and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/religion-charity-pure-benevolence-and-morals-mingled-up-with/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [“History was finite and contained within comprehensible limits. It began with the Creation and was scheduled to end in a not indefinitely remote future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-w-tuchman/history-was-finite-and-contained-within-comprehensible-limits-it/) [Barbara W. Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-w-tuchman/) > [We're Americans, and we have a rendezvous with destiny . . . No people who have ever lived on this earth have fought harder,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-re-americans-and-we-have-a-rendezvous-with-destiny-no-people-who/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## More by Ronald Reagan > [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/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [You know, by the time you reach my age, you've made plenty of mistakes if you've lived your life properly. So you learn. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-know-by-the-time-you-reach-my-age-you-ve-made-plenty-of-mistakes/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall. For it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/yes-across-europe-this-wall-will-fall-for-it-cannot-withstand-faith/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Simple fairness dictates that government must not raise taxes on families struggling to pay their bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/simple-fairness-dictates-that-government-must-not-raise-taxes-on/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The time has come to turn to God and reassert our trust in Him for the healing of America - our country is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-time-has-come-to-turn-to-god-and-reassert-our-trust-in-him-for/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Professional politicians like to talk about the value of experience in government. Nuts! The only experience you gain in politics is how to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/professional-politicians-like-to-talk-about-the-value-of-experience/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The WPA was one of the most productive elements of FDR's alphabet soup of agencies because it put people to work building roads, bridges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-wpa-was-one-of-the-most-productive-elements-of-fdr-s-alphabet/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Where there's liberty, art succeeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/where-there-s-liberty-art-succeeds/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Since I came to the White House, I got two hearing aids, a colon operation, skin cancer, a prostate operation, and I was shot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/since-i-came-to-the-white-house-i-got-two-hearing-aids-a-colon/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [A moment I've been dreading. George brought his ne're-do-well son around this morning and asked me to find the kid a job. Not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/a-moment-i-ve-been-dreading-george-brought-his-ne-re-do-well-son/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [On Father's Day, we pay tribute to all in our society who have taken on the responsibilitie s and joys of fatherhood. Whether our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/on-father-s-day-we-pay-tribute-to-all-in-our-society-who-have-taken/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [It's not that liberals aren't smart, it's just that so much of what they know isn't so](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/it-s-not-that-liberals-aren-t-smart-it-s-just-that-so-much-of-what/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Love your country, not for her power or wealth, but for her selflessness and her idealism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/love-your-country-not-for-her-power-or-wealth-but-for-her/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Explore all 1,244 Ronald Reagan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A troubled and afflicted mankind looks to us, pleading for us to keep our rendezvous with destiny; that we will uphold the principles of self-reliance, self-discipline, morality, and, above all, responsible liberty for every individual that we will become that shining city on a hill.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ronald Reagan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/a-troubled-and-afflicted-mankind-looks-to-us-pleading-for-us-to-keep/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/a-troubled-and-afflicted-mankind-looks-to-us-pleading-for-us-to-keep/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c2/ronald-reagan-119_character_a-troubled-and-afflicted-mankind-looks-t_1265638.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c2/ronald-reagan-119_character_a-troubled-and-afflicted-mankind-looks-t_1265638.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c2/ronald-reagan-119_character_a-troubled-and-afflicted-mankind-looks-t_1265638.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A troubled and afflicted mankind looks to us, pleading for us to keep our rendezvous with destiny; that we…” — Ronald Reagan", "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": "Ronald Reagan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A troubled and afflicted mankind looks...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/a-troubled-and-afflicted-mankind-looks-to-us-pleading-for-us-to-keep/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/a-troubled-and-afflicted-mankind-looks-to-us-pleading-for-us-to-keep/#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 } } ] } ```