--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our spirit is back, but we haven't…" description: "\"Our spirit is back, but we haven't reinstitutional ized it. We've got to do a better job of getting across that America is freedom -- freedom of speech..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/127/ronald-reagan-119_america_our-spirit-is-back-but-we-haven-t-reinst_813462.jpg" --- # Our spirit is back, but we haven't reinstitutional ized… ![“Our spirit is back, but we haven't reinstitutional ized it. We've got to do a better job of getting across that America is freedom -- freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of enterprise. And freedom is special and rare. It's fragile; it needs protection.” quote by Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/127/ronald-reagan-119_america_our-spirit-is-back-but-we-haven-t-reinst_813462.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/127/ronald-reagan-119_america_our-spirit-is-back-but-we-haven-t-reinst_813462.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/127/ronald-reagan-119_america_our-spirit-is-back-but-we-haven-t-reinst_813462.jpg) > “Our spirit is back, but we haven't reinstitutional ized it. We've got to do a better job of getting across that America is freedom -- freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of enterprise. And freedom is special and rare. It's fragile; it needs protection.” [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. Freedom is a precious, delicate right that must be actively defended and promoted. **In simple terms:** Freedom is fragile and needs protection. Key Takeaway Defend and cherish freedoms. Themes freedom rights politics responsibility Mood proud defensive hopeful Type political inspirational When to use this quote - political discourse - education - media coverage - public policy Key Concepts civil liberties democracy national identity Questions to Reflect On - How can individuals safeguard freedom daily? - What role does government play in protecting liberties? A Different Perspective Freedom can be compromised by complacency or authoritarianism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-freedom/) [Better job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-job/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Enterprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enterprise/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-freedom/) [Freedom of religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-of-religion/) [Freedom of speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-of-speech/) [Freedom Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-religion/) [Freedom Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-speech/) [Getting America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-america-287263/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Protection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protection/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) ## Related quotes > [Our spirit is back, but we haven't reinstitutionalized it. We've got to do a better job of getting across that America is freedom -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/our-spirit-is-back-but-we-haven-t-reinstitutionalized-it-we-ve-got-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The Constitution does not guarantee freedom of worship - it guarantees freedom of religion. And this is what I call America's first freedom...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/the-constitution-does-not-guarantee-freedom-of-worship-it-guarantees/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [America's freedom of religion, and freedom from religion, offers every wisdom tradition an opportunity to address our soul-deep needs: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-palmer/america-s-freedom-of-religion-and-freedom-from-religion-offers-every/) [Parker Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-palmer/) > [“That's what's great about America: that our freedom of religion allows me to interpret the Bible exactly how it fits my worldview already.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/that-s-what-s-great-about-america-that-our-freedom-of-religion-allows/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [Freedom. Freedom of religion. Freedom to speak their mind. Freedom to build a life. And yes, freedom to build a business. With their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/freedom-freedom-of-religion-freedom-to-speak-their-mind-freedom-to/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I am known for a life spent in the struggle for freedom, and freedom includes the freedom of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/i-am-known-for-a-life-spent-in-the-struggle-for-freedom-and-freedom/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [We're losing our freedom of speech. We are losing freedom of religion. We are losing freedom of the press.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ailes/we-re-losing-our-freedom-of-speech-we-are-losing-freedom-of-religion/) [Roger Ailes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ailes/) > [Freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of religion all have a double aspect - freedom of thought and freedom of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-murphy/freedom-of-speech-freedom-of-the-press-and-freedom-of-religion-all/) [Frank Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-murphy/) > [I believe that freedom of speech and freedom of religion go hand-in-hand in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-cameron/i-believe-that-freedom-of-speech-and-freedom-of-religion-go-hand-in/) [Kirk Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-cameron/) > [In this country, people are concerned about their economic future. They're very concerned about it. And they wonder whether somebody is getting something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/in-this-country-people-are-concerned-about-their-economic-future-they/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [White people’s number one freedom, in the United States of America, is the freedom to be totally ignorant of those who are other than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-elliott/white-people-s-number-one-freedom-in-the-united-states-of-america-is/) [Jane Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-elliott/) > [Everyone claims to be okay with freedom of religion, but the moment you mention God there is a strange tension that fills the air.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/everyone-claims-to-be-okay-with-freedom-of-religion-but-the-moment/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [I am an Iranian by birth and of my Islamic faith. I am also an American Citizen and I seek to help change America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/i-am-an-iranian-by-birth-and-of-my-islamic-faith-i-am-also-an/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [Those who accept freedom of religion as a right are obligated by this acceptance to take the maintenance of freedom of religion as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-leon-blau/those-who-accept-freedom-of-religion-as-a-right-are-obligated-by-this/) [Joseph Leon Blau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-leon-blau/) > [I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-for-freedom-of-religion-and-against-all-maneuvers-to-bring-about/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## 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 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. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our spirit is back, but we haven't reinstitutional ized it. We've got to do a better job of getting across that America is freedom -- freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of enterprise. And freedom is special and rare. It's fragile; it needs protection.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ronald Reagan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/our-spirit-is-back-but-we-haven-t-reinstitutional-ized-it-we-ve-got/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/our-spirit-is-back-but-we-haven-t-reinstitutional-ized-it-we-ve-got/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/127/ronald-reagan-119_america_our-spirit-is-back-but-we-haven-t-reinst_813462.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/127/ronald-reagan-119_america_our-spirit-is-back-but-we-haven-t-reinst_813462.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/127/ronald-reagan-119_america_our-spirit-is-back-but-we-haven-t-reinst_813462.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Our spirit is back, but we haven't reinstitutional ized it. We've got to do a better job of getting across…” — 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": "Our spirit is back, but we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/our-spirit-is-back-but-we-haven-t-reinstitutional-ized-it-we-ve-got/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/our-spirit-is-back-but-we-haven-t-reinstitutional-ized-it-we-ve-got/#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 } } ] } ```