--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We're entering our third century now, but…" description: "\"We're entering our third century now, but it's wrong to judge our nation by its years. The calendar can't measure America because we were meant to be a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/ronald-reagan-119_america_we-re-entering-our-third-century-now-but_2413163.jpg" --- # We're entering our third century now, but it's wrong to… ![“We're entering our third century now, but it's wrong to judge our nation by its years. The calendar can't measure America because we were meant to be an endless experiment in freedom, with no limits to our reaches, no boundaries to what we can do, no end point to our hopes.” quote by Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/ronald-reagan-119_america_we-re-entering-our-third-century-now-but_2413163.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/ronald-reagan-119_america_we-re-entering-our-third-century-now-but_2413163.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/ronald-reagan-119_america_we-re-entering-our-third-century-now-but_2413163.jpg) > “We're entering our third century now, but it's wrong to judge our nation by its years. The calendar can't measure America because we were meant to be an endless experiment in freedom, with no limits to our reaches, no boundaries to what we can do, no end point to our hopes.” [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. America should be judged by its ideals and continuous quest for freedom, not by age or calendar measures. **In simple terms:** Judge America by its freedom experiment. Key Takeaway Focus on ideals, not years. Themes freedom progress national identity Mood reflective patriotic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - policy making - education curricula - public discourse Key Concepts American exceptionalism historical perspective Questions to Reflect On - How to balance tradition with innovation? - What defines national success? A Different Perspective Historical context may limit vision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Boundaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boundaries/) [Experiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiments/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [No boundaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-boundaries/) ## Related quotes > [In an ideal world, 'Doctor Who' makes the whole nation eight years old, with that excitement and engagement and wide-eyedness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/in-an-ideal-world-doctor-who-makes-the-whole-nation-eight-years-old/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I don’t measure America by its achievement but by its potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-don-t-measure-america-by-its-achievement-but-by-its-potential/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [“...suffering and freedom have their limits...those limits are very near together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/suffering-and-freedom-have-their-limits-those-limits-are-very-near/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [As a boy, I believed freedom for America meant freedom for me. There was a time I believed every word spoken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-white/as-a-boy-i-believed-freedom-for-america-meant-freedom-for-me-there/) [Barry White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-white/) > [A child needs freedom within limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/a-child-needs-freedom-within-limits/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [From an early age I was aware of what America meant, and how the Marines at Camp Pendleton were ready to defend us at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-locklear/from-an-early-age-i-was-aware-of-what-america-meant-and-how-the/) [Heather Locklear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-locklear/) > [The Constitution, when it says, "We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/the-constitution-when-it-says-we-the-people-of-the-united-states-in/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [Freedom was born in Greece because there men limited their own freedom. ... The limits to action established by law were a mere nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/freedom-was-born-in-greece-because-there-men-limited-their-own/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [Freedom without limits is just a word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/freedom-without-limits-is-just-a-word/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [ His \[Frank Sinatra\] voice defined not only a certain period of time, but America and what America meant to the world. Sinatra grew up,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-davi/his-frank-sinatra-voice-defined-not-only-a-certain-period-of-time-but/) [Robert Davi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-davi/) > [I've got a reason for running. I talk about a larger goal, which is to call upon the best of America. It's part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-ve-got-a-reason-for-running-i-talk-about-a-larger-goal-which-is-to/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [My father always said that Brazil is the place to 'make America,' and by 'make America' he meant the place to grow - to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-temer/my-father-always-said-that-brazil-is-the-place-to-make-america-and-by/) [Michel Temer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-temer/) > [The truth about not having everything you need, not being fully equipped or qualified or allowed is that these limits are the nebula of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/the-truth-about-not-having-everything-you-need-not-being-fully/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [The 'Ramayana' explores the limits of secular freedom and the limits of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-farr/the-ramayana-explores-the-limits-of-secular-freedom-and-the-limits-of/) [David Farr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-farr/) > [“From a letter to Barrett H.Clark, 4 May 1918(LL,II,pp.204-5): "my attitude to subjects and expressions, the angles of vision, my methods of composition will,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/from-a-letter-to-barrett-h-clark-4-may-1918-ll-ii-pp-204-5-my/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) ## 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": "We're entering our third century now, but it's wrong to judge our nation by its years. 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