--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being an American is an action; it's an…" description: "\"Being an American is an action; it's an ideal to strive for. It's being part of this constantly perfecting union that, with each generation, expands ou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01d/sarah-mcbride-8641_action_being-an-american-is-an-action-it-s-an-i_1983412.jpg" --- # Being an American is an action; it's an ideal to strive… ![“Being an American is an action; it's an ideal to strive for. It's being part of this constantly perfecting union that, with each generation, expands our scope and human understanding of 'We the people.'” quote by Sarah McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01d/sarah-mcbride-8641_action_being-an-american-is-an-action-it-s-an-i_1983412.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01d/sarah-mcbride-8641_action_being-an-american-is-an-action-it-s-an-i_1983412.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01d/sarah-mcbride-8641_action_being-an-american-is-an-action-it-s-an-i_1983412.jpg) > “Being an American is an action; it's an ideal to strive for. It's being part of this constantly perfecting union that, with each generation, expands our scope and human understanding of 'We the people.'” [Sarah McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mcbride/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Citizenship is defined by active participation and shared ideals, not merely birthplace, and each generation expands collective understanding of democracy. **In simple terms:** Being American means acting on shared ideals and growing democracy. Key Takeaway Engage actively in civic life. Themes citizenship democracy idealism Mood inspired determined Type political motivational When to use this quote - voting - community organizing - public debate - education initiatives Key Concepts civic engagement collective identity political participation Questions to Reflect On - How can you contribute to expanding democratic ideals? - What obstacles hinder full civic engagement? A Different Perspective Idealism may overlook systemic barriers that limit participation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [I am hopeful about our future and sure that, despite our challenges, engaging our government remains essential in the journey toward perfecting our union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/i-am-hopeful-about-our-future-and-sure-that-despite-our-challenges/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [I'd guess that every American action film would be different. It's just training, training hard, training a lot. 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But the shadows of God are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/human-understanding-is-fallible-and-we-see-through-a-glass-darkly-any/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“The self-aggrandizing and widespread assumption that we humans have the full complement of all of the emotions possible to all animals on Earth–basically, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/else-poulsen/the-self-aggrandizing-and-widespread-assumption-that-we-humans-have/) Else Poulsen > [The human understanding, when any preposition has been once laid down... forces everything else to add fresh support and confirmation; and although more cogent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-human-understanding-when-any-preposition-has-been-once-laid-down/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [The wonderful structure of the animal system will probably never permit us to look upon it as a merely physical apparatus, yet the demands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gorrie/the-wonderful-structure-of-the-animal-system-will-probably-never/) John Gorrie ## More by Sarah McBride > [Everyone's journey to coming out as transgender is different. For me, I've know that I'm transgender my entire life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mcbride/everyone-s-journey-to-coming-out-as-transgender-is-different-for-me-i/) [Sarah McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mcbride/) > [Will we be a nation where there's only one way to love, one way to look, one way to live? Or will we be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mcbride/will-we-be-a-nation-where-there-s-only-one-way-to-love-one-way-to/) [Sarah McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mcbride/) > [The first thing we need allies to do is listen. Come to us with a willingness to grow and evolve. You're going to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mcbride/the-first-thing-we-need-allies-to-do-is-listen-come-to-us-with-a/) [Sarah McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mcbride/) > [My whiteness, economic privilege, able-bodied privilege, family support, and so many other factors shield me from some of the worst possible consequences - often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mcbride/my-whiteness-economic-privilege-able-bodied-privilege-family-support/) [Sarah McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mcbride/) > [Too often, when transgender people die, family members or funeral homes will end up dressing a body of a transgender person in the garments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mcbride/too-often-when-transgender-people-die-family-members-or-funeral-homes/) [Sarah McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mcbride/) > [I love politics, love government, and I definitely want to stay involved. But I don't know if I'd ever want to run for office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mcbride/i-love-politics-love-government-and-i-definitely-want-to-stay/) [Sarah McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mcbride/) > [When I came out, I wondered whether I had a future not just professionally but romantically. Would I be able to find someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mcbride/when-i-came-out-i-wondered-whether-i-had-a-future-not-just/) [Sarah McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mcbride/) > [While I don't think President Trump is going to round LGBTQ people up, I do think the concerns from the community about his vision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mcbride/while-i-don-t-think-president-trump-is-going-to-round-lgbtq-people-up/) [Sarah McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mcbride/) > [Put simply, barring transgender people from restrooms consistent with their gender identity doesn't help anyone, and continuing to allow transgender people to access those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mcbride/put-simply-barring-transgender-people-from-restrooms-consistent-with/) [Sarah McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mcbride/) > [My gratitude is great to my family and friends for accepting me as the person who they now know me to be and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mcbride/my-gratitude-is-great-to-my-family-and-friends-for-accepting-me-as/) [Sarah McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mcbride/) > [The harassment and the bullying that students face is a learned behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mcbride/the-harassment-and-the-bullying-that-students-face-is-a-learned/) [Sarah McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mcbride/) > [I want to make sure that people understand that, behind this national conversation around transgender rights, there are real people who hurt when they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mcbride/i-want-to-make-sure-that-people-understand-that-behind-this-national/) [Sarah McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mcbride/) > [Andy and I decided to get married in August of 2014, and just 4 days after we married, he passed away. For me, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mcbride/andy-and-i-decided-to-get-married-in-august-of-2014-and-just-4-days/) [Sarah McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mcbride/) > [We certainly hope that Secretary DeVos will work on behalf of every student and ensure equal access to a safe and quality education for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mcbride/we-certainly-hope-that-secretary-devos-will-work-on-behalf-of-every/) [Sarah McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mcbride/) > [When the boys and girls would line up separately in kindergarten, I'd find myself longing to be in the other line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mcbride/when-the-boys-and-girls-would-line-up-separately-in-kindergarten-i-d/) [Sarah McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mcbride/) [Explore all 79 Sarah McBride quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mcbride/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! 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