--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you call yourself an American that…" description: "\"If you call yourself an American that means that you have embraced the constitution, because that is what an American is. A citizen of the United State..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff2/scott-ritter-13498_allegiance_if-you-call-yourself-an-american-that-me_349321.jpg" --- # If you call yourself an American that means that you have… ![“If you call yourself an American that means that you have embraced the constitution, because that is what an American is. A citizen of the United States of America is someone who has sworn an oath of allegiance to that document, to the words, to the ideals of that document. Right now we have…” quote by Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff2/scott-ritter-13498_allegiance_if-you-call-yourself-an-american-that-me_349321.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff2/scott-ritter-13498_allegiance_if-you-call-yourself-an-american-that-me_349321.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff2/scott-ritter-13498_allegiance_if-you-call-yourself-an-american-that-me_349321.jpg) > “If you call yourself an American that means that you have embraced the constitution, because that is what an American is. A citizen of the United States of America is someone who has sworn an oath of allegiance to that document, to the words, to the ideals of that document. Right now we have citizens who don't even understand what that document is.” [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) ## 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 allegiance to the Constitution and its ideals, not merely by birthplace. **In simple terms:** Being American means upholding the Constitution. Key Takeaway Embrace constitutional values. Themes citizenship law identity responsibility Mood reflective serious Type political educational When to use this quote - voter education - school civics curriculum - public debates on patriotism - media analysis Key Concepts civic duty national identity constitutionalism Questions to Reflect On - How can civic education be improved? - What does it mean to truly uphold constitutional ideals? A Different Perspective Many Americans lack knowledge of the Constitution, weakening civic engagement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allegiance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allegiance/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [American citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-citizen/) [Citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals/) [Oath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oath/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [United states of america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states-of-america/) ## Related quotes > [For generations, the Statue of Liberty has stood as the symbol of our nation; a beacon of hope and comfort to the tired, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-phillips/for-generations-the-statue-of-liberty-has-stood-as-the-symbol-of-our/) [Dean Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-phillips/) > [Why would I be willing to challenge my Republican leadership? Because my allegiance will always be to the Constitution and the American people first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-salmon/why-would-i-be-willing-to-challenge-my-republican-leadership-because/) [Matt Salmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-salmon/) > [The typical American citizen is the business man. The typical business man is a bad citizen; he is busy. If he is a 'big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/the-typical-american-citizen-is-the-business-man-the-typical-business/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [I have an American passport, but I don't always remember I'm an American citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-hawley-weld/i-have-an-american-passport-but-i-don-t-always-remember-i-m-an/) [Sophie Hawley-Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-hawley-weld/) > [Obama's IRS is not the IRS I've ever known for over seventy years as an American citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moriarty/obama-s-irs-is-not-the-irs-i-ve-ever-known-for-over-seventy-years-as/) [Michael Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moriarty/) > [If money, education, and honesty will not bring to me as much privilege, as much equality as they bring to any American citizen, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hope/if-money-education-and-honesty-will-not-bring-to-me-as-much-privilege/) [John Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hope/) > [I no longer identify myself as Japanese or American but a 'citizen of the universe.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-asawa/i-no-longer-identify-myself-as-japanese-or-american-but-a-citizen-of/) [Ruth Asawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-asawa/) > [The first duty of an American citizen, then, is that he shall work in politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-first-duty-of-an-american-citizen-then-is-that-he-shall-work-in/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [It takes more than just walking across the border to become an American citizen. It's what's in our souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-d-hunter/it-takes-more-than-just-walking-across-the-border-to-become-an/) [Duncan D. Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-d-hunter/) > [I'm a proud American - becoming a citizen in 1988 was one of the most profoundly moving occasions in my life; I'm a former…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/i-m-a-proud-american-becoming-a-citizen-in-1988-was-one-of-the-most/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) > [I did become American citizen in order to vote. I lived in this country for a very long time and I finally reached the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-redgrave/i-did-become-american-citizen-in-order-to-vote-i-lived-in-this/) [Lynn Redgrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-redgrave/) > [I'm not an American citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-browder/i-m-not-an-american-citizen/) [Bill Browder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-browder/) > [I'm a writer. In Latin America, they say I'm a Latin-American writer because I also write in Spanish and my books are translated, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-m-a-writer-in-latin-america-they-say-i-m-a-latin-american-writer/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [It was a really big deal to become an American citizen the right way. You have to work really hard, and it is such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camila-alves/it-was-a-really-big-deal-to-become-an-american-citizen-the-right-way/) [Camila Alves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camila-alves/) > [An American citizen is not going to be extradited to Japan for saving whales.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/an-american-citizen-is-not-going-to-be-extradited-to-japan-for-saving/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) ## More by Scott Ritter > [When I resigned, I put the U.S. Government on notice that I'm going to stick to policy issues, that I have no intention of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/when-i-resigned-i-put-the-u-s-government-on-notice-that-i-m-going-to/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [I didn't promote war when I was a weapons inspector.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/i-didn-t-promote-war-when-i-was-a-weapons-inspector/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [While we were never able to provide 100 percent certainty regarding the disposition of Iraq's proscribed weaponry, we did ascertain a 90-95 percent level…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/while-we-were-never-able-to-provide-100-percent-certainty-regarding/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [I don't disagree with anything I've ever said. Why in God's name would I disagree with something I've said?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/i-don-t-disagree-with-anything-i-ve-ever-said-why-in-god-s-name-would/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [I think the danger right now is that without effective inspections, without effective monitoring, Iraq can in a very short period of time measured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/i-think-the-danger-right-now-is-that-without-effective-inspections/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [I consider myself to be a true friend of the Israeli people. But I define friendship as someone who takes care of a friend,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/i-consider-myself-to-be-a-true-friend-of-the-israeli-people-but-i/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [We say that we care about the war, but we don't even really know what we're fighting for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/we-say-that-we-care-about-the-war-but-we-don-t-even-really-know-what/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [The Iraqi people are some of the warmest people you'll meet in your life. They are extremely receptive to strangers. Their hospitality is immense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/the-iraqi-people-are-some-of-the-warmest-people-you-ll-meet-in-your/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [There are people in Baghdad pursuing the initiative that I started, and I want to give them every chance of success. I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/there-are-people-in-baghdad-pursuing-the-initiative-that-i-started/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [Sanctions aren't about weapons of mass destruction. People need to understand that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/sanctions-aren-t-about-weapons-of-mass-destruction-people-need-to/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [My goal in Baghdad was to facilitate a debate here in the United States on America's policy toward Iraq, a debate that's been sadly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/my-goal-in-baghdad-was-to-facilitate-a-debate-here-in-the-united/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [I'm someone who believes the truth needs to be heard. And if I'm empowered with the truth, I'm not going to shut up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/i-m-someone-who-believes-the-truth-needs-to-be-heard-and-if-i-m/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [“We have become a nation not of citizens but of consumers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/we-have-become-a-nation-not-of-citizens-but-of-consumers/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [The only way an Iraqi biological agent would kill you is if it landed on your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/the-only-way-an-iraqi-biological-agent-would-kill-you-is-if-it-landed/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [The most dangerous thing Iraq could have ever had was a nuclear weapon. The nuclear weapon Iraq was trying to build was not deliverable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/the-most-dangerous-thing-iraq-could-have-ever-had-was-a-nuclear/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) [Explore all 50 Scott Ritter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) ## More Allegiance quotes > [“Maybe it begins the day you pledge allegiance, face the flag and suddenly clutch your left clavicle because you find a tender puff of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-johnson/maybe-it-begins-the-day-you-pledge-allegiance-face-the-flag-and/) [Marilyn Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-johnson/) > [I was under the influence of the early modern masters, Fitzgerald and Steinbeck and Hemingway, especially, when I was a kid. I reacted against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stone/i-was-under-the-influence-of-the-early-modern-masters-fitzgerald-and/) [Robert Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stone/) > [“The Pledge of Allegiance says 'liberty and justice for all'. Which part of 'all' don't you understand?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-schroeder/the-pledge-of-allegiance-says-liberty-and-justice-for-all-which-part/) Pat Schroeder > [They're counting on your patriotism to distract you from their plunder. They're counting on you to be standing at attention with your hand over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/they-re-counting-on-your-patriotism-to-distract-you-from-their/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [There is a congratulatory culture in the Gulf. From birth onwards, there is a culture of giving people trophies as markers of achievement for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayshay/there-is-a-congratulatory-culture-in-the-gulf-from-birth-onwards/) Ayshay > [“We may give our human loves the unconditional allegiance which we owe only to God. Then they become gods: then they become demons. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/we-may-give-our-human-loves-the-unconditional-allegiance-which-we-owe/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [In my imaginary utopian world there would be a greater allegiance between music writers and musicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/in-my-imaginary-utopian-world-there-would-be-a-greater-allegiance/) [Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) > [“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the great Republic of America, to our Elector Primo, to our glorious states, to unity against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/i-pledge-allegiance-to-the-flag-of-the-great-republic-of-america-to/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [Let's do more than say the 'Pledge of Allegiance.' Let us live it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-cleaver/let-s-do-more-than-say-the-pledge-of-allegiance-let-us-live-it/) [Emanuel Cleaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-cleaver/) > [All of us ... should remember that no amount of flag-waving, pledging allegiance, or fervent singing of the national anthem is evidence that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/all-of-us-should-remember-that-no-amount-of-flag-waving-pledging/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [“We're not to do everything man tells us to do. We are to obey the Lord Jesus Christ, and our allegiance to the state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-c-morecraft-iii/we-re-not-to-do-everything-man-tells-us-to-do-we-are-to-obey-the-lord/) [Joseph C. Morecraft III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-c-morecraft-iii/) > [Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people. To destroy this invisible government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/behind-the-ostensible-government-sits-enthroned-an-invisible/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“I would find no value in the allegiance of a fool ready to give himself up to any old hag of Black Imagination who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-beddor/i-would-find-no-value-in-the-allegiance-of-a-fool-ready-to-give/) [Frank Beddor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-beddor/) > [Allegiance, after all, has to work two ways; and one can grow weary of an allegiance which is not reciprocal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/allegiance-after-all-has-to-work-two-ways-and-one-can-grow-weary-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think it is right for Canadians to be asked to show their faces when they're taking the oath. On revocation of citizenship, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-alexander/i-think-it-is-right-for-canadians-to-be-asked-to-show-their-faces/) [Chris Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-alexander/) [Browse all 409 Allegiance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allegiance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you call yourself an American that means that you have embraced the constitution, because that is what an American is. A citizen of the United States of America is someone who has sworn an oath of allegiance to that document, to the words, to the ideals of that document. 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