---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ours is an open and accepting society…"
description: "\"Ours is an open and accepting society, and has historically provided an avenue for lawful immigration to all those willing to accept the responsibiliti..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/spencer-bachus-25479_accepting_ours-is-an-open-and-accepting-society-an_2423253.png"
---

#  Ours is an open and accepting society, and has…

![“Ours is an open and accepting society, and has historically provided an avenue for lawful immigration to all those willing to accept the responsibilities of citizenship.” quote by Spencer Bachus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/spencer-bachus-25479_accepting_ours-is-an-open-and-accepting-society-an_2423253.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/spencer-bachus-25479_accepting_ours-is-an-open-and-accepting-society-an_2423253.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/spencer-bachus-25479_accepting_ours-is-an-open-and-accepting-society-an_2423253.png)

> “Ours is an open and accepting society, and has historically provided an avenue for lawful immigration to all those willing to accept the responsibilities of citizenship.”

[Spencer Bachus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-bachus/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The U.S. traditionally welcomes lawful immigrants who accept civic duties.

**In simple terms:** America has historically allowed legal immigration for responsible newcomers.

Key Takeaway

Promote responsible immigration policies.

Themes

immigration citizenship responsibility

Mood

thoughtful hopeful

Type

political social

When to use this quote

- policy debate
- community building
- economic impact

Key Concepts

integration legal pathways

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we balance openness with security?
- What responsibilities should newcomers assume?

A Different Perspective

Tensions over immigration policy persist.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Accepting Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting-society-2678080/) [Citizenship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizenship/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Immigration Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration-willing-4434244/) [Lawful Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawful-immigration-1211191/) [Responsibilities Citizenship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibilities-citizenship-513985/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/)

## Related quotes

> [Elections remind us not only of the rights but the responsibilities of citizenship in a democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kennedy/elections-remind-us-not-only-of-the-rights-but-the-responsibilities/)

[Robert Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kennedy/)

> [Every man among us is more fit to meet the duties and responsibilities of citizenship because of the perils over which, in the past,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/every-man-among-us-is-more-fit-to-meet-the-duties-and/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [If we want to set and enforce a limit on immigration, we have to be willing to say no to would-be immigrants who look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-c-ting/if-we-want-to-set-and-enforce-a-limit-on-immigration-we-have-to-be/)

[Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/)

> [I try to define myself through my own choices rather than just accepting society's kind of you're that, you're that, let me put you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gugu-mbatha-raw/i-try-to-define-myself-through-my-own-choices-rather-than-just/)

[Gugu Mbatha-Raw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gugu-mbatha-raw/)

> [“The reformers define the purpose of education as preparation for global competitiveness, higher education, or the workforce. They view students as “human capital” or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-ravitch/the-reformers-define-the-purpose-of-education-as-preparation-for/)

[Diane Ravitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-ravitch/)

> [Thirty years people have been asking for a lawful system of immigration to end this lawlessness, and government on both parties have refused to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sessions/thirty-years-people-have-been-asking-for-a-lawful-system-of/)

[Jeff Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sessions/)

> [ \[Donald Trump\] said we're going to have a big door. He means lawful immigration will continue, but we're not going to allow the nation… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sessions/donald-trump-said-we-re-going-to-have-a-big-door-he-means-lawful/)

[Jeff Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sessions/)

> [We do need to make sure that we have an orderly, lawful immigration process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-do-need-to-make-sure-that-we-have-an-orderly-lawful-immigration/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [If it is orderly and lawful, immigration is good for our economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/if-it-is-orderly-and-lawful-immigration-is-good-for-our-economy/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [The establishment of our new lawful immigration system then and only then will we be in a position to consider the appropriate disposition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-establishment-of-our-new-lawful-immigration-system-then-and-only/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [From a policy point of view, I don't think it's the right approach. I don't like the idea of having millions of people here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/from-a-policy-point-of-view-i-don-t-think-it-s-the-right-approach-i/)

[Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/)

> [If you care about your personal liberty, you'll be cautious when you feel comfortable, blame all the illegal immigrants for everything. What you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/if-you-care-about-your-personal-liberty-you-ll-be-cautious-when-you/)

[Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/)

> [We are waiting for Donald Trump's big immigration speech. There are lots of unanswered questions that remain about where exactly Trump stands on deportation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kornacki/we-are-waiting-for-donald-trump-s-big-immigration-speech-there-are/)

[Steve Kornacki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kornacki/)

> [With all of the talk about polling and demographics, I think too many people have lost touch with the human and moral crisis of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-holt-baker/with-all-of-the-talk-about-polling-and-demographics-i-think-too-many/)

[Arlene Holt Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-holt-baker/)

> [Have you ever watched someone become American? Last week, at a national citizenship conference I organize, thirty immigrants from 17 countries swore an oath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-liu/have-you-ever-watched-someone-become-american-last-week-at-a-national/)

[Eric Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-liu/)

## More by Spencer Bachus

> [Today, the technology is there to give early and normally ample warning when a powerful tornado approaches. When a tornado strikes, all of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-bachus/today-the-technology-is-there-to-give-early-and-normally-ample/)

[Spencer Bachus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-bachus/)

> [The rapid growth in many of our suburbs has spawned a booming construction industry eager to hire low wage immigrants who gladly fill these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-bachus/the-rapid-growth-in-many-of-our-suburbs-has-spawned-a-booming/)

[Spencer Bachus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-bachus/)

> [In 2003, I introduced and passed The Tornado Shelters Act, which allows local governments to use Community Development Block Grant funds to construct storm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-bachus/in-2003-i-introduced-and-passed-the-tornado-shelters-act-which-allows/)

[Spencer Bachus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-bachus/)

> [Pre-teens, teens and college students have unlimited access to the Internet - 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Because of the repeated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-bachus/pre-teens-teens-and-college-students-have-unlimited-access-to-the/)

[Spencer Bachus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-bachus/)

> [My view is that Washington and the regulators are there to serve the banks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-bachus/my-view-is-that-washington-and-the-regulators-are-there-to-serve-the/)

[Spencer Bachus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-bachus/)

> [Immigration in America is a highly polarized issue and there are passionate views on both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-bachus/immigration-in-america-is-a-highly-polarized-issue-and-there-are/)

[Spencer Bachus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-bachus/)

> [Most illegals are without health insurance, and when these workers need emergency healthcare, the American taxpayer gets stuck with the bill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-bachus/most-illegals-are-without-health-insurance-and-when-these-workers/)

[Spencer Bachus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-bachus/)

> [As the number of available jobs has decreased in border states like Texas, cities halfway across America have begun to see an influx of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-bachus/as-the-number-of-available-jobs-has-decreased-in-border-states-like/)

[Spencer Bachus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-bachus/)

> [Shockingly, a University of Pennsylvania study says the number of young people addicted to gambling - largely due to increased exposure to the Internet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-bachus/shockingly-a-university-of-pennsylvania-study-says-the-number-of/)

[Spencer Bachus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-bachus/)

> [Illegal immigrants are beginning to comprise a black market class of workers in our society, jeopardizing the financial health of companies which play by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-bachus/illegal-immigrants-are-beginning-to-comprise-a-black-market-class-of/)

[Spencer Bachus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-bachus/)

> [Harvard Medical School, the University of South Florida and the American Psychiatric Association have all conducted studies showing that the earlier one begins gambling,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-bachus/harvard-medical-school-the-university-of-south-florida-and-the/)

[Spencer Bachus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-bachus/)

> [For generations, America has served as a beacon of hope and freedom for those outside her borders, and as a land of limitless opportunity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-bachus/for-generations-america-has-served-as-a-beacon-of-hope-and-freedom/)

[Spencer Bachus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-bachus/)

> [For 180 years, we voted in English. That is the true American tradition, and this amendment is true to our heritage, not what has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-bachus/for-180-years-we-voted-in-english-that-is-the-true-american-tradition/)

[Spencer Bachus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-bachus/)

> [By encouraging its citizens to violate our border, Mexico is pushing a tremendous welfare burden off of its shoulders and onto ours, while also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-bachus/by-encouraging-its-citizens-to-violate-our-border-mexico-is-pushing-a/)

[Spencer Bachus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-bachus/)

> [It is my belief CAFTA will be beneficial for Alabama and the United States as a whole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-bachus/it-is-my-belief-cafta-will-be-beneficial-for-alabama-and-the-united/)

[Spencer Bachus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-bachus/)

[Explore all 23 Spencer Bachus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-bachus/)

## More Accepting quotes

> [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/)

[Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/)

> [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/)

[Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/)

> [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/)

[Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/)

> [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/)

[Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/)

> [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/)

[Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/)

> [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/)

[Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/)

> [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/)

[Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/)

> [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/)

[Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/)

> [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/)

[John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/)

> [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/)

[Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/)

[Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Ours is an open and accepting society, and has historically provided an avenue for lawful immigration to all those willing to accept the responsibilities of citizenship.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Spencer Bachus"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-bachus/ours-is-an-open-and-accepting-society-and-has-historically-provided/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Accepting"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-bachus/ours-is-an-open-and-accepting-society-and-has-historically-provided/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/spencer-bachus-25479_accepting_ours-is-an-open-and-accepting-society-an_2423253.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/spencer-bachus-25479_accepting_ours-is-an-open-and-accepting-society-an_2423253.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/spencer-bachus-25479_accepting_ours-is-an-open-and-accepting-society-an_2423253.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Ours is an open and accepting society, and has historically provided an avenue for lawful immigration to all…” — Spencer Bachus",
                "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": "Spencer Bachus",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-bachus/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Ours is an open and accepting...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-bachus/ours-is-an-open-and-accepting-society-and-has-historically-provided/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-bachus/ours-is-an-open-and-accepting-society-and-has-historically-provided/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
