--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The real opportunity America has always…" description: "\"The real opportunity America has always offered is the chance to be what you want to be and escape being what you don't want to be - though sometimes i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/stephen-schwartz-3036_america_the-real-opportunity-america-has-always_1680686.jpg" --- # The real opportunity America has always offered is the… ![“The real opportunity America has always offered is the chance to be what you want to be and escape being what you don't want to be - though sometimes it's like the line from a song by The Eagles: 'We live our lives in chains and never even know we have the key.'” quote by Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/stephen-schwartz-3036_america_the-real-opportunity-america-has-always_1680686.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/stephen-schwartz-3036_america_the-real-opportunity-america-has-always_1680686.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/stephen-schwartz-3036_america_the-real-opportunity-america-has-always_1680686.jpg) > “The real opportunity America has always offered is the chance to be what you want to be and escape being what you don't want to be - though sometimes it's like the line from a song by The Eagles: 'We live our lives in chains and never even know we have the key.'” [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. America offers the chance to define oneself, but many remain unaware of their own freedom. **In simple terms:** America lets you choose who you become, but people often miss their freedom. Key Takeaway Recognize and use your personal freedom. Themes freedom self‑determination choice Mood hopeful reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - education - relationship decisions - personal growth Key Concepts American Dream personal agency self‑realization Questions to Reflect On - What freedoms are you overlooking? - How can you unlock hidden potential? A Different Perspective Freedom can be limited by social expectations and lack of awareness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Escape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/escape/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) ## Related quotes > [Escapology has one thing going for it that probably made Harry Houdini such a superstar in his day and a legend in the present.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-randi/escapology-has-one-thing-going-for-it-that-probably-made-harry/) [James Randi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-randi/) > [The entrepreneurial opportunity in America is alive and well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/the-entrepreneurial-opportunity-in-america-is-alive-and-well/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [As long as there is freedom and opportunity for all, America will always be a city on a hill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-doocy/as-long-as-there-is-freedom-and-opportunity-for-all-america-will/) [Steve Doocy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-doocy/) > [This is a critical opportunity for America. And what Im afraid of is weve watched over the past year or so, first the president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/this-is-a-critical-opportunity-for-america-and-what-im-afraid-of-is/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [The best escalator to opportunity in America is education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/the-best-escalator-to-opportunity-in-america-is-education/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [Everybody has an opportunity in America. I don't care if guys whine and complain about this or that. You know, no country affords its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/everybody-has-an-opportunity-in-america-i-don-t-care-if-guys-whine/) [Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) > [If you truly want to escape the ordinary, you'll simply need to keep evolving. Whether what you seek is above or below.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryohgo-narita/if-you-truly-want-to-escape-the-ordinary-you-ll-simply-need-to-keep/) [Ryohgo Narita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryohgo-narita/) > [I love to travel, but when I really want to escape, I read a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-craighead-george/i-love-to-travel-but-when-i-really-want-to-escape-i-read-a-book/) [Jean Craighead George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-craighead-george/) > [“I guess it's not the place I want to escape. It's my place in this place.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-hart/i-guess-it-s-not-the-place-i-want-to-escape-it-s-my-place-in-this/) [Kate Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-hart/) > [“Some people can’t keep fighting. Some people want to escape. Some people are not ready—are not able—to find a way to deal with what’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-fine/some-people-can-t-keep-fighting-some-people-want-to-escape-some/) [Sarah Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-fine/) > [We also have a real opportunity to join NATO.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduard-shevardnadze/we-also-have-a-real-opportunity-to-join-nato/) [Eduard Shevardnadze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduard-shevardnadze/) > [I think expectations might be preceding reality, ... In the long run we've got some real opportunity here, but we've come a long way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-davies/i-think-expectations-might-be-preceding-reality-in-the-long-run-we-ve/) Michael Davies > [I do not think it worth while to wait for enjoyment until there is some real opportunity for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/i-do-not-think-it-worth-while-to-wait-for-enjoyment-until-there-is/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [We rob ourselves of so much by focusing on the wrong stuff. And the ability to get into the moment and deal with what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-mattea/we-rob-ourselves-of-so-much-by-focusing-on-the-wrong-stuff-and-the/) [Kathy Mattea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-mattea/) > [There is a real opportunity right now as parents and grandparents to come up with a plan that leaves our kids with something better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-coleman/there-is-a-real-opportunity-right-now-as-parents-and-grandparents-to/) [Norm Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-coleman/) ## More by Stephen Schwartz > [Bringing your show to Broadway is an economic decision on the part of producers and investors that may or may not happen, but sharing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/bringing-your-show-to-broadway-is-an-economic-decision-on-the-part-of/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [You wouldn't walk into a music store and walk out with a piece of music under your arm. So why would it be acceptable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/you-wouldn-t-walk-into-a-music-store-and-walk-out-with-a-piece-of/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [There have always been discussions about a 'Pippin' movie. I think it would lend itself very well to film if one could solve how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/there-have-always-been-discussions-about-a-pippin-movie-i-think-it/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [When I was in high school, I worked at a theatre on Long Island, where I grew up, in the box office and parking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/when-i-was-in-high-school-i-worked-at-a-theatre-on-long-island-where/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [When I perform I try and focus on the lyrics and my interpretation of the lyrics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/when-i-perform-i-try-and-focus-on-the-lyrics-and-my-interpretation-of/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [I think it would be really cool to see 'Enchanted' on Broadway - there's been discussion of it from time to time. You'd have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/i-think-it-would-be-really-cool-to-see-enchanted-on-broadway-there-s/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [I was very happy in Hollywood. I was doing extremely well there and things were good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/i-was-very-happy-in-hollywood-i-was-doing-extremely-well-there-and/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [That was what I always wanted to do for my whole life, to write music in the service of telling stories and communicating ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/that-was-what-i-always-wanted-to-do-for-my-whole-life-to-write-music/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [I had always been interested in opera, going back to my college days at Carnegie Mellon. In my last year there, I even wrote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/i-had-always-been-interested-in-opera-going-back-to-my-college-days/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [With Bernstein, because we wound up always working music first, it was where I really feel I learned how to write lyrics as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/with-bernstein-because-we-wound-up-always-working-music-first-it-was/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [In 'Wicked,' we developed the concept that Glinda has a public persona who sings in soprano and a private persona who is, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/in-wicked-we-developed-the-concept-that-glinda-has-a-public-persona/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [Alan Menken is so gifted in terms of coming up with these great melodies. What I learned from working with him was how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/alan-menken-is-so-gifted-in-terms-of-coming-up-with-these-great/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [I like works about familiar stories, where one spins the point of view and looks at it from another angle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/i-like-works-about-familiar-stories-where-one-spins-the-point-of-view/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [Excuse me, there's no pretense here. I happen to be genuinely self-absorbed and deeply shallow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/excuse-me-there-s-no-pretense-here-i-happen-to-be-genuinely-self/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [Dancers are the unsung heroes Broadway musicals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/dancers-are-the-unsung-heroes-broadway-musicals/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) [Explore all 141 Stephen Schwartz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) ## 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": "The real opportunity America has always offered is the chance to be what you want to be and escape being what you don't want to be - though sometimes it's like the line from a song by The Eagles: 'We live our lives in chains and never even know we have the key.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Schwartz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/the-real-opportunity-america-has-always-offered-is-the-chance-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/the-real-opportunity-america-has-always-offered-is-the-chance-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/stephen-schwartz-3036_america_the-real-opportunity-america-has-always_1680686.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/stephen-schwartz-3036_america_the-real-opportunity-america-has-always_1680686.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/stephen-schwartz-3036_america_the-real-opportunity-america-has-always_1680686.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The real opportunity America has always offered is the chance to be what you want to be and escape being…” — Stephen Schwartz", "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": "Stephen Schwartz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The real opportunity America has always...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/the-real-opportunity-america-has-always-offered-is-the-chance-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/the-real-opportunity-america-has-always-offered-is-the-chance-to-be/#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 } } ] } ```