--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I still think in this country, and this…" description: "\"I still think in this country, and this might surprise you, the one thing that George Bush said as president that I do agree with, I love that phrase, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/tavis-smiley-7372_agree_i-still-think-in-this-country-and-this-m_2483608.jpg" --- # I still think in this country, and this might surprise… ![“I still think in this country, and this might surprise you, the one thing that George Bush said as president that I do agree with, I love that phrase, 'the soft bigotry of low expectations.” quote by Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/tavis-smiley-7372_agree_i-still-think-in-this-country-and-this-m_2483608.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/tavis-smiley-7372_agree_i-still-think-in-this-country-and-this-m_2483608.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/tavis-smiley-7372_agree_i-still-think-in-this-country-and-this-m_2483608.jpg) > “I still think in this country, and this might surprise you, the one thing that George Bush said as president that I do agree with, I love that phrase, 'the soft bigotry of low expectations.” [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The phrase warns that low expectations can be a subtle form of discrimination, limiting potential. **In simple terms:** Low expectations harm people. Key Takeaway Raise standards for everyone. Themes equality expectations social justice psychology Mood serious thoughtful Type philosophical political When to use this quote - education - workplace - policy making - parenting Key Concepts implicit bias self‑fulfilling prophecy Questions to Reflect On - How do you challenge low expectations in your community? - What impact does high expectation have on achievement? A Different Perspective Expectations can be a tool for oppression if set too low. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bigotry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigotry/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Low expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/low-expectations/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [That is still the case in this country for too many students, the soft bigotry of low expectations. If you don't expect them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/that-is-still-the-case-in-this-country-for-too-many-students-the-soft/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [One can fall into the 'soft bigotry of low expectations.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-chertavian/one-can-fall-into-the-soft-bigotry-of-low-expectations/) [Gerald Chertavian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-chertavian/) > [I went to Washington to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/i-went-to-washington-to-challenge-the-soft-bigotry-of-low-expectations/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [The soft bigotry of low expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gerson/the-soft-bigotry-of-low-expectations/) [Michael Gerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gerson/) > [Compassionate conservative soft bigotry of low expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/compassionate-conservative-soft-bigotry-of-low-expectations/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [There is going to come a day when everyone here is going to need keen observation and wit to ridicule George W. Bush. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/there-is-going-to-come-a-day-when-everyone-here-is-going-to-need-keen/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Bush has said something new. He said, "If I will be president again, I will be a man of peace and serenity." May the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-meshkini/bush-has-said-something-new-he-said-if-i-will-be-president-again-i/) Ali Meshkini > [George W. Bush always said and did what he believed and he let it rip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-rendell/george-w-bush-always-said-and-did-what-he-believed-and-he-let-it-rip/) [Ed Rendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-rendell/) > [George W. Bush, who said to Pope John Paul II, Give us a visit, and bring the missus. Never got a dinner!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-buttons/george-w-bush-who-said-to-pope-john-paul-ii-give-us-a-visit-and-bring/) [Red Buttons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-buttons/) > [“George H. W. Bush said simply, Offutt “has the most sophisticated command-and-control outside Washington.” Offutt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-m-graff/george-h-w-bush-said-simply-offutt-has-the-most-sophisticated-command/) [Garrett M. Graff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-m-graff/) > [Most of the things that need to be said about the President are things he can't say himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-teeter/most-of-the-things-that-need-to-be-said-about-the-president-are/) [Robert Teeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-teeter/) > [I would have oriented myself in case of Donald Trump according to what former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder said to then - U.S. President…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/i-would-have-oriented-myself-in-case-of-donald-trump-according-to/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) > [I said to the president's wife, Vietnam is the main reason we are having trouble with the youth of America. It is a war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-said-to-the-president-s-wife-vietnam-is-the-main-reason-we-are/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) > [“Who can talk you through this stuff before you decided to act on it?” “Well,” said the president, “you won’t like the answer, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wolff/who-can-talk-you-through-this-stuff-before-you-decided-to-act-on-it/) [Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wolff/) > [I would have had a clause in my contract; I would've definitely put some fine print in my contract that said, "If the president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-budden/i-would-have-had-a-clause-in-my-contract-i-would-ve-definitely-put/) [Joe Budden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-budden/) ## More by Tavis Smiley > [I think the issue of women's choice is essential for a woman being able to have their lives - if they cannot control their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/i-think-the-issue-of-women-s-choice-is-essential-for-a-woman-being/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [Leonard Pitts, Jr. is the most insightful and inspiring columnist of his generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/leonard-pitts-jr-is-the-most-insightful-and-inspiring-columnist-of/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [I believe there is nothing we endure in life that you can't recover from. Failure is not fatal. Everyone has the capacity to fail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/i-believe-there-is-nothing-we-endure-in-life-that-you-can-t-recover/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [Why don't we scale up those things that do work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/why-don-t-we-scale-up-those-things-that-do-work/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [I think when I stop fighting, I die in a sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/i-think-when-i-stop-fighting-i-die-in-a-sense/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [The storm came. Lives were washed away. Ancient pains resurfaced. Now it is time for a sea of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/the-storm-came-lives-were-washed-away-ancient-pains-resurfaced-now-it/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [ \[John Carlos\] has spent much of his life since that time as a dedicated human rights advocate and public speaker, and he is out… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/john-carlos-has-spent-much-of-his-life-since-that-time-as-a-dedicated/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [I love the fight. I don't - it's not a negative, it's a positive, and I love the challenge. There's that little part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/i-love-the-fight-i-don-t-it-s-not-a-negative-it-s-a-positive-and-i/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [This administration and these folk who run Washington are no more interested in our welfare and our well being than the man on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/this-administration-and-these-folk-who-run-washington-are-no-more/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [I'm talking about France and Germany and Italy and Spain - new friend Germany - and I love that story, how they lead the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/i-m-talking-about-france-and-germany-and-italy-and-spain-new-friend/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [Sometimes even your friends don't understand your calling, your purpose, your vocation. But you have to stand in your truth anyway, and they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/sometimes-even-your-friends-don-t-understand-your-calling-your/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [Fear, fear, breeds hopelessness. When you're afraid, you don't know what to believe in, you don't know what to hold on to. You're struggling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/fear-fear-breeds-hopelessness-when-you-re-afraid-you-don-t-know-what/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [Capitalism is like a child: if you want the child to grow up free and productive, somebody's got to look over the shoulder of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/capitalism-is-like-a-child-if-you-want-the-child-to-grow-up-free-and/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [The data is going to indicate sadly that when the Obama administration is over, black people will have lost ground in every single leading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/the-data-is-going-to-indicate-sadly-that-when-the-obama/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [John Carlos provided the world with one of the most iconic images of the 1960s with his Black Power salute after a medal-winning performance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/john-carlos-provided-the-world-with-one-of-the-most-iconic-images-of/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) [Explore all 91 Tavis Smiley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) ## More Agree quotes > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. 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