--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: America is a nation founded by immigrants…" description: "\"America is a nation founded by immigrants and built on the ideal that anyone can be an American if he or she believes in the principles and values of t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/ted-lieu-4499_america_america-is-a-nation-founded-by-immigrant_3157113.jpg" --- # America is a nation founded by immigrants and built on the… ![“America is a nation founded by immigrants and built on the ideal that anyone can be an American if he or she believes in the principles and values of the Constitution.” quote by Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/ted-lieu-4499_america_america-is-a-nation-founded-by-immigrant_3157113.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/ted-lieu-4499_america_america-is-a-nation-founded-by-immigrant_3157113.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/ted-lieu-4499_america_america-is-a-nation-founded-by-immigrant_3157113.jpg) > “America is a nation founded by immigrants and built on the ideal that anyone can be an American if he or she believes in the principles and values of the Constitution.” [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. America’s identity is rooted in immigration and the promise that belief in constitutional values grants inclusion. **In simple terms:** Immigration and shared values define America. Key Takeaway Uphold inclusive ideals and civic participation. Themes immigration national identity citizenship values Mood hopeful determined Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy advocacy - community outreach - education programs - public discourse Key Concepts civic integration constitutionalism social cohesion Questions to Reflect On - How can we strengthen shared values? - What policies best support integration? A Different Perspective Balancing immigration with security concerns can be contentious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Principles and values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles-and-values/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [This country was founded by immigrants... I don't see Mr. Trump looking like an Apache, so all of us, we are immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugenio-derbez/this-country-was-founded-by-immigrants-i-don-t-see-mr-trump-looking/) [Eugenio Derbez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugenio-derbez/) > [President Trump's executive order creating a Muslim ban undermines the foundational ideals of the United States, a nation founded by immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-quigley/president-trump-s-executive-order-creating-a-muslim-ban-undermines/) [Mike Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-quigley/) > [We have been, obviously both in Maine and nationally, enmeshed in this false narrative that's based on a fear of immigrants, when in fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gideon/we-have-been-obviously-both-in-maine-and-nationally-enmeshed-in-this/) [Sara Gideon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gideon/) > [The core values of our constitution are at the heart of our nation's progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/the-core-values-of-our-constitution-are-at-the-heart-of-our-nation-s/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [I don't like a bipolar or a unipolar world. I like a multipolar world but on many occasions people have been surprised that South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/i-don-t-like-a-bipolar-or-a-unipolar-world-i-like-a-multipolar-world/) [Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/) > [To me the separation of church and state is a thread that ought to run through public policy so that we can always recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-w-lynn/to-me-the-separation-of-church-and-state-is-a-thread-that-ought-to/) [Barry W. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-w-lynn/) > [William O. Douglas married not one, not two, not three, but four hot blondes. He was not faithful to any of them, not even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/william-o-douglas-married-not-one-not-two-not-three-but-four-hot/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [I won't let anybody, even the most powerful person in this country, trample our values or our Constitution. And no matter who's in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-garcetti/i-won-t-let-anybody-even-the-most-powerful-person-in-this-country/) [Eric Garcetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-garcetti/) > [Last time I checked, Congress was created to uphold the values of the Constitution, not the Bible and its biased teachings. 'All men (including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/last-time-i-checked-congress-was-created-to-uphold-the-values-of-the/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [If you believe in the values of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, if you're willing to work hard and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/if-you-believe-in-the-values-of-the-constitution-the-bill-of-rights/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [It's a fact that if Hillary Clinton is elected, the country's chance to have a Supreme Court that values the Constitution - and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/it-s-a-fact-that-if-hillary-clinton-is-elected-the-country-s-chance/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [ When a judge goes beyond \[his proper function\] and reads entirely new values into the Constitution, values the framers and ratifiers did not put… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bork/when-a-judge-goes-beyond-his-proper-function-and-reads-entirely-new/) [Robert Bork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bork/) > [America is a nation with no truly national city, no Paris, no Rome, no London, no city which is at once the social center,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/america-is-a-nation-with-no-truly-national-city-no-paris-no-rome-no/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [If America could be, once again, a nation of self-reliant farmers, craftsmen, hunters, ranchers, and artists, then the rich would have little power to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/if-america-could-be-once-again-a-nation-of-self-reliant-farmers/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [America is a nation that conceives many odd inventions for getting somewhere but it can think of nothing to do once it gets there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/america-is-a-nation-that-conceives-many-odd-inventions-for-getting/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) ## More by Ted Lieu > [The United States represents hope, freedom and opportunities to those who are born here and to those who are not. Those values are part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/the-united-states-represents-hope-freedom-and-opportunities-to-those/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [In a nation as dynamic and diverse as the United States, what makes us great is that our founding principles are rooted in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/in-a-nation-as-dynamic-and-diverse-as-the-united-states-what-makes-us/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [You cannot have 300-some million Americans - and really, right, the global citizenry be at risk of having their phone conversations intercepted with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/you-cannot-have-300-some-million-americans-and-really-right-the/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [What you want in foreign policy is clear, well-defined goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/what-you-want-in-foreign-policy-is-clear-well-defined-goals/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [Yes, I am not well-behaved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/yes-i-am-not-well-behaved/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [I am a supporter of Medicare for All.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/i-am-a-supporter-of-medicare-for-all/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [Donald Trump himself actually said during his campaign that he essentially thinks being unpredictable is a good thing. Maybe that's a good thing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/donald-trump-himself-actually-said-during-his-campaign-that-he/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [By the time Congress is even authorized to act after the President has launched nuclear weapons, there may no longer be a civilized world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/by-the-time-congress-is-even-authorized-to-act-after-the-president/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [Indeed, President Trump seems to have a pretty good idea how to enrich oneself at taxpayer expense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/indeed-president-trump-seems-to-have-a-pretty-good-idea-how-to-enrich/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [We are not and will never be an authoritarian regime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/we-are-not-and-will-never-be-an-authoritarian-regime/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [It is important to show up. Showing up at marches and rallies and town halls and protests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/it-is-important-to-show-up-showing-up-at-marches-and-rallies-and-town/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [The suspicion that immigrants are not to be trusted or are unpatriotic is not just wrong; it is un-American. And dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/the-suspicion-that-immigrants-are-not-to-be-trusted-or-are/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [It is clear to me that creating a pathway for decryption only for good guys is technologically stupid. You just can't do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/it-is-clear-to-me-that-creating-a-pathway-for-decryption-only-for/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [When tragedy strikes, feeling helpless is understandable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/when-tragedy-strikes-feeling-helpless-is-understandable/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [If we turn our back on the world's most vulnerable people, we're eschewing the values our country was founded on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/if-we-turn-our-back-on-the-world-s-most-vulnerable-people-we-re/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) [Explore all 110 Ted Lieu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) ## 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": "America is a nation founded by immigrants and built on the ideal that anyone can be an American if he or she believes in the principles and values of the Constitution.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ted Lieu" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/america-is-a-nation-founded-by-immigrants-and-built-on-the-ideal-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/america-is-a-nation-founded-by-immigrants-and-built-on-the-ideal-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/ted-lieu-4499_america_america-is-a-nation-founded-by-immigrant_3157113.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/ted-lieu-4499_america_america-is-a-nation-founded-by-immigrant_3157113.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/ted-lieu-4499_america_america-is-a-nation-founded-by-immigrant_3157113.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“America is a nation founded by immigrants and built on the ideal that anyone can be an American if he or she…” — Ted Lieu", "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": "Ted Lieu", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "America is a nation founded by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/america-is-a-nation-founded-by-immigrants-and-built-on-the-ideal-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/america-is-a-nation-founded-by-immigrants-and-built-on-the-ideal-that/#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 } } ] } ```