--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are certain things that Americans…" description: "\"There are certain things that Americans expect their government to do. Our infrastructure is vitally important. Putting people back to work with constr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/valerie-jarrett-2933_back-to-work_there-are-certain-things-that-americans_1135176.png" --- # There are certain things that Americans expect their… ![“There are certain things that Americans expect their government to do. Our infrastructure is vitally important. Putting people back to work with construction is important. Our roads, our bridges, our sewers, our waterways, our dams - this is what makes our country so special.” quote by Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/valerie-jarrett-2933_back-to-work_there-are-certain-things-that-americans_1135176.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/valerie-jarrett-2933_back-to-work_there-are-certain-things-that-americans_1135176.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/valerie-jarrett-2933_back-to-work_there-are-certain-things-that-americans_1135176.png) > “There are certain things that Americans expect their government to do. Our infrastructure is vitally important. Putting people back to work with construction is important. Our roads, our bridges, our sewers, our waterways, our dams - this is what makes our country so special.” [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Government responsibility includes maintaining essential infrastructure to support employment and national identity. **In simple terms:** Infrastructure is key to jobs and national pride. Key Takeaway Invest in public works to boost economy. Themes public policy infrastructure employment national identity economics Mood optimistic pragmatic concerned Type policy inspirational practical When to use this quote - construction projects - urban planning - disaster recovery - community development - political debate Key Concepts public works government responsibility economic stimulus Questions to Reflect On - How can we prioritize infrastructure without partisan gridlock? - What role should private sector play? A Different Perspective Funding constraints and political opposition can delay projects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Back to work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back-to-work/) [Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bridges/) [Construction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/construction/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Infrastructure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infrastructure/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Construction is an important front for solidifying the foundations of a thriving country and creating bases for the people's happy life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-jong-un/construction-is-an-important-front-for-solidifying-the-foundations-of/) [Kim Jong-un](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-jong-un/) > [Our government has made infrastructure upgrade and the creation of smart cities major national priorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushma-swaraj/our-government-has-made-infrastructure-upgrade-and-the-creation-of/) [Sushma Swaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushma-swaraj/) > [It would be a matter of concern for government if intrusive data capture has been deployed against Indian citizens or government infrastructure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kapil-sibal/it-would-be-a-matter-of-concern-for-government-if-intrusive-data/) [Kapil Sibal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kapil-sibal/) > [Change is never fast enough to satisfy us. I still hear too many stories of women who go back to work too soon, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/change-is-never-fast-enough-to-satisfy-us-i-still-hear-too-many/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [I feel much more respected in Europe than I do in the States from the press and from the people. Americans expect me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sampras/i-feel-much-more-respected-in-europe-than-i-do-in-the-states-from-the/) [Pete Sampras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sampras/) > [Americans expect us to go to Washington for the right reason, and not just to mingle with the right people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/americans-expect-us-to-go-to-washington-for-the-right-reason-and-not/) [Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/) > [Americans should expect far more from a president than merely that he not be provably a criminal. They should expect a president to comport…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-t-conway-iii/americans-should-expect-far-more-from-a-president-than-merely-that-he/) [George T. Conway III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-t-conway-iii/) > [When it comes to immigration, I think Americans expect that our immigration process is orderly and it is legal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/when-it-comes-to-immigration-i-think-americans-expect-that-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Well, Americans expect our president to be human beings, and as imperfect as all of us are. They expect us to make mistakes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-dowd/well-americans-expect-our-president-to-be-human-beings-and-as/) [Matthew Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-dowd/) > [I think Americans expect optimism in their leadership. The most popular and effective leaders, whether it was Bill Clinton or Ronald Reagan or Jack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-think-americans-expect-optimism-in-their-leadership-the-most/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [What Americans expect from Washington is action that matches the urgency they feel in their daily lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-americans-expect-from-washington-is-action-that-matches-the/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I think black Americans expect too much from individual black Americans in terms of changing the status quo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/i-think-black-americans-expect-too-much-from-individual-black/) [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/) > [Americans expect to eat and stay thin, to be constantly on the move and ever more neighborly ... to revere God and be God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/americans-expect-to-eat-and-stay-thin-to-be-constantly-on-the-move/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) > [The Americans expect great things of me ... If the small Czech nation can have such musicians, they say, why could not they, too,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-dvorak/the-americans-expect-great-things-of-me-if-the-small-czech-nation-can/) [Antonin Dvorak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-dvorak/) > [The citizens of Missouri expect their government to perform well for them every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-parson/the-citizens-of-missouri-expect-their-government-to-perform-well-for/) [Mike Parson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-parson/) ## More by Valerie Jarrett > [I am an Iranian by birth and of my Islamic faith. I am also an American Citizen and I seek to help change America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/i-am-an-iranian-by-birth-and-of-my-islamic-faith-i-am-also-an/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [We have held forums here at the White House on workplace flexibility, and the first major bill signed into law by President Obama was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/we-have-held-forums-here-at-the-white-house-on-workplace-flexibility/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [Companies have told us that they have employees who are near retirement age. We created a $5 billion reinsurance pool to help them bear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/companies-have-told-us-that-they-have-employees-who-are-near/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [Part of what makes America strong is our resilience, tenacity, innovation and our willingness to be optimistic about our future. I know that President…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/part-of-what-makes-america-strong-is-our-resilience-tenacity/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [I had my daughter when I was pretty young, 28, and I had to sacrifice not going out with my friends, and I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/i-had-my-daughter-when-i-was-pretty-young-28-and-i-had-to-sacrifice/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [Barack's mother was very important to him, but he spent a great deal of his life living in a different place. So, as all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/barack-s-mother-was-very-important-to-him-but-he-spent-a-great-deal/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [Encouraging the next generation is really where my heart is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/encouraging-the-next-generation-is-really-where-my-heart-is/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [I vividly remember early on in my career when I was eight months pregnant, working literally around the clock, and worrying that each trip…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/i-vividly-remember-early-on-in-my-career-when-i-was-eight-months/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [I don't want to just tell my story - I want to share the experiences, life lessons, and values that have shaped who I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/i-don-t-want-to-just-tell-my-story-i-want-to-share-the-experiences/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [If you are not diverse and you are not listening to all voices and have your ear to the ground, you're not going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/if-you-are-not-diverse-and-you-are-not-listening-to-all-voices-and/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [We do have to ask ourselves as a culture, what do we want to be? You know, what are our founding values? And if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/we-do-have-to-ask-ourselves-as-a-culture-what-do-we-want-to-be-you/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [We have to think creatively about changes that need to be made in the workplace to accommodate the growing demands on the work force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/we-have-to-think-creatively-about-changes-that-need-to-be-made-in-the/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [We don't want to get distracted by looking back; we need to move forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/we-don-t-want-to-get-distracted-by-looking-back-we-need-to-move/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [For me, the passions and issues I care so much about are ones that lend themselves to work whether you're in government or outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/for-me-the-passions-and-issues-i-care-so-much-about-are-ones-that/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [The tech community has taken the first step by recognizing that diversity is a strength and realizing that many of them have to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/the-tech-community-has-taken-the-first-step-by-recognizing-that/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) [Explore all 145 Valerie Jarrett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) ## More Back to work quotes > [It's hard no to work, so I find a way to put myself back to work. And I think it's important, in between projects,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/it-s-hard-no-to-work-so-i-find-a-way-to-put-myself-back-to-work-and-i/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [Well, I needed the work - that's the honest answer. I haven't worked for a while, a couple of years. So I thought it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-oldman/well-i-needed-the-work-that-s-the-honest-answer-i-haven-t-worked-for/) [Gary Oldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-oldman/) > [I admire the women who can have babies and jump right back to work. As a nursing mother, I couldn’t sit there and just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-long/i-admire-the-women-who-can-have-babies-and-jump-right-back-to-work-as/) [Nia Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-long/) > [To question the legitimacy of the next United States president, you know, and you're worried about a tweet that says, hey, why don't you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/to-question-the-legitimacy-of-the-next-united-states-president-you/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [How to make money from Facebook and Twitter: (1) Go to 'Account Settings' (2) Click 'Deactivate your account' (3) Go back to work!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/papa-cj/how-to-make-money-from-facebook-and-twitter-1-go-to-account-settings/) Papa CJ > [I think one thing we went through was common to a lot of people: You work your whole life to achieve something, then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliot-easton/i-think-one-thing-we-went-through-was-common-to-a-lot-of-people-you/) Elliot Easton > [If I leave my computer, I'm probably not going to get back for hours. If I take a few minutes to answer questions and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/if-i-leave-my-computer-i-m-probably-not-going-to-get-back-for-hours/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) > [It occurred to me that anyway one more Sunday was over that Maman was buried now, that I was going back to work, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/it-occurred-to-me-that-anyway-one-more-sunday-was-over-that-maman-was/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [I look forward to standing shoulder to shoulder with Speaker Boehner, Leader Cantor, Whip McCarthy and the entire republican conference as we repeal Obamacare,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-upton/i-look-forward-to-standing-shoulder-to-shoulder-with-speaker-boehner/) [Fred Upton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-upton/) > [Your body has this instinct to start healing and then you go back to work and it hurts even more. It's almost better to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-kim/your-body-has-this-instinct-to-start-healing-and-then-you-go-back-to/) [Gail Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-kim/) > [But all over Ohio - all over America - men and women are going back to work with the pride of building something stamped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-strickland/but-all-over-ohio-all-over-america-men-and-women-are-going-back-to/) [Ted Strickland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-strickland/) > [Today's misery is real unemployment, home foreclosures and bankruptcies. This is the Obama Misery Index - and it's at a record high. It's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/today-s-misery-is-real-unemployment-home-foreclosures-and/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [In order to change the direction of this country, we need to change presidents. Americans need a conservative businessman to get this economy moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/in-order-to-change-the-direction-of-this-country-we-need-to-change/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Young men keep telling me they don't 'have it all' either. And they may have a point. But if you define 'having it all'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-marie-slaughter/young-men-keep-telling-me-they-don-t-have-it-all-either-and-they-may/) [Anne-Marie Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie-slaughter/) > [Get back to work all of you! I'm not running a happy factory here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mr-krabs/get-back-to-work-all-of-you-i-m-not-running-a-happy-factory-here/) [Mr. Krabs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mr-krabs/) [Browse all 136 Back to work quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back-to-work/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are certain things that Americans expect their government to do. Our infrastructure is vitally important. Putting people back to work with construction is important. 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