--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The interesting and inspiring thing about…" description: "\"The interesting and inspiring thing about America is that she asks nothing for herself except what she has a right to ask for humanity itself.\" — Woodr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94e/woodrow-wilson-534_america_the-interesting-and-inspiring-thing-abou_809806.png" --- # The interesting and inspiring thing about America is that… ![“The interesting and inspiring thing about America is that she asks nothing for herself except what she has a right to ask for humanity itself.” quote by Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94e/woodrow-wilson-534_america_the-interesting-and-inspiring-thing-abou_809806.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94e/woodrow-wilson-534_america_the-interesting-and-inspiring-thing-abou_809806.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94e/woodrow-wilson-534_america_the-interesting-and-inspiring-thing-abou_809806.png) > “The interesting and inspiring thing about America is that she asks nothing for herself except what she has a right to ask for humanity itself.” [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. America should claim only what is just for humanity, not selfish desires. **In simple terms:** America seeks rightful humanitarian claims. Key Takeaway Pursue justice, not self‑interest. Themes justice humanity politics Mood reflective idealistic Type political inspirational When to use this quote - policy making - international relations - activism Key Concepts rights ethical leadership Questions to Reflect On - What rights should nations claim for humanity? - How to balance self‑interest and global good? A Different Perspective May overlook complex national interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-asks-241668/) [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring/) [Inspiring Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring-thing-241669/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Interesting Inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting-inspiring-241671/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Thing America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-america-241670/) ## Related quotes > [“An America that asks what it owes its most vulnerable citizens is improved and humane. An America that looks away is ignoring not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/an-america-that-asks-what-it-owes-its-most-vulnerable-citizens-is/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [For all its problems, I found South Africa a beautiful country, interesting and inspiring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harewood/for-all-its-problems-i-found-south-africa-a-beautiful-country/) [David Harewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harewood/) > [Any time I meet someone or learn about someone that's really interesting or inspiring to me or has a story that really resonates with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-itzler/any-time-i-meet-someone-or-learn-about-someone-that-s-really/) [Jesse Itzler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-itzler/) > [I also love fall, when it starts to rain, or even just before the rain - that is the most inspiring thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/i-also-love-fall-when-it-starts-to-rain-or-even-just-before-the-rain/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [The most inspiring thing as an artist is when someone says, 'I believe in you'; sometimes that works even better than Grammys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristian-bush/the-most-inspiring-thing-as-an-artist-is-when-someone-says-i-believe/) [Kristian Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristian-bush/) > [Being tapped into what you actually love and enjoy is a very inspiring thing. It means a lot to take risks and do things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/being-tapped-into-what-you-actually-love-and-enjoy-is-a-very/) [Fred Hechinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/) > [I've heard people in the Middle East tell me that the most inspiring thing for them as people struggling against dictatorship in the Middle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-beinart/i-ve-heard-people-in-the-middle-east-tell-me-that-the-most-inspiring/) [Peter Beinart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-beinart/) > [That's really what gymnastics should be. It should always be a beautiful and inspiring thing to so many people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mykayla-skinner/that-s-really-what-gymnastics-should-be-it-should-always-be-a/) [MyKayla Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mykayla-skinner/) > [The most inspiring thing of life is that problems and pain never lasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/the-most-inspiring-thing-of-life-is-that-problems-and-pain-never-lasts/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [We often have an exaggerated sense of what nonprofits and governments are doing to help the poor, but the really inspiring thing is how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-boo/we-often-have-an-exaggerated-sense-of-what-nonprofits-and-governments/) [Katherine Boo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-boo/) > [Were having a good time already. For us, this is a really inspiring thing. We thrive on creation, spontaneity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/medeski-martin-and-wood/were-having-a-good-time-already-for-us-this-is-a-really-inspiring/) [Medeski Martin And Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/medeski-martin-and-wood/) > [I feel kind of like a kid absorbing everything. I just like seeing people who are doing their thing, whether it's music, or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kissey/i-feel-kind-of-like-a-kid-absorbing-everything-i-just-like-seeing/) [Kissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kissey/) > [I think the most inspiring thing that Americans can do for the rest of the world is struggle against the evils in our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-beinart/i-think-the-most-inspiring-thing-that-americans-can-do-for-the-rest/) [Peter Beinart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-beinart/) > [One thing I like about the United States, and I kind of miss about the United States, is there's an election coming up here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/one-thing-i-like-about-the-united-states-and-i-kind-of-miss-about-the/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [We will invest in our people, quality education, job opportunity, family, neighborhood, and yes, a thing we call America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/we-will-invest-in-our-people-quality-education-job-opportunity-family/) [Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/) ## More by Woodrow Wilson > [If I am to speak ten minutes, I need a week for preparation; if fifteen minutes, three days; if half an hour, two days;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/if-i-am-to-speak-ten-minutes-i-need-a-week-for-preparation-if-fifteen/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [There is here a great melting pot in which we must compound a precious metal. That metal is the metal of nationality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/there-is-here-a-great-melting-pot-in-which-we-must-compound-a/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [One cannot pay the price of self-respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/one-cannot-pay-the-price-of-self-respect/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [I would rather lose in a cause that will some day win, than win in a cause that will some day lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/i-would-rather-lose-in-a-cause-that-will-some-day-win-than-win-in-a/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [I have received delegations of working men who, apparently speaking with the utmost sincerity, have declared that they would regard it as a genuine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/i-have-received-delegations-of-working-men-who-apparently-speaking/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [Absolute identity with one's cause is the first and great condition of successful leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/absolute-identity-with-one-s-cause-is-the-first-and-great-condition/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [America cannot be an ostrich with its head in the sand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/america-cannot-be-an-ostrich-with-its-head-in-the-sand/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [...We are intensely proud of their noble record and are glad to have had the whole world see how irresistible they are in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/we-are-intensely-proud-of-their-noble-record-and-are-glad-to-have-had/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [ The facts of the case will always have the better of \[an\] argument. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/the-facts-of-the-case-will-always-have-the-better-of-an-argument/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [The greatest embarrassment of my political career has been that active duties seem to deprive me of time for careful investigation. I seem almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/the-greatest-embarrassment-of-my-political-career-has-been-that/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [Some Americans need hyphens in their names because only part of them has come over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/some-americans-need-hyphens-in-their-names-because-only-part-of-them/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [The history of liberty is the history of limitations on the power of government, not the increase of it. When we resist, therefore, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/the-history-of-liberty-is-the-history-of-limitations-on-the-power-of/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [When I think of the flag… I see alternate strips of parchment upon which are written the rights of liberty and justice, and stripes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/when-i-think-of-the-flag-i-see-alternate-strips-of-parchment-upon/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [If I am to speak ten minutes, I need a week for preparation; if an hour, I am ready now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/if-i-am-to-speak-ten-minutes-i-need-a-week-for-preparation-if-an-hour/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [Energy in a nation is like sap in a tree; it rises from bottom up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/energy-in-a-nation-is-like-sap-in-a-tree-it-rises-from-bottom-up/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) [Explore all 492 Woodrow Wilson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) ## 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 interesting and inspiring thing about America is that she asks nothing for herself except what she has a right to ask for humanity itself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Woodrow Wilson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/the-interesting-and-inspiring-thing-about-america-is-that-she-asks/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/the-interesting-and-inspiring-thing-about-america-is-that-she-asks/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94e/woodrow-wilson-534_america_the-interesting-and-inspiring-thing-abou_809806.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94e/woodrow-wilson-534_america_the-interesting-and-inspiring-thing-abou_809806.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94e/woodrow-wilson-534_america_the-interesting-and-inspiring-thing-abou_809806.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The interesting and inspiring thing about America is that she asks nothing for herself except what she has a…” — Woodrow Wilson", "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": "Woodrow Wilson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The interesting and inspiring thing about...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/the-interesting-and-inspiring-thing-about-america-is-that-she-asks/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/the-interesting-and-inspiring-thing-about-america-is-that-she-asks/#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 } } ] } ```