---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is nothing illegal about wanting to…"
description: "\"There is nothing illegal about wanting to achieve the American dream.\" — Young Kim"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d67/young-kim-5565_american_there-is-nothing-illegal-about-wanting-t_1458227.jpg"
---

#  There is nothing illegal about wanting to achieve the…

![“There is nothing illegal about wanting to achieve the American dream.” quote by Young Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d67/young-kim-5565_american_there-is-nothing-illegal-about-wanting-t_1458227.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d67/young-kim-5565_american_there-is-nothing-illegal-about-wanting-t_1458227.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d67/young-kim-5565_american_there-is-nothing-illegal-about-wanting-t_1458227.jpg)

> “There is nothing illegal about wanting to achieve the American dream.”

[Young Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote asserts that aspiring to the American dream is not illegal, implying that the pursuit itself is permissible regardless of outcomes.

**In simple terms:** Chasing the American dream isn’t unlawful.

Key Takeaway

Pursue goals within legal bounds.

Themes

ambition law American ideals

Mood

motivational reflective

Type

inspirational policy-oriented

When to use this quote

- career advancement
- entrepreneurship
- immigration planning
- education goals

Key Concepts

Freedom of aspiration legal rights

Questions to Reflect On

- What legal obstacles can impede the American dream?
- How can society support equitable access to opportunity?

A Different Perspective

Dreams can clash with systemic barriers.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Achieve American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve-american-342803/) [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [American dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-dream/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Illegal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illegal/) [Illegal Wanting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illegal-wanting-5261718/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Wanting Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanting-achieve-5048482/)

## Related quotes

> [Are we a nation of guarantees or are we a nation of opportunities to achieve the American dream?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mcdonnell/are-we-a-nation-of-guarantees-or-are-we-a-nation-of-opportunities-to/)

[Bob McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mcdonnell/)

> [We owe it to all our veterans to make sure they have a chance to achieve the American Dream, just like the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-duckworth/we-owe-it-to-all-our-veterans-to-make-sure-they-have-a-chance-to/)

[Tammy Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-duckworth/)

> [My father is from Greece, my mother is from Cuba, and I understand very much the aspirations of wanting to achieve the American dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-malliotakis/my-father-is-from-greece-my-mother-is-from-cuba-and-i-understand-very/)

[Nicole Malliotakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-malliotakis/)

> [I couldn't achieve the American dream in Japan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shuji-nakamura/i-couldn-t-achieve-the-american-dream-in-japan/)

[Shuji Nakamura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shuji-nakamura/)

> [Imagine a legal immigration system that welcomes and celebrates those who come to achieve the American dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/imagine-a-legal-immigration-system-that-welcomes-and-celebrates-those/)

[Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/)

> [Our country was built upon the idea that if you work hard and play by the rules, you can achieve the 'American dream' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-harrison/our-country-was-built-upon-the-idea-that-if-you-work-hard-and-play-by/)

[Jaime Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-harrison/)

> [I think it's part of human nature, that we want to achieve. It's definitely a kind of cosmopolitan nature, wanting to achieve in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-waller-bridge/i-think-it-s-part-of-human-nature-that-we-want-to-achieve-it-s/)

[Phoebe Waller-Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-waller-bridge/)

> [I've always had an explorative drive to my art, as opposed to wanting to achieve some certain goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-t-fagbenle/i-ve-always-had-an-explorative-drive-to-my-art-as-opposed-to-wanting/)

[O. T. Fagbenle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-t-fagbenle/)

> [It was the combination of hard work and a hand up that allowed me to become one of the first women to fly in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-duckworth/it-was-the-combination-of-hard-work-and-a-hand-up-that-allowed-me-to/)

[Tammy Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-duckworth/)

> [The road to success is not easy to navigate, but with hard work, drive and passion, it's possible to achieve the American dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-hilfiger/the-road-to-success-is-not-easy-to-navigate-but-with-hard-work-drive/)

[Tommy Hilfiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-hilfiger/)

> [Only in America can someone start with nothing and achieve the American Dream. That's the greatness of this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-cruz/only-in-america-can-someone-start-with-nothing-and-achieve-the/)

[Rafael Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-cruz/)

> [Mean Streets dealt with the American Dream, according to which everybody thinks they can get rich quick, and if they can't do it by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/mean-streets-dealt-with-the-american-dream-according-to-which/)

[Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/)

> [I know we are the America that welcomed me and my family into its fabric and allowed me to realize my American dream. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/i-know-we-are-the-america-that-welcomed-me-and-my-family-into-its/)

[Young Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/)

> [Legal immigration has allowed people like me and my family to succeed and pursue their American dream, give back and is an important part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/legal-immigration-has-allowed-people-like-me-and-my-family-to-succeed/)

[Young Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/)

> [I want people to know where I come from. I think I have come really far from that, and I did it on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aj-lee/i-want-people-to-know-where-i-come-from-i-think-i-have-come-really/)

[AJ Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aj-lee/)

## More by Young Kim

> [Taiwan has proven time and time again to be a trusted ally of the United States and a world leader in global health security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/taiwan-has-proven-time-and-time-again-to-be-a-trusted-ally-of-the/)

[Young Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/)

> [The message is important, but I think the messengers are just as important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/the-message-is-important-but-i-think-the-messengers-are-just-as/)

[Young Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/)

> [From Uber and Lyft drivers to financial advisors to local artists, we should support workers' freedom and our gig economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/from-uber-and-lyft-drivers-to-financial-advisors-to-local-artists-we/)

[Young Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/)

> [As a mother of four, I feel like I've naturally learned the negotiating skills to bring some win-win results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/as-a-mother-of-four-i-feel-like-i-ve-naturally-learned-the/)

[Young Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/)

> [Look at me. I'm an immigrant. When I came to the United States as a young girl, I didn't speak a word of English.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/look-at-me-i-m-an-immigrant-when-i-came-to-the-united-states-as-a/)

[Young Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/)

> [There is no one-sized fits all solution to meet the diverse demands of our unique small business communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/there-is-no-one-sized-fits-all-solution-to-meet-the-diverse-demands/)

[Young Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/)

> [I was elected to Congress to cut through the gridlock and get results for the 39th District.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/i-was-elected-to-congress-to-cut-through-the-gridlock-and-get-results/)

[Young Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/)

> [I'm a legal immigrant. I've gone through all the systems so I think I can talk about them from the fairness of it, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/i-m-a-legal-immigrant-i-ve-gone-through-all-the-systems-so-i-think-i/)

[Young Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/)

> [The CCP has deployed frightening advances in surveillance technology across China that the government can utilize to control, silence and oppress its population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/the-ccp-has-deployed-frightening-advances-in-surveillance-technology/)

[Young Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/)

> [Sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic has only added more stress and uncertainty on moms and their families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/sadly-the-covid-19-pandemic-has-only-added-more-stress-and/)

[Young Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/)

> [Legal immigration has allowed people like me and my family to succeed and pursue their American dream, give back and is an important part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/legal-immigration-has-allowed-people-like-me-and-my-family-to-succeed/)

[Young Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/)

> [We emigrated from South Korea to the island of Guam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/we-emigrated-from-south-korea-to-the-island-of-guam/)

[Young Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/)

> [My door is open for anyone who is willing to work with me, even if we do not always see eye-to-eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/my-door-is-open-for-anyone-who-is-willing-to-work-with-me-even-if-we/)

[Young Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/)

> [Everyone needs to work hard, and that's what America is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/everyone-needs-to-work-hard-and-that-s-what-america-is/)

[Young Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/)

> [The COVID-19 pandemic made clear that telehealth care will only continue to grow as a vital part of our healthcare system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/the-covid-19-pandemic-made-clear-that-telehealth-care-will-only/)

[Young Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/)

[Explore all 100 Young Kim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/)

## More American quotes

> [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/)

[Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/)

> [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/)

[Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/)

> [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/)

[Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/)

> [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/)

[Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/)

> [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/)

[H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/)

> [Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in a tremendous investment to support millions of workers without a paycheck and behind on bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/congress-passed-the-american-rescue-plan-act-in-a-tremendous/)

[Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/)

> [Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and employ almost half of the working population. Yet because of their size, they rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/small-businesses-are-the-backbone-of-the-american-economy-and-employ/)

[Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/)

> [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/)

[William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/)

> [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/)

[Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/)

> [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/)

[Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/)

> [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/)

[Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/)

> [New York and San Francisco are distinctly different. San Francisco is driving the American media, not New York. You have young, microwaved millionaires and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/new-york-and-san-francisco-are-distinctly-different-san-francisco-is/)

[Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/)

> [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/)

[Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/)

> [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/)

[Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/)

> [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/)

[Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/)

[Browse all 7,717 American quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "There is nothing illegal about wanting to achieve the American dream.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Young Kim"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/there-is-nothing-illegal-about-wanting-to-achieve-the-american-dream/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "American"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/there-is-nothing-illegal-about-wanting-to-achieve-the-american-dream/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d67/young-kim-5565_american_there-is-nothing-illegal-about-wanting-t_1458227.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d67/young-kim-5565_american_there-is-nothing-illegal-about-wanting-t_1458227.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d67/young-kim-5565_american_there-is-nothing-illegal-about-wanting-t_1458227.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There is nothing illegal about wanting to achieve the American dream.” — Young Kim",
                "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": "Young Kim",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There is nothing illegal about wanting...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/there-is-nothing-illegal-about-wanting-to-achieve-the-american-dream/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/there-is-nothing-illegal-about-wanting-to-achieve-the-american-dream/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
