American Tradition Quotes - Page 2

• As to the American tradition of non-meddling, Anarchism asks that it be carried down to the individual himself.

  Voltairine de Cleyre

  Anarchy, Tradition, Individual

  Voltairine De Cleyre (1989). “Anarchism and American Traditions”, p.17, Library of Alexandria

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• I've always thought New Year's Day was an especially American tradition, full of the optimism and hope we're famous for in our daily lives -- an energy and confidence we call the American spirit. Perhaps because we know we control our own destiny, we believe deep down inside that working together we can make each new year better than the old.

  Ronald Reagan

  New Year, Believe, Destiny

  United States. President (1981-1989 : Reagan), United States. President (1981-1989 : Reagan)., Ronald Reagan, United States. Office of the Federal Register (1982). “Ronald Reagan”

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• I don't like political poetry, and I don't write it. If this question was pointing towards that, I think it is missing the point of the American tradition, which is always apolitical, even when the poetry comes out of politically active writers.

  Diane Wakoski

  Writing, Thinking, Political

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• I don't feel the individualist anarchists, particularly in the American tradition, including the Transcendental tradition of New England, in any way deserve the derogatory comments that are often made about them by the left. When one gets down to it ultimately, my anarcho-communism stems from a commitment to true individuality. My attempt to recover the power and the right of the individual to control his or her life and destiny is the basis to my anarcho-communism.

  Murray Bookchin

  Commitment, Destiny, Individuality

  Interview with Jeff Riggenbach, reason.com. October 1979.

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• My concern is to develop a North American type of anarchism that comes out of the American tradition, or that at least can be communicated to Americans and that takes into consideration that Americans are not any longer people of European background.

  Murray Bookchin

  People, Tradition, Consideration

  Source: robertgraham.wordpress.com

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• Thanksgiving is one of my favorite American traditions. I quickly picked it up when I moved to the U.S. from Sweden.

  Marcus Samuelsson

  Sweden, Tradition, My Favorite

  "10 Delicious Thanksgiving Recipes" by Marcus Samuelsson, www.huffingtonpost.com. November 13, 2011.

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• The American tradition of foreign policy exceptionalism, our grand strategy as a nation, reaches back much further. Really at the turn - the end of the 19th century, when we achieved power a generation after the Civil War, the outlines of an American vision came into focus, and what we - it was based on two things. One, our realization that our values and our interests were the same, and that our business interests would advance as our values advanced in the world.

  Daniel Fried

  War, Two, Focus

  Source: www.politico.com

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• In American tradition a certain kind of, I would say, desperate American friendliness in which the poet tries to reach out through the page to make a connection by the side of the road with some other person.

  Edward Hirsch

  Trying, Connections, Pages

  "How to Read a Poem". Big Think interview, bigthink.com.

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• I think that Hillary Clinton has an appreciation that American power needs to be put in the service of American values, which is an American tradition and a pretty good one, and I think she was willing to do that.

  Daniel Fried

  Appreciation, Thinking, Needs

  Source: www.politico.com

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• Self-help and self-control are the essence of the American tradition.

  Franklin D. Roosevelt

  Self, Essence, Helping

  Franklin D. Roosevelt (1995). “The Essential Franklin Delano Roosevelt”, Gramercy

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• In view of the tide of religiosity engulfing a once secular republic it is refreshing to be reminded by Freethinkers that free thought and skepticism are robustly in the American tradition. After all the Founding Fathers began by omitting God from the American Constitution.

  Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.

  Father, Views, Republic

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• Well, first of all, I don't want to debate the word conservative, but by my definition, a conservative is someone who wants to conserve the Constitution of the United States and the American tradition and law that no one is above the law.

  Dan Rather

  Law, United States, Definitions

  "Larry King Live", edition.cnn.com. June 2, 2005.

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• Settling other people's land is an American tradition.

  Ariel Gore

  Land, People, Tradition

  Ariel Gore (2003). “Atlas of the Human Heart”, p.19, Seal Press

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• Anyone in any walk of life who is content with mediocrity is untrue to himself and to American tradition.

  George S. Patton

  Mediocrity, Tradition, Walks

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• When they talk about family values, it's in a repressive way, as if our American tradition were only the Puritan tradition or the 19th century oppressive tradition. The Christian tradition.

  James Hillman

  Christian, Way, Tradition

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• Rank imperialism and warmongering are not American traditions or values. We do not need to dominate the world.

  Molly Ivins

  Needs, World, Tradition

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• For 180 years, we voted in English. That is the true American tradition, and this amendment is true to our heritage, not what has existed unnaturally for the last 20 years.

  Spencer Bachus

  Years, Heritage, Lasts

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• I believe in the American tradition of separation of church and state which is expressed in the First Amendment to the Constitution. By my office - and by personal conviction - I am sworn to uphold that tradition.

  Lyndon B. Johnson

  Believe, Office, Religion

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• Curtailment of free speech is rationalized on grounds that a more compelling American tradition forbids criticism of the government when the nation is at war... Nothing can be more destructive of our fundamental democratic traditions than the vicious effort to silence dissenters.

  Martin Luther King, Jr.

  War, Government, Effort

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• The Old Religion, as we call it, is closer in spirit to Native American traditions or to shamanism of the Arctic. It is not based on dogma or a set of beliefs, nor on scriptures or a sacred book revealed by a great man. Witchcraft takes it's teachings from nature, and reads inspiration in the movements of the sun, moon, and stars, the flight of birds, the slow growth of trees, and the cycles of the seasons.

  Starhawk

  Stars, Book, Teaching

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• Is the American tradition of self-reliance disappearing? That's a painful question for conservatives to ponder. After all, we're dedicated to reducing the role of government and promoting individual freedom and opportunity. But the facts, while sad, are clear: More Americans today depend more heavily on government than ever before.

  Edwin Feulner

  Opportunity, Government, Self

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• Satan is attacking the great institutions of America, using those great vices of pride, vanity, and sensuality as the root to attack all of the strong plants that has so deeply rooted in the American tradition.

  Rick Santorum

  Strong, Pride, Vanity

  "Rick Santorum defends Satan speech - by comparing himself to Ronald Reagan" by Toby Harnden, www.dailymail.co.uk. February 22, 2012.

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• The only way to be true to our American tradition is to maintain absolute governmental neutrality regarding religious beliefs and practices

  Bill Bradley

  Religious, Practice, Atheism

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• And I should like to assure you, my Islamic friends, that under the American Constitution, under American tradition, and in American hearts, this Center, this place of worship, is just as welcome as could be a similar edifice of any other religion. Indeed, America would fight with her whole strength for your right to have here your own church and worship according to your own conscience. This concept is indeed a part of America, and without that concept we would be something else than what we are.

  Dwight D. Eisenhower

  Islamic, Heart, Fighting

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• An auctioneer is such a uniquely American thing. I keep thinking in my head, perhaps it's not as American as I think, but it feels so Southern. It feels so American. Like, hundreds of years of American tradition is involved in it.

  Jack White

  Thinking, Years, Southern

  "The Flipside With Jack White: Finding Music In The Art Of Auctioneering". Interview with Bob Boilen, www.npr.org. February 28, 2011.

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