Exceptionalism Quotes:

I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism.

- Barack Obama

topic: Believe, Greek, British, American Exceptionalism, Exceptionalism

We don't have to apologize for American exceptionalism or western values.

- Rick Perry

topic: Apologizing, American Exceptionalism, Western, Western Values, Exceptionalism

Everything that everyone is afraid of has already happened: The fragility of capitalism, which we don't want to admit; the loss of the empire of the United States; and American exceptionalism. In fact, American exceptionalism is that we are exceptionally backward in about fifteen different categories, from education to infrastructure.

- James Hillman

topic: Loss, Fifteen, Want, American Exceptionalism, Exceptionalism

It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation.

- Vladimir Putin

topic: Motivation, People, Dangerous, American Exceptionalism, Exceptionalism

That [American exceptionalism] is a reaction to the inability of people to understand global complexity or important issues like American energy dependency. Therefore, they search for simplistic sources of comfort and clarity. And the people that they are now selecting to be, so to speak, the spokespersons of their anxieties are, in most cases, stunningly ignorant.

- Zbigniew Brzezinski

source: "Spokespersons of US Right 'In Most Cases Stunningly Ignorant'". Interview with Gregor Peter Schmitz, www.spiegel.de. December 6, 2010.

topic: Issues, People, Anxiety, American Exceptionalism, Exceptionalism

Mitt Romney says he believes in America and that he will restore American exceptionalism. I have news for him, we already have an exceptional American as president and we believe in Barack Obama.

- John F. Kerry

topic: Believe, America, President, American Exceptionalism, Exceptionalism

We're at the crossroads. Down one road is a European centralized bureaucratic socialist welfare system in which politicians and bureaucrats define the future. Down the other road is a proud, solid, reaffirmation of American exceptionalism.

- Newt Gingrich

topic: Proud, Politician, Welfare, American Exceptionalism, Exceptionalism

The position of the Americans is quite exceptional, and it may be believed that no democratic people will ever be placed in a similar one.

- Alexis de Tocqueville

source: Alexis de Tocqueville (2003). “Democracy in America”, p.440, Barnes & Noble Publishing

topic: People, May, Democratic, American Exceptionalism, Exceptionalism

The notion of American exceptionalism is effective in part because there is little on the face of it that is offensive.

- Russ Feingold

source: "Russ Feingold: ‘It’s A Threat To Our Country’ To Elect One Of The GOP Presidential Candidates" by Amanda Terkel, www.huffingtonpost.com. February 21, 2012.

topic: Littles, Faces, Offensive, American Exceptionalism, Exceptionalism

The idea of American exceptionalism doesn't extend to Americans being exceptional.

- Maureen Dowd

topic: Ideas, American Exceptionalism, Exceptional, Exceptionalism

My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.

- John F. Kennedy

source: Inaugural Address, 20 Jan. 1961

topic: Inspirational, Inspiring, Country, Inaugural Speech, Independence Day Patriotic

The human condition for the vast majority of people on this planet for the entire time of what humanity has been here has been bondage and tyranny, dictatorship, pestilence. That's really what American exceptionalism is, when you get right down to it.

- Rush Limbaugh

source: Source: www.rushlimbaugh.com

topic: People, Humanity, Majority, American Exceptionalism, Exceptionalism

Post World War II America draws a great deal of interest, but the students also seem to know quite a bit about American exceptionalism and its historical roots.

- Mohammad Marandi

topic: War, Roots, America, American Exceptionalism, Exceptionalism

We are all different, but when we ask for the Lord's blessings, we must not forget that God created us equal.

- Vladimir Putin

source: "Vladimir Putin says USA not so special". Interview with Ben Knight, www.abc.net.au. September 13, 2013.

topic: Blessing, Different, Forget, American Exceptionalism, Exceptionalism

It is not that I am not a fan of American exceptionalism. That is like saying I am not a fan of the moon being made out of green cheese - it does not exist. Powerful states have quite typically considered themselves to be exceptionally magnificent, and the United States is no exception to that. The basis for it is not very substantial to put it politely.

- Noam Chomsky

source: Interview with "The Young Turks", October 26, 2010.

topic: Powerful, Moon, Green, American Exceptionalism, Exceptionalism

I think the American people would be compassionate and practical. But we need to be talking about assimilation as well, something that is politically incorrect, I know, to say that people should learn English, should learn American exceptionalism, shouldn't come here to use our freedoms to undermine the freedoms we give to everybody. But there's nothing wrong with saying people who want to come here should want to be Americans.

- Bobby Jindal

source: "Bobby Jindal opens up about his 2016 presidential run". "Hannity" with Sean Hannity, www.foxnews.com. July 3, 2015.

topic: Thinking, Talking, People, American Exceptionalism, Exceptionalism

If people are being upstanding citizens of the Republic, then you have to widen the net to incarcerate them. This explains why America's prisons are full of nonviolent offenders - a perfect example of American exceptionalism.

- Henry Rollins

topic: America, People, Perfect, Offenders, American Exceptionalism

American exceptionalism, in the broad sense, is not a bunch of braggadocious words people say, "Yeah, we're better people. We have a better country. We are higher class people." That's not what it is. America was the exception to the way human beings prior to America, most of which lived.

- Rush Limbaugh

source: Source: www.rushlimbaugh.com

topic: Country, Class, America, American Exceptionalism, Exceptionalism

There are also fundamental issues related to what the current leader, President [Barack] Obama, said. I am referring to his idea about American exceptionalism. I am skeptical about this idea.

- Vladimir Putin

source: Source: www.rt.com

topic: Issues, Ideas, Leader, President Barack Obama, American Exceptionalism

No doubt, the United States and the American people are a gear country and a great people. Nobody disputes this, but talking about exceptionalism is way too much, and this is creating certain problems in relations, and not only with Russia, as I see it.

- Vladimir Putin

source: Source: www.rt.com

topic: Country, Russia, Talking, Exceptionalism

Democracy is about criticism. I didn't elect Obama because he's a black; I voted for Obama because he was the right person at the time. Period. The exceptionalism of a black U.S. President is not important to me. It's what he does. And who he has at the table. And what he does to change the world - that's what's important.

- Danny Glover

source: Interview with Ed Rampell, progressive.org. February 8, 2012.

topic: Black, Important, President, Exceptionalism

We have had a long held myth of American exceptionalism.

- Lisa Ling

source: "Interview: Sonia Kennebeck, Ines Hofmann Kanna, & Lisa Ling on Giving Wings to 'National Bird'". Interview with Stephen Saito, moveablefest.com. November 16, 2016.

topic: Long, American Exceptionalism, Myth, Exceptionalism

You want to unify America with a sense of culture and decency and all of this that reasserts and reaffirms the concepts of American exceptionalism.But the left and who they are, you watch Hollywood, you watch the Oscars, you watch any left-wing, it's not even Democrat. It is ultra left-wing radical.

- Rush Limbaugh

source: Source: www.rushlimbaugh.com

topic: Wings, America, Hollywood, American Exceptionalism, Ultras

Gone is any mention of American exceptionalism. I happen to believe that twice, three times in the 20th century, the United States saved Western democracy, both World War - both World Wars and the Cold War.

- Mark Shields

source: Source: www.pbs.org

topic: War, Believe, Democracy, American Exceptionalism, Exceptionalism

America's exceptionalism, American leadership, the American model, the American values are not [first with Donald Trump] - they're something that end at the border.

- Mark Shields

source: Source: www.pbs.org

topic: America, Borders, Firsts, American Values, Exceptionalism

American exceptionalism requires understanding biblical view.

- Jim DeMint

topic: Biblical, Views, Understanding, American Exceptionalism, Exceptionalism

I am a feral person. I have no bank account. I am unemployable. I own nothing. I lose my shoes sometimes when I go out. It sounds like I'm making a case for my own exceptionalism, which I suppose I am, but I wish it wasn't true.

- Tony Burgess

topic: Shoes, Wish, Sound, Exceptionalism

The greatness of America is capitalism, free market capitalism. The exceptionalism of American business.

- Fran Tarkenton

source: FaceBook post by Fran Tarkenton from Jun 19, 2013

topic: Greatness, America, Free Market, Exceptionalism, Free Market Capitalism

American exceptionalism is the recurring character in the nation's narrative.

- Ron Fournier

topic: Character, Narrative, American Exceptionalism, Exceptionalism, Recurring

Our patriotic fervor was the result of the old and widespread belief in the idea of American exceptionalism, the idea that America was a new thing in history, different from other countries. Other nations had evolved one way or another, evolved from tribes from a gathering of clans, from inevitabilities of language and tradition and geography. But America was born, and born of ideas: that all men are created equal, that they have been given by God certain rights that can be taken from them by no man, and that those rights combine to create a thing called freedom.

- Peggy Noonan

topic: Country, Business, Taken, Clans, American Exceptionalism

Even Republicans seem to think that these undocumented Democrats could be made [GOP] voters...and what happens is that two out every three that would be legalized [and] become Democrats. And it's not 12 million. It's more like 20 million...But it isn't just the equation of 2/3 of over 20 million that will vote for the guy who opposes our conservative candidate whoever that might be, but it's also those who will leave us if we fail them...We have to go back and tie together and restore the pillars of American exceptionalism and the rule of law is essential.

- Steve King

topic: Thinking, Law, Two, American Exceptionalism, Exceptionalism

The conservative version of American exceptionalism has become a password of sorts for candidates who want to prove their credentials to a right-wing America.

- Russ Feingold

topic: Wings, America, Want, American Exceptionalism, Exceptionalism

America's military is the best in the world, but this president [Barack Obama] is hollowing out our military. We need a commander in chief that believes in American exceptionalism again.

- Bobby Jindal

source: Source: www.npr.org

topic: Military, Believe, America, American Exceptionalism, Commander In Chief

American exceptionalism? Exceptional at what? Waging wars against innocent people for fake reasons? Exceptional at what? Being addicted to pharmaceutical drugs that have people's minds wasted? Exceptional at what? Eating more junk food and becoming the most obese nation on Earth?

- Gerald Celente

topic: War, People, Fake, American Exceptionalism, Exceptionalism

There's an appeal to the American sense of exceptionalism, that we're morally superior, as way to not be self-critical. I think that's a bit dangerous.

- Al Franken

topic: Thinking, Self, Way, Exceptionalism

It's a deft trick to turn American exceptionalism into an exceptional political tactic.

- Ron Fournier

topic: Political, Tactics, Tricks, American Exceptionalism, Exceptionalism

The message for the American youth is that this is a great country and we need to make sure that we pass on a heritage, a lineage and a legacy of American exceptionalism to each and everyone of you so that you can enjoy all the great liberties and freedoms that all the previous generations have had.

- Allen West

source: Source: wethekids.us

topic: Country, Liberty, Legacy, Previous Generations, American Exceptionalism

The erosion of equal opportunity is among the greatest threats to our exceptionalism as a nation. But it also provides us with an exciting and historic opportunity: to help more people than ever achieve the American Dream.

- Marco Rubio

source: Marco Rubio’s speech on poverty, hotair.com. January 8, 2014.

topic: Dream, Opportunity, Erosion, Exceptionalism

A lot of liberals don't believe in American exceptionalism, but it doesn't mean they don't love America.

- Megyn Kelly

topic: Believe, Mean, America, American Exceptionalism, Exceptionalism

Newspapers and their editors have to become as accountable as the rest of us - they are not 'a special case,' and they have only themselves to blame for having lost the argument for 'exceptionalism' - and with it the right to 'self-regulation.

- David Puttnam

source: "Post-Leveson, the press must become as accountable as the rest of us" by David Puttnam, www.theguardian.com. September 11, 2012.

topic: Self, Editors, Special, Exceptionalism, Self Regulation

Radical Islam and US exceptionalism are in bed with each other. They're like lovers, methinks.

- John Cusack

source: Source: www.truth-out.org

topic: Islam, Bed, Lovers, Exceptionalism, Radical Islam

Ronald Reagan [ cite the founders] on behalf of emphasizing the faith of our founders, of limited government, of the uniqueness and exceptionalism of America, of a nation with a people facing another historic challenge beyond the American Revolution, and in contrasting the system of the United States with the system of the USSR.

- Paul Kengor

topic: Government, America, People, Ussr, Exceptionalism

Christian nation mythologists pump themselves up with narratives of American exceptionalism and Christian domination. But sooner or later even their most devoted followers should begin to see that also depicting it as vulnerable to non-existent threats undermines the myth itself.

- Sarah Posner

topic: Christian, Pumps, Narrative, American Exceptionalism, Christian Nation

I think where [Donald Trump] loses most hawkish republicans is when he talking about how much he likes [Vladimir] Putin. That should make any person who believe in the American exceptionalism, incredibly uncomfortable.

- John McCain

source: Source: www.foxnews.com

topic: Believe, Thinking, Talking, American Exceptionalism, Exceptionalism

People get tired of talking about American exceptionalism, but I think this is an extraordinary thing about the United States, that we are a nation of immigrants, first of all, that is built upon a pluralistic society of native people that were here to begin with. The issue of diversity is really with us from the beginning.

- Diana L. Eck

source: Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

topic: Tired, Thinking, Talking, American Exceptionalism, Exceptionalism

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

source: Source: www.politico.com

topic: War, Two, Focus, Exceptionalism, American Tradition

America hasn't been leading anything. We have been blamed the last eight years [2008-2016]. The United States has been nothing special about us. American exceptionalism was mocked and laughed at.

- Rush Limbaugh

source: Source: www.rushlimbaugh.com

topic: America, Eight, Years, American Exceptionalism, Exceptionalism

I've been fortunate enough to travel to 58 different countries and I thank God everyday that I was born in this country. The most exceptional country that the world has ever known. And I want to make sure that we preserve that exceptionalism for the next generation.

- Benjamin Carson

source: Source: cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com

topic: Country, Everyday, Thank God, Different Countries, Exceptionalism

I want to find the candidates who understand the principles of American exceptionalism and have the character, the courage, and the confidence to actually lead the greatest nation in the world.

- Jim DeMint

source: "DeMint is in demand" by Shawna Shepherd, www.cnn.com. September 4, 2011.

topic: Character, Principles, World, American Exceptionalism, Exceptionalism