The Best of The Famous American Quotes

By: Bei Maniago1

"The Americans took but little when they emigrated except what they stood up in and what they had in their souls. They came through, they tamed the wilderness, they became a refuge for the oppressed from every land and clime." - Winston Churchill

It is often a marvel how the United States rose to its status as world leader today, but even the famous British politician, Winston Churchill, had reasons to believe that America deserved its leading place as world power. Winston Churchill was most recognized for his leadership in the United Kingdom during the World War II. He was a two-time Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and was also a statesman, an orator, a historian, a British army officer, an artist, and Nobel Prize award-winning writer.

Winston Churchill’s good relations with the United States have been noted several times in the past. It was his good relations with former United States president Franklin D. Roosevelt that paved the way for the trade and shipping of oil, food, and munitions between Britain and the United States. The good relations, as well as the continuous provisions and shipping of military paraphernalia between the United States and Britain, continued even during Roosevelt’s second term. Churchill’s high regard of the United States is also no secret, as he apparently disclosed in his patriotic American quotes, despite being a British. In fact, when the United States decided to lend help to his troops during the war, his first reaction was exultation that they have already won the war.

Churchill’s positive views about the Americans can be clearly understood from one of the most patriotic American quotes there is, considering that the American quote came from a British military officer and writer. Churchill was quoted to have said that "The Americans took but little when they emigrated except what they stood up in and what they had in their souls. They came through, they tamed the wilderness, they became a refuge for the oppressed from every land and clime."

It is clear that he respected the efforts that the Americans exerted and the civilization that they have brought with them as they rose to power. He respected that the Americans rose to power not only for their own good, but also distributed its help and goodwill to “every land and clime,” as he himself had put it. He also praised the Americans for standing up in support of the oppressed, and by this he was probably referring to the help that the Americans extended to the British especially during the war when they needed help the most. The American quote ended with a tone of gratitude, praising America for helping Britain when the latter was in oppression.

The American quote stated by Winston Churchill also tells a short summary of how America rose to power. And as some people question how it all came about, Churchill unfailingly believed that America was fully deserving of its leadership status because the country had the will to stand up for what it wanted. Also, by saying that American tamed the wilderness, Churchill also justified that America worked hard and just to obtain its current world leader status. As a result, his American quote became one of the most inspiring American quotes that came from a non-American.