Quotes About Exceptionalism

One man is worth thousand if he is extraordinary

Corruption is thick on the ground, talent rare.

The pediatrician must have thought me one of those neurotic mothers who craved distinction for her child but who in our civilization's latter-day degeneracy could only conceive of the exceptional in terms of deficiency or affliction.

I think, my entire life, I was a bit different. And I didn't think I was different; I just kinda always stuck out.

There is no substitute for American leadership and exceptionalism.

We thought that whatever we wanted to do was right and good, simply because we were Americans, and we would succeed at it because we were Americans.

Apologizing for our past sins may reveal character and for a time lessen anti-Americanism abroad, but if it is done without acknowledging that the sins of America are the sins of mankind, and that our remedies are so often exceptional, then it only earns transitory applause—and a more lasting contempt that we ourselves do not believe in the values we profess.

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

Mediocrity is not allowed to poets, either by the gods or man.

Progress has always been understood to be driven by exceptional white men. Whether it's the military victories we've achieved, the philosophical foundations that are the underpinnings of the nation, or our economic ingenuity, all this has been articulated through narratives of exceptional white men.

If you want to be average, do what others do. If you want to be awesome, do what no one does.

It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as [inherently] exceptional, whatever the motivation. There are big countries and small countries, rich and poor, those with long democratic traditions and those still finding their way to democracy. Their policies differ, too. We are all different, but when we ask for the Lord's blessings, we must not forget that God created us equal.

The Talented Tenth of the Negro race must be made leaders of thought and missionaries of culture among their people. No others can do this work and Negro colleges must train men for it. The Negro race, like all other races, is going to be saved by its exceptional men.

Everybody has got to die, but I have always believed an exception would be made in my case.

me gustaría pensar que no soy como <> y que mi comportamiento no se ajusta al común de los mortales

The average is that which no person quite ever is.

I'm not trying to be average.

The success of the few does not excuse the caste-like system that exists for many. In fact, black exceptionalism - the high-profile, highly visible examples of the black success - actually serves to justify and rationalize mass incarceration.

Eventually it comes to you: the thing that makes you exceptional, if you are at all, is inevitably that which must also make you lonely.

The thing that makes you exceptional, if you are at all, is inevitably that which makes you lonely.

The thing that makes you exceptional, if you are at all, is inevitably that which must also make you lonely.

I abhor averages. I like the individual case. A man may have six meals one day and none the next, making an average of three meals per day, but that is not a good way to live.

Prince, what you are you are by accident of birth; what I am I am through myself. There have been and still will be thousands of princes; there is only one Beethoven.

The public is wonderfully tolerant. It forgives everything except genius.