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What does the doctrine of American exceptionalism empower the United States to do? Nothing more than to act better than traditional empires - committed to looting and conquest - have done. So that's American exceptionalism: an exceptionalism based on noble ideas, ideas that it holds itself to even when it falls short of them.

American exceptionalism is grounded in the founding of the United States upon an idea, rather than upon the ambitions of men.

True Americanism is practical idealism. Its aims, instead of being materialistic and mechanical, are idealistic to the point of being Utopian. In this way, the U.S. can provide and express ideals that strike a chord in humans everywhere - a declaration of independence on behalf of all the peoples of the world.

I think 'The Americans' is exceptional on every level.

I have always thought that foreign-policy idealism has to be tempered with realism.

Affirming belief that America is an exceptional nation has become a test of patriotism in American politics.

The America I know is great - not because government made it great but because ordinary citizens like me, like my father and like you are given the opportunity every day to do extraordinary things.

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

The great and admirable strength of America consists in this, that America is truly the American people.

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