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We criticize, copy, patronize, idolize and insult but we never doubt that the U.S. has a unique position in the history of human hopes.

America's history is exemplified in the efforts of the men and women who died for our country. The one thing that they all have in common is their selfless love for our nation and their courage to stand up to protect and defend it. They raised their gaze in the face of conflict, believed in what America could be, and pushed forward.

These days I wonder more and more why people are pessimistic when American history actually supports optimism.

When we create hope and opportunity in the lives of others, we allow love, decency and promise to triumph over cowardice and hate.

American history contains much matter for pride and congratulation, and much matter for regret and humiliation.

For all its terrible faults, in one sense America is still the last, best hope of mankind, because it spells out so vividly the kind of happiness that most people actually want, regardless of what they are told they ought to want.

Americans are rising to the tasks of history, and they expect the same of us.

Our national history has so often filled us with bitterness and the feeling of helplessness.

American history is longer, larger, more various, more beautiful, and more terrible than anything anyone has ever said about it.

So often, we don't realize that the very moments in which we live become our history, our story.