How we cite our quotes: (Sentence)
Quote #1
I'm pleased to be here today with you who are keeping America great by keeping her good. Only through your work and prayers and those of millions of others can we hope to survive this perilous century and keep alive this experiment in liberty—this last, best hope of man. (30-31)
Reagan believes American traditions—liberty, freedom, and acceptance—are nurtured and protected by the average person, someone who believes that, no matter what, the good spirit will endure and overcome all other dark happenings in the world. The average American is keeping America great by keep her good.
Quote #2
Our nation, too, has a legacy of evil with which it must deal. (101)
Throughout the speech, Ronnie looks at evil as a living, breathing thing—the kind of monster you thought for sure was under your bed when you were five. He does this to make it clear the monster is one we, the United States, have been fighting for essentially our entire history, and since we know exactly how to succeed in battle, we have to share our knowledge with other countries and help them defeat their own bad guys.
Quote #3
The glory of this land has been its capacity for transcending the moral evils of our past. (102)
Glory of this land totally sounds like it should be in a song, right? Hum a jaunty tune and consider why Reagan talks about America's glory in relation to the bad stuff we've done. It's important to be honest about that stuff, for sure, but Reagan is using this speech to make it clear that America's greatness comes from our nation's ability to make changes when it's necessary, to recognize the power of faith and tradition, and use those things to keep ourselves and the rest of the world honest and good.