“If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.”
- February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004
- American
- The 40th President of the United States, Actor, Politician, Governor of California
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Quote
“If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.”
Explanation
This quote by Ronald Reagan reflects his belief that America’s strength and moral compass are inseparably tied to its spiritual foundation. By playing on the phrase “One Nation Under God”—a line from the Pledge of Allegiance—Reagan asserts that forgetting the divine basis of American values would lead to the nation’s decline. The phrase “a nation gone under” is a warning: without acknowledgment of a higher moral authority, society risks losing its unity, purpose, and ethical direction.
The historical context includes Reagan’s frequent appeals to faith and traditional values during the 1980s, when he sought to reinvigorate a sense of national identity rooted in religious heritage. At a time when the country was navigating social upheavals, economic change, and Cold War tensions, Reagan often spoke of God and patriotism as anchors that could unify the American people. His use of religious language was not merely symbolic—it reflected a broader view that freedom and democracy require moral foundations to survive.
In modern discourse, this quote continues to spark debate about the role of religion in public life, church-state separation, and national identity. Supporters see it as a call to preserve the spiritual and ethical roots of the republic, while critics caution against imposing religious belief as a requirement for civic unity. Regardless of interpretation, Reagan’s message remains clear: without shared moral principles—grounded, in his view, in divine recognition—national cohesion and integrity are at risk.
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