Alex Kapranos Quotes

In America, with education and hard work, it really does not matter where you came from; it matters only where you are going.

People should be able to rise as hard, high as their hard work, their ambition, their talent will take them.

No matter where you're born in life or what the circumstances are when you're born, like your parents being poor or not connected to power, you have a chance in this country to go as far as your talent and your work will take you.

Our aristocracy, unlike that of Europe, is open to all comers.

The faith that anyone could move from rags to riches - with enough guts and gumption, hard work and nose to the grindstone - was once at the core of the American Dream.

My parents came from a poor background and worked their way up because of education. They saw it as a way to succeed. So they cared about me getting straight A grades when I was growing up.

Equality of opportunity means the achievers must be allowed to achieve.

No government under heaven affords such encouragement as that of America to genius and enterprise, or promises such rich rewards to talent and industry. Here, if a man rise to eminence, he rises by merit and not by birth, nor yet by mammon. This is as it ought to be—this is perfect justice.

In a country where there is no privileged class, genius and industry may attain the highest honors.

You have to believe that those privileged from birth achieve success all on their own..

I had come to college believing in a story that if you worked hard, the American dream was reachable.

I think the debate around nepotism is futile because I am an outsider and I know that there is no compensation of talent.

After a point, it doesn't matter where you come from. There are many star kids who haven't done well in the industry and rank newcomers who have done amazingly well.

Barack himself is very much a regular guy, not a silver spoon, incredibly smart, but, you know, he's a scholarship kid, made good use of the resources that were available to him, worked incredibly hard.

There are people a lot smarter, a lot more talented than I am, people who've accomplished things I can only imagine. Often, they started from the most humble of circumstances. That's my message: freedom and opportunity. That's the American Dream.

I definitely think if you're born into the industry, you get easier access, but that's about it. I have never denied that, but after that, only talent and hard work sustains you.

Every person has to keep in mind that they can grow up and reach the top, no matter where they are born, whether it's in Russia, in Ukraine, in Europe; they've still got the opportunity to show their talent and the culture of their people.

The American Dream is that any man or woman, despite of his or her background, can change their circumstances and rise as high as they are willing to work.

No one is going to keep giving me work because I am Salman Khan's brother. People may give me one or two films because of Salman but no one can make my career. I have to work towards it.

That's the spirit of America, right? Anybody from any background can make it anywhere with enough hard work.

Our country was built upon the idea that if you work hard and play by the rules, you can achieve the 'American dream' and create a better future for your children.

If there is a national, secular religion in the United States, it is the belief that America is the Land of Opportunity, that we are a meritocracy, that any kid, no matter who they are, or where they come from, can work hard and move up in the world: that their effort matters.

The American Dream is simple: it's the unwavering belief that anybody - you, me, your friends, your neighbors, grandma Verna - can become exceedingly successful, and all it takes is the right amount of work, ingenuity, and determination.

One of the things that is great about this country is that we're a meritocracy. Aspirational, hard-working people who want to come here - and who have the talent and skills to contribute to our economy and society - are very welcome.

The American Dream means any person can achieve prosperity through hard work and ingenuity because there are no inherent barriers in our society.