I want the country I live in to be led by people who are respected, if not actually liked by most of the population. I want all the citizens to have access to health care, education and work. I want most people to grow up in stable families. I want the leaders to manage the resources without destroying the land for future generations. I want to have laws, which most people respect, because they feel that they represent the values of most of the citizens. That, in turn, means there will be little coercion necesary to enforce them.
I think that is the path to stability and personal liberty. No country is all the way there, but I believe that Sweden and Switzerland are a bit closer than either Britain or the US.
As for "greatness", I wonder if it is any comfort to you to know your country is "great" if you grow up with your father absent, you live in a slum and you can't make a living at one job.