This is the lone-American type I admire, the kind I…
““This is the lone-American type I admire, the kind I believe in, can get along with, and whom I vote for even though he’s never nominated for office. The democratic man our poets sang of but who, alas, is being rapidly exterminated, along with the buffalo, the moose and the elk, the great bear, the eagle, the condor, the mountain lion. The sort of American that never starts a war, never raises a feud, never draws the color line, never tries to lord it over his fellow-man, never yearns for higher education, never holds a grudge against his neighbor, never treats an artist shabbily and never turns a beggar away. Often untutored and unlettered, he sometimes has more of the poet and the musician in him, philosopher too, than those who are acclaimed as such. His whole way of life is aesthetic. What marks him as different, sometimes ridiculous, is his serenity and originality. That he aspires to be none other than himself, is this not the essence of wisdom?””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage praises an idealized American figure who embodies peace, humility, and artistic sensibility, contrasting him with modern societal decay.
In simple terms: Ideal American is peaceful, artistic, humble, and wise.
Key Takeaway
Strive to embody humility, peace, and artistic appreciation.
Themes
wisdom
peace
humility
art
American ideal
Mood
inspirational
contemplative
Type
philosophical
cultural
When to use this quote
- personal development
- civic engagement
- artistic practice
Key Concepts
philosophy
cultural critique
identity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you practice humility daily?
- What role does art play in your life?
A Different Perspective
Such an ideal may be unrealistic in a complex modern world.