--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: She had noticed that there was a tendency…" description: "\"“She had noticed that there was a tendency on the part of some Americans to believe that everybody, deep inside, wanted to live in America, and that it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd9/alexander-mccall-smith-372_americans_she-had-noticed-that-there-was-a-tendenc_1819110.png" --- # She had noticed that there was a tendency on the part of… ![“She had noticed that there was a tendency on the part of some Americans to believe that everybody, deep inside, wanted to live in America, and that it was inexplicable that people who could do so did not.” quote by Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd9/alexander-mccall-smith-372_americans_she-had-noticed-that-there-was-a-tendenc_1819110.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd9/alexander-mccall-smith-372_americans_she-had-noticed-that-there-was-a-tendenc_1819110.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd9/alexander-mccall-smith-372_americans_she-had-noticed-that-there-was-a-tendenc_1819110.png) > ““She had noticed that there was a tendency on the part of some Americans to believe that everybody, deep inside, wanted to live in America, and that it was inexplicable that people who could do so did not.”” [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author observes that many Americans assume everyone inherently wants to live in America, questioning why some capable people choose not to. **In simple terms:** People often think everyone wants to live in America, but that’s not always true. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about national desire. Themes culture identity immigration perception choice society Mood thoughtful critical inquisitive Type literary philosophical analytical When to use this quote - immigration policy discussions - media analysis - personal interviews - academic research Key Concepts sociology psychology nationalism Questions to Reflect On - Why do people reject the American dream? - What factors influence where people choose to live? 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Matekoni,” she asked, “do you think that our souls grow as we get older?” He did not answer immediately, but when he did,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/mr-j-l-b-matekoni-she-asked-do-you-think-that-our-souls-grow-as-we/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) [Explore all 628 Alexander McCall Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) ## More Americans quotes > [“People – Americans, mostly – realise how attached they are to material comforts when they arrive in India.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-william-roberts/people-americans-mostly-realise-how-attached-they-are-to-material/) Paul William Roberts > [Music has an intrinsic value that touches Americans - they love their music, and want more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-rosen/music-has-an-intrinsic-value-that-touches-americans-they-love-their/) [Hilary Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-rosen/) > [Americans are very friendly and very suspicious, that is what Americans are and that is what always upsets the foreigner, who deals with them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/americans-are-very-friendly-and-very-suspicious-that-is-what/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. 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