--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only authors whom I acknowledge as…" description: "\"The only authors whom I acknowledge as American are the journalists. They, indeed, are not great writers, but they speak the language of their countrym..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f2/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_acknowledge_the-only-authors-whom-i-acknowledge-as-a_1544084.png" --- # The only authors whom I acknowledge as American are the… ![“The only authors whom I acknowledge as American are the journalists. They, indeed, are not great writers, but they speak the language of their countrymen, and make themselves heard by them.” quote by Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f2/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_acknowledge_the-only-authors-whom-i-acknowledge-as-a_1544084.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f2/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_acknowledge_the-only-authors-whom-i-acknowledge-as-a_1544084.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f2/alexis-de-tocqueville-625_acknowledge_the-only-authors-whom-i-acknowledge-as-a_1544084.png) > “The only authors whom I acknowledge as American are the journalists. They, indeed, are not great writers, but they speak the language of their countrymen, and make themselves heard by them.” [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues journalists, not novelists, best capture the nation's voice, even if their prose lacks literary merit. **In simple terms:** Journalists capture a nation's voice better than novelists. Key Takeaway Value practical communication over literary style. Themes media national identity communication Mood analytical thoughtful Type explanatory observational When to use this quote - news reporting - political analysis - education Key Concepts political theory public discourse Questions to Reflect On - What makes a writer “American”? - How does style affect impact? A Different Perspective Journalists may lack depth or nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Countrymen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/countrymen/) [Great writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-writers/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Journalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalist/) [Journalists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalists/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“The death of self of which the great writers speak is no violent act. It is merely the joining of the great rock heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-death-of-self-of-which-the-great-writers-speak-is-no-violent-act/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [In company with people of your own trade you ordinarily speak of other writers' books. 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O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [“Bush DOJ lawyer Jack Goldsmith hailed what he called “an underappreciated phenomenon: the patriotism of the American press,” meaning that the domestic media tend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bush-doj-lawyer-jack-goldsmith-hailed-what-he-called-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [American journalists and politicians made a perfect spectacle of themselves in discussing the Abu Ghraib prison controversy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-snow/american-journalists-and-politicians-made-a-perfect-spectacle-of/) [Tony Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-snow/) > [It's not the first time that I speak with American journalists. 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