--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: America, I've given you all and now I'm…" description: "\"America, I've given you all and now I'm nothing.\" — Allen Ginsberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/allen-ginsberg-1110_america_america-i-ve-given-you-all-and-now-i-m-n_673355.jpg" --- # America, I've given you all and now I'm nothing. ![“America, I've given you all and now I'm nothing.” quote by Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/allen-ginsberg-1110_america_america-i-ve-given-you-all-and-now-i-m-n_673355.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/allen-ginsberg-1110_america_america-i-ve-given-you-all-and-now-i-m-n_673355.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/allen-ginsberg-1110_america_america-i-ve-given-you-all-and-now-i-m-n_673355.jpg) > “America, I've given you all and now I'm nothing.” [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poet expresses a feeling of having given everything to his country, yet feeling empty and unreciprocated. **In simple terms:** Giving all leaves one feeling empty. Key Takeaway Recognize and address personal emptiness. Themes self disillusionment identity Mood reflective melancholic Type poetic personal When to use this quote - personal journaling - activism - therapy - community engagement Key Concepts existentialism political critique self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - What does giving all mean to you? - How can you find fulfillment beyond sacrifice? A Different Perspective The statement may overlook systemic issues beyond personal experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ## Related quotes > [Part of America is we've always had people that can get things done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-pagliuca/part-of-america-is-we-ve-always-had-people-that-can-get-things-done/) [Stephen Pagliuca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-pagliuca/) > [I love America. We've got the only system that works - it keeps everyone hustling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-simplot/i-love-america-we-ve-got-the-only-system-that-works-it-keeps-everyone/) J. R. Simplot > [America is the greatest country in the world - I love America. What I've accomplished could not have been done anywhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-king/america-is-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-i-love-america-what-i-ve/) [Don King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-king/) > [Before you give up ask yourself if you've given it ALL you've got because chances are you haven't](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/before-you-give-up-ask-yourself-if-you-ve-given-it-all-you-ve-got/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Losing is no disgrace if you've given your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-palmer/losing-is-no-disgrace-if-you-ve-given-your-best/) [Jim Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-palmer/) > [I've not given them (the poor people of Bihar) heaven, but I've given them a voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lalu-prasad-yadav/i-ve-not-given-them-the-poor-people-of-bihar-heaven-but-i-ve-given/) [Lalu Prasad Yadav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lalu-prasad-yadav/) > [I've given everything I can possible to the game, on and off the field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmitt-smith/i-ve-given-everything-i-can-possible-to-the-game-on-and-off-the-field/) [Emmitt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmitt-smith/) > [I've always given people the benefit of the doubt until they prove me otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-kodjoe/i-ve-always-given-people-the-benefit-of-the-doubt-until-they-prove-me/) [Boris Kodjoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-kodjoe/) > [Thankyou for the happines you've given to my life especially those times when I was wasted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/redeyeen/thankyou-for-the-happines-you-ve-given-to-my-life-especially-those/) Redeyeen > [I've lived my life in a way that I feel would be an example to young women and I've always given my best in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-margolis/i-ve-lived-my-life-in-a-way-that-i-feel-would-be-an-example-to-young/) [Cindy Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-margolis/) > [I know it's near the end and when it's over I want to be able to say to myself - not anyone else -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kell-brook/i-know-it-s-near-the-end-and-when-it-s-over-i-want-to-be-able-to-say/) [Kell Brook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kell-brook/) > [“For as long as I've known you, you've given me a part of you that you haven't given to anyone else. And now I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priscilla-glenn/for-as-long-as-i-ve-known-you-you-ve-given-me-a-part-of-you-that-you/) [Priscilla Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priscilla-glenn/) > [I've given up, damn the dawn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-walker/i-ve-given-up-damn-the-dawn/) [Clay Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-walker/) > [Immigration has been good for this country; I know the value of it - hopefully I've given something back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/immigration-has-been-good-for-this-country-i-know-the-value-of-it/) [Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/) > [I have given to some Republicans, I've given to some Democrats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-bankman-fried/i-have-given-to-some-republicans-i-ve-given-to-some-democrats/) [Sam Bankman-Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-bankman-fried/) ## More by Allen Ginsberg > [“I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving, hysterical, naked... who passed through universities with radiant cool eyes hallucinating Arkansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/i-saw-the-best-minds-of-my-generation-destroyed-by-madness-starving/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [“I'm with you in Rockland in my dreams you walk dripping from a sea-journey on the highway across America in tears to the door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/i-m-with-you-in-rockland-in-my-dreams-you-walk-dripping-from-a-sea/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [“Slaves of Plastic! Leather-shoe chino-pants prisoners! Haircut junkies! Dacron-shiffers!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/slaves-of-plastic-leather-shoe-chino-pants-prisoners-haircut-junkies/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [I was putting on a stiff upper lip and trying to fulfill the obligations I thought were demanded of me, taking over my father's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/i-was-putting-on-a-stiff-upper-lip-and-trying-to-fulfill-the/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [“No more to say, and nothing to weep for”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/no-more-to-say-and-nothing-to-weep-for/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It's that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/poetry-is-not-an-expression-of-the-party-line-it-s-that-time-of-night/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [“with my fucking suave manners and knowitall, eyes, and mind full of fantasy - the Me! that horror that keeps me conscious, in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/with-my-fucking-suave-manners-and-knowitall-eyes-and-mind-full-of/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [The apparition of an evil, sick unconscious wild city rose before me in visible semblance, and about the dead buildings in the barren air,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/the-apparition-of-an-evil-sick-unconscious-wild-city-rose-before-me/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [America I'm putting my queer shoulder to the wheel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/america-i-m-putting-my-queer-shoulder-to-the-wheel/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [The desire to have power dissolves. The desire to dominate people for love dissolves. On the other hand, it's a relief to realize you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/the-desire-to-have-power-dissolves-the-desire-to-dominate-people-for/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [“Poor dead flower? when did you forget you were a flower?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/poor-dead-flower-when-did-you-forget-you-were-a-flower/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [“Central Intelligence cutting Meo opium fields! China Lobby copping poppies in Burma! How long this Addict government support our oil-burner matter-habit”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/central-intelligence-cutting-meo-opium-fields-china-lobby-copping/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [“Forty feet long sixty feet high hotel Covered with old gray for buzzing flies Eye like mango flowing orange pus Ears Durga people vomiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/forty-feet-long-sixty-feet-high-hotel-covered-with-old-gray-for/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [“Hairy Mammal whaddya want”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/hairy-mammal-whaddya-want/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [“Burroughs ... his very junkhood an accomplishment beyond a million dollars.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/burroughs-his-very-junkhood-an-accomplishment-beyond-a-million-dollars/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) [Explore all 289 Allen Ginsberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "America, I've given you all and now I'm nothing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Allen Ginsberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/america-i-ve-given-you-all-and-now-i-m-nothing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/america-i-ve-given-you-all-and-now-i-m-nothing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/allen-ginsberg-1110_america_america-i-ve-given-you-all-and-now-i-m-n_673355.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/allen-ginsberg-1110_america_america-i-ve-given-you-all-and-now-i-m-n_673355.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/allen-ginsberg-1110_america_america-i-ve-given-you-all-and-now-i-m-n_673355.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“America, I've given you all and now I'm nothing.” — Allen Ginsberg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Allen Ginsberg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "America, I've given you all and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/america-i-ve-given-you-all-and-now-i-m-nothing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/america-i-ve-given-you-all-and-now-i-m-nothing/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```