America Quote by Archibald MacLeish
“The American mood, perhaps even the American character, has changed. There are few manifestations any longer of the old American self-assurance which so irritated Dickens. Instead, there is a sense of frustration so perceptible that even our politicians have attempted to exploit it.”
About This Quote
The American spirit has shifted from confident self-assurance to a palpable frustration that politicians exploit.
In simple terms: America moved from confidence to frustration.
Key Takeaway
Address underlying societal frustration.
Themes
society
politics
culture
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
sociopolitical
observational
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- media analysis
- public sentiment
- national identity
Key Concepts
sociology
history
Questions to Reflect On
- What fuels this frustration?
- How can confidence be restored?
A Different Perspective
Risk of overgeneralizing.
![“I think the level of casualties is secondary... [A]ll the great scholars who have studied American character have come to the conclusion that we are a warlike people and that we love war... What we hate is not casualties but losing.” quote by Michael A. Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/02f/michael-a-ledeen-52574_american-character_i-think-the-level-of-casualties-is-secon_841195.jpg)
![“By the time [John Adams] came to write his Defence of the Constitutions of the United States in 1787 he had as dark a view of the American character as that of any critic in our history.” quote by Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d41/gordon-s-wood-13199_american-character_by-the-time-john-adams-came-to-write-his_314115.jpg)
![“I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. [salutes]” quote by Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3d2/bill-hicks-970_america_i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumor_655.jpg)
