--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think we are obsessed in the U.S. with…" description: "\"I think we are obsessed in the U.S. with the personal, in ways that blind us to more important issues of life. I just think if we could take all the ob..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d71/bell-hooks-464_blind_i-think-we-are-obsessed-in-the-u-s-with_1883901.jpg" --- # I think we are obsessed in the U.S. with the personal, in… ![“I think we are obsessed in the U.S. with the personal, in ways that blind us to more important issues of life. I just think if we could take all the obsession with the personal (inaudible), and personal judgment and have people be concerned about the environment, what a different world we would…” quote by Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d71/bell-hooks-464_blind_i-think-we-are-obsessed-in-the-u-s-with_1883901.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d71/bell-hooks-464_blind_i-think-we-are-obsessed-in-the-u-s-with_1883901.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d71/bell-hooks-464_blind_i-think-we-are-obsessed-in-the-u-s-with_1883901.jpg) > “I think we are obsessed in the U.S. with the personal, in ways that blind us to more important issues of life. I just think if we could take all the obsession with the personal (inaudible), and personal judgment and have people be concerned about the environment, what a different world we would live in.” [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. U.S. focus on personal narratives obscures larger societal issues like the environment. **In simple terms:** Personal focus blinds us to bigger problems. Key Takeaway Shift attention from self to collective concerns. Themes culture environment individualism Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - public policy - education curricula - media messaging - community dialogue Key Concepts Feminist theory social critique Questions to Reflect On - How can we reframe personal stories to include environmental stakes? - What narratives can replace individualism? A Different Perspective Changing cultural focus is slow and resisted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind/) [Different worlds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-worlds/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Important issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-issues/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Obsession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsession/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I think I was always obsessed with esthetics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-think-i-was-always-obsessed-with-esthetics/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [While obsession with one’s personal appearance is a sign of being a vacant prat, total oblivion to it is a sign of mental illness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-cann/while-obsession-with-one-s-personal-appearance-is-a-sign-of-being-a/) [Kate Cann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-cann/) > [People whose lives are not balanced by a healthy love of money suffer from an appalling obsession with personal integrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-setterfield/people-whose-lives-are-not-balanced-by-a-healthy-love-of-money-suffer/) [Diane Setterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-setterfield/) > [I know that everybody is so obsessed with this idea of fame, and they think that I'm obsessed. In all honesty, I'm just doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-o-day/i-know-that-everybody-is-so-obsessed-with-this-idea-of-fame-and-they/) [Aubrey O'Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-o-day/) > [I can't put my mind to anything else. I'm not interested in hanging out or partying. For me, it's all about the pitch: training,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-jesus/i-can-t-put-my-mind-to-anything-else-i-m-not-interested-in-hanging/) [Gabriel Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-jesus/) > [Most of my readers think I'm obsessed with time management, but they haven't seen the other - much more legitimate, much more extreme -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/most-of-my-readers-think-i-m-obsessed-with-time-management-but-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think we are becoming more obsessed about getting a certain amount of likes on our Twitter and Instagram accounts rather than actually living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fogle/i-think-we-are-becoming-more-obsessed-about-getting-a-certain-amount/) [Ben Fogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fogle/) > [“Why do you think I'm obsessed with this idea of giving the world an alphabet-soup enema?' (This was our code language for wanting to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leyner/why-do-you-think-i-m-obsessed-with-this-idea-of-giving-the-world-an/) [Mark Leyner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leyner/) > [I only live in the world of animal protection. I speak only of that. I think only of that. I am obsessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigitte-bardot/i-only-live-in-the-world-of-animal-protection-i-speak-only-of-that-i/) [Brigitte Bardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigitte-bardot/) > [I don't think being obsessed with sex is any stranger than being obsessed with stamp collecting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-sprinkle/i-don-t-think-being-obsessed-with-sex-is-any-stranger-than-being/) [Annie Sprinkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-sprinkle/) > [I don't think I have an obsession, however I do eat chocolate every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ripert/i-don-t-think-i-have-an-obsession-however-i-do-eat-chocolate-every-day/) [Eric Ripert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ripert/) > [I think the obsession with wanting to change yourself is crazy over the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-the-obsession-with-wanting-to-change-yourself-is-crazy-over/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Obsession is a negative word, I do not think that obsession can bring positive things. Not only in tennis but, I mean in any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novak-djokovic/obsession-is-a-negative-word-i-do-not-think-that-obsession-can-bring/) [Novak Djokovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novak-djokovic/) > [I think the obsession with fair skin should end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sobhita-dhulipala/i-think-the-obsession-with-fair-skin-should-end/) [Sobhita Dhulipala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sobhita-dhulipala/) > [It's a passion when you're doing it for other people and you're doing it for the people around you making the film and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-kubrick/it-s-a-passion-when-you-re-doing-it-for-other-people-and-you-re-doing/) [Stanley Kubrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-kubrick/) ## More by Bell Hooks > [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Most folks believe we are hardwired biologically to long for sex but they do not believe we are hardwired to long for love. Almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/most-folks-believe-we-are-hardwired-biologically-to-long-for-sex-but/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [... we need to interrogate "reverence," for idolization can be another way one is objectified and not really taken seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/we-need-to-interrogate-reverence-for-idolization-can-be-another-way/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Couples who rarely or never have sex can know lifelong love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/couples-who-rarely-or-never-have-sex-can-know-lifelong-love/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The power of patriarchy has been to make maleness feared and to make men feel that it is better to be feared that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-power-of-patriarchy-has-been-to-make-maleness-feared-and-to-make/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“I feel enormously blessed to be a successful black woman writer in this culture, but I have found my small fame, such as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-feel-enormously-blessed-to-be-a-successful-black-woman-writer-in/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Language is also a place of struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/language-is-also-a-place-of-struggle/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [In this culture, the phrase 'black woman' is not synonymous with 'tender,' or 'gentle.' It's as if those words couldn't possibly speak to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/in-this-culture-the-phrase-black-woman-is-not-synonymous-with-tender/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [It's interesting to look at all the aspects where everyday Americans, many of whom are not college educated, are thinking deeply now about our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/it-s-interesting-to-look-at-all-the-aspects-where-everyday-americans/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The true teacher is within us. A good teacher is someone who can help you to go back and touch the true teacher within,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-true-teacher-is-within-us-a-good-teacher-is-someone-who-can-help/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Advancing the notion that there can be many "feminisms" has served the conservative and liberal political interests of women seeking status and privileged class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/advancing-the-notion-that-there-can-be-many-feminisms-has-served-the/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [I love my family, even as I critique their dysfunctionalities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-love-my-family-even-as-i-critique-their-dysfunctionalities/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [You must have courage to love, you have to have a profound will to do what is right to love, and it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/you-must-have-courage-to-love-you-have-to-have-a-profound-will-to-do/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [To truly love we must learn to mix various ingredients - care, affection, recognition, respect, commitment, and trust, as well as honest and open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/to-truly-love-we-must-learn-to-mix-various-ingredients-care-affection/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Often emphasis on identity and lifestyle is appealing because it creates a false sense that one is engaged in praxis. However, praxis within any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/often-emphasis-on-identity-and-lifestyle-is-appealing-because-it/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) [Explore all 541 Bell Hooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## More Blind quotes > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [Love is so blind, it feels right when it's wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/love-is-so-blind-it-feels-right-when-it-s-wrong/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [... Arthur Gride, whose bleared eyes gloated only over the outward beauties, and were blind to the spirit which reigned within, evinced - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/arthur-gride-whose-bleared-eyes-gloated-only-over-the-outward/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“A man who saw has turned blind, A hearer deaf, A leader now leads astray!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-lichtheim/a-man-who-saw-has-turned-blind-a-hearer-deaf-a-leader-now-leads-astray/) [Miriam Lichtheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-lichtheim/) > [“What I shall feel to-morrow I cannot tell. Maybe I shall go blind again, for women are never two days alike in their minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-parker/what-i-shall-feel-to-morrow-i-cannot-tell-maybe-i-shall-go-blind/) [Gilbert Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-parker/) > [Now the stage today is to know that Self Realization gives you experiences and then your faith is established. Not blind but open enlightened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/now-the-stage-today-is-to-know-that-self-realization-gives-you/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [The more I produce, the less I am certain. On the road along which the artist walks, night falls ever more densely. Finally, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-more-i-produce-the-less-i-am-certain-on-the-road-along-which-the/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“The heart’s blind. It’s the head that causes all the trouble. Sometimes both are stupid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-bromberg/the-heart-s-blind-it-s-the-head-that-causes-all-the-trouble-sometimes/) [K. Bromberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-bromberg/) > [“In the story of the blind men and the elephant, what’s usually ignored is the fact that each man’s description was correct. What Faye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-hill/in-the-story-of-the-blind-men-and-the-elephant-what-s-usually-ignored/) [Nathan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-hill/) > [My favorite performance would definitely be "Toxic," which was my blind audition song. It was the start of it all and it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-martinez/my-favorite-performance-would-definitely-be-toxic-which-was-my-blind/) [Melanie Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-martinez/) > [Our attitude towards evil must be freed from hatred, and has itself need to be enlightened in character...Satan rejoices when he succeeds in inspiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolai-berdyaev/our-attitude-towards-evil-must-be-freed-from-hatred-and-has-itself/) [Nikolai Berdyaev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolai-berdyaev/) > [If you are the master be sometimes blind, if you are the servant be sometimes deaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/if-you-are-the-master-be-sometimes-blind-if-you-are-the-servant-be/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [I'm glad I'm blind and can't see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-wonder/i-m-glad-i-m-blind-and-can-t-see-it/) [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) > [Shut your eyes and you will know what I mean by thought entombed in darkness. 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