--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've never felt more American than I did…" description: "\"I've never felt more American than I did when I moved to England. It becomes a real kind of part of your identity: \"Oh, Ben. He's the American guy.\" I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/099/ben-schnetzer-32738_american_i-ve-never-felt-more-american-than-i-did_1362419.png" --- # I've never felt more American than I did when I moved to… ![“I've never felt more American than I did when I moved to England. It becomes a real kind of part of your identity: "Oh, Ben. He's the American guy." I think when you say you're from New York you get a different reception then if you just say, "I'm American." So I'd always kind of make sure I was a…” quote by Ben Schnetzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/099/ben-schnetzer-32738_american_i-ve-never-felt-more-american-than-i-did_1362419.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/099/ben-schnetzer-32738_american_i-ve-never-felt-more-american-than-i-did_1362419.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/099/ben-schnetzer-32738_american_i-ve-never-felt-more-american-than-i-did_1362419.png) > “I've never felt more American than I did when I moved to England. It becomes a real kind of part of your identity: "Oh, Ben. He's the American guy." I think when you say you're from New York you get a different reception then if you just say, "I'm American." So I'd always kind of make sure I was a New Yorker first.” [Ben Schnetzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schnetzer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. National identity can be nuanced; regional affiliation often shapes perception more than broad labels. **In simple terms:** Being a New Yorker defines identity more than just being American. Key Takeaway Embrace specific regional identity. Themes identity nationalism regionalism perception culture Mood reflective conversational Type personal sociological When to use this quote - travel - social interactions - career networking - media representation Key Concepts social identity theory stereotype threat belonging Questions to Reflect On - Does emphasizing regional identity help or hinder unity? - How do others' perceptions affect self‑identity? A Different Perspective Focusing on regional identity may reinforce stereotypes and limit broader inclusivity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American guys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-guys/) [England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [New yorkers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-yorkers/) [Reception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reception/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I think it's interesting being American, the expectations for an American guy, and the image that has to be projected. 'Oh, I can't wear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/i-think-it-s-interesting-being-american-the-expectations-for-an/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [I'm six foot four, an all-American guy, and handsome and talented as well!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hasselhoff/i-m-six-foot-four-an-all-american-guy-and-handsome-and-talented-as/) [David Hasselhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hasselhoff/) > [An American is a guy, a rich guy with a family, a decent guy with a family with as many kids as he likes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/an-american-is-a-guy-a-rich-guy-with-a-family-a-decent-guy-with-a/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) > [Nowadays people always say, 'How come he's doing such young shows?' But they never mention 'The Mod Squad'. I was very proud of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-spelling/nowadays-people-always-say-how-come-he-s-doing-such-young-shows-but/) [Aaron Spelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-spelling/) > [Statistics indicate that the average American is a guy named Brian who lives in Ohio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/statistics-indicate-that-the-average-american-is-a-guy-named-brian/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [“Women, music, beer, and pie. Rurik, you're just an all-American guy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-howard/women-music-beer-and-pie-rurik-you-re-just-an-all-american-guy/) [Linda Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-howard/) > [“It's in you,' my dad assured me once. 'You were born in Panamá. It's in your bones.' I spent a lot of time trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-henriquez/it-s-in-you-my-dad-assured-me-once-you-were-born-in-panam-it-s-in/) [Cristina Henriquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-henriquez/) > [I felt that as an American citizen, as a responsible citizen, I could no longer cooperate in concealing this information from the American public.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-ellsberg/i-felt-that-as-an-american-citizen-as-a-responsible-citizen-i-could/) [Daniel Ellsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-ellsberg/) > [There were a lot of people shouting out. I know it's not proper tennis etiquette, but this is the first time I've ever played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/there-were-a-lot-of-people-shouting-out-i-know-it-s-not-proper-tennis/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [“One hamburger stand on the entire beach. It felt un-American.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/one-hamburger-stand-on-the-entire-beach-it-felt-un-american/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [I struggled with being a Latino growing up in Los Angeles. I felt very American. I still do. I went to 35 bar mitzvahs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/america-ferrera/i-struggled-with-being-a-latino-growing-up-in-los-angeles-i-felt-very/) [America Ferrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/america-ferrera/) > [“I've never felt that the American Dream was owed to me. I never felt that I was entitled to this Dream. This is why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-talmage-mathis/i-ve-never-felt-that-the-american-dream-was-owed-to-me-i-never-felt/) [John-Talmage Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-talmage-mathis/) > [I was born in Australia and am proud of my Australian provenance, but I am now an American. Like so many naturalized citizens, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/i-was-born-in-australia-and-am-proud-of-my-australian-provenance-but/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [I don't feel I was 'born American,' but my homeland was denied to me after the end of World War II, and I craved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/i-don-t-feel-i-was-born-american-but-my-homeland-was-denied-to-me/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [I often say to my friends that I felt too Puerto Rican to live in the States; then I felt too American to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-yulin-cruz/i-often-say-to-my-friends-that-i-felt-too-puerto-rican-to-live-in-the/) [Carmen Yulin Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-yulin-cruz/) ## More by Ben Schnetzer > [I didn't start drama school until I was 20, and I don't think I would have gotten nearly as much out of it had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schnetzer/i-didn-t-start-drama-school-until-i-was-20-and-i-don-t-think-i-would/) [Ben Schnetzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schnetzer/) > [If they're going to cast one person and not another, it's not rejection of your talent, it's just that they want one person and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schnetzer/if-they-re-going-to-cast-one-person-and-not-another-it-s-not/) [Ben Schnetzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schnetzer/) > [Whatever the genre of film you're doing and whatever the source material is, you have to adapt to the different genre, but it's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schnetzer/whatever-the-genre-of-film-you-re-doing-and-whatever-the-source/) [Ben Schnetzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schnetzer/) > [If I audition for a job that I don't get, to be honest with you, I'd rather my friend get it. I think there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schnetzer/if-i-audition-for-a-job-that-i-don-t-get-to-be-honest-with-you-i-d/) [Ben Schnetzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schnetzer/) > [A lot of times, when you're seeing something that you've done, you're thinking about the experience you had making it, not about the experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schnetzer/a-lot-of-times-when-you-re-seeing-something-that-you-ve-done-you-re/) [Ben Schnetzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schnetzer/) > [When you're doing a play, you don't always have a practical world that you're working off of. You have to create it for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schnetzer/when-you-re-doing-a-play-you-don-t-always-have-a-practical-world-that/) [Ben Schnetzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schnetzer/) > [Sometimes I find myself at three o'clock in the morning painting something and throwing things around and seeing what works. I'd like to properly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schnetzer/sometimes-i-find-myself-at-three-o-clock-in-the-morning-painting/) [Ben Schnetzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schnetzer/) > [I left drama school to do 'The Book Thief' - it was a real trip going straight from school kind of right into it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schnetzer/i-left-drama-school-to-do-the-book-thief-it-was-a-real-trip-going/) [Ben Schnetzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schnetzer/) > [When you're working on a film, it's not theater; you don't have a few weeks of rehearsal. A lot of times you are showing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schnetzer/when-you-re-working-on-a-film-it-s-not-theater-you-don-t-have-a-few/) [Ben Schnetzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schnetzer/) > [I'm a total luddite when it comes to technology. Pretending I know how to use a computer is a challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schnetzer/i-m-a-total-luddite-when-it-comes-to-technology-pretending-i-know-how/) [Ben Schnetzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schnetzer/) > [No matter how cold you are or how hungry you are, you might be warm tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schnetzer/no-matter-how-cold-you-are-or-how-hungry-you-are-you-might-be-warm/) [Ben Schnetzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schnetzer/) > [I like charcoal drawing a lot. I'm not very good, but I always find myself buying canvases and paints whenever I'm on location, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schnetzer/i-like-charcoal-drawing-a-lot-i-m-not-very-good-but-i-always-find/) [Ben Schnetzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schnetzer/) > [Drama schools are very small community, a very incestuous community, so you get to know one another very, very quickly and it just washes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schnetzer/drama-schools-are-very-small-community-a-very-incestuous-community-so/) [Ben Schnetzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schnetzer/) > [When I decided I wanted to go to drama school, I realized that a lot of the actors whose careers I really admire and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schnetzer/when-i-decided-i-wanted-to-go-to-drama-school-i-realized-that-a-lot/) [Ben Schnetzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schnetzer/) [Explore all 15 Ben Schnetzer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schnetzer/) ## More American quotes > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in a tremendous investment to support millions of workers without a paycheck and behind on bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/congress-passed-the-american-rescue-plan-act-in-a-tremendous/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and employ almost half of the working population. Yet because of their size, they rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/small-businesses-are-the-backbone-of-the-american-economy-and-employ/) [Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/) > [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [New York and San Francisco are distinctly different. San Francisco is driving the American media, not New York. You have young, microwaved millionaires and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/new-york-and-san-francisco-are-distinctly-different-san-francisco-is/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) Browse all 7,717 American quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've never felt more American than I did when I moved to England. It becomes a real kind of part of your identity: \"Oh, Ben. 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