--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've gotten literally thousands of…" description: "\"I've gotten literally thousands of contacts from people across the country - and the most poignant ones being elderly people - who said I had given up ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c5/benjamin-carson-955_america_i-ve-gotten-literally-thousands-of-conta_1786729.png" --- # I've gotten literally thousands of contacts from people… ![“I've gotten literally thousands of contacts from people across the country - and the most poignant ones being elderly people - who said I had given up on America and I was just waiting to die.” quote by Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c5/benjamin-carson-955_america_i-ve-gotten-literally-thousands-of-conta_1786729.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c5/benjamin-carson-955_america_i-ve-gotten-literally-thousands-of-conta_1786729.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c5/benjamin-carson-955_america_i-ve-gotten-literally-thousands-of-conta_1786729.png) > “I've gotten literally thousands of contacts from people across the country - and the most poignant ones being elderly people - who said I had given up on America and I was just waiting to die.” [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker feels abandoned by older Americans who view his actions as giving up on the country and awaiting death. **In simple terms:** Older people think he has quit on America and is waiting to die. Key Takeaway Reassess assumptions about purpose and contribution. Themes age disillusionment identity politics generational conflict Mood reflective somber determined Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - political campaigns - community outreach - personal reflection - intergenerational dialogue Key Concepts civic duty legacy resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can you demonstrate commitment to national values? - What actions could shift these perceptions? A Different Perspective Some may argue personal agency can still inspire change despite pessimism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Contact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contact/) [Contacts People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contacts-people-1909481/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Dies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dies/) [Elderly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elderly/) [Elderly People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elderly-people/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Given up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given-up/) [Literally Thousands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literally-thousands-1630623/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-said/) [Poignant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poignant/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Thousands Contacts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousands-contacts-1909480/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) [Waiting Die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting-die/) ## Related quotes > [Literally thousands of e-mails over the course of a book go out to people I've never met, people who might end up being the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/literally-thousands-of-e-mails-over-the-course-of-a-book-go-out-to/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [Life is what you do while you're waiting to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-ebb/life-is-what-you-do-while-you-re-waiting-to-die/) [Fred Ebb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-ebb/) > [“Now I am all alone. My only comfort is my sweet little cat. I'm just an old woman, waiting to die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-berry/now-i-am-all-alone-my-only-comfort-is-my-sweet-little-cat-i-m-just-an/) [Julie Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-berry/) > [“Every moment I've spent living, I've been waiting to die. I'm not afraid of death. Life is an inconvenience. Brings nothing but disappointment, pain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-scott/every-moment-i-ve-spent-living-i-ve-been-waiting-to-die-i-m-not/) [Rosie Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-scott/) > [Im either running from life or I'm just waiting to die I'm the supplier or fire if you chasing a high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ti/im-either-running-from-life-or-i-m-just-waiting-to-die-i-m-the/) [TI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ti/) > [“They’re all waiting for me to die. Stevron’s been waiting for forty years, but I keep disappointing him. Heh. Why should I die just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/they-re-all-waiting-for-me-to-die-stevron-s-been-waiting-for-forty/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“Now his children are getting old too, like him, and they have children and nobody wants the old man any more and they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/now-his-children-are-getting-old-too-like-him-and-they-have-children/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“I gave up on any hope of redemption long ago. Hell, at this point I’m simply waiting to die. So, leave before you waste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cade-mengler/i-gave-up-on-any-hope-of-redemption-long-ago-hell-at-this-point-i-m/) [Cade Mengler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cade-mengler/) > [“I'm tired of waiting to die. Let's go out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-m-tired-of-waiting-to-die-let-s-go-out/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I wasn’t going anywhere and neither was the rest of the world. We were all just hanging around waiting to die and meanwhile doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-wasn-t-going-anywhere-and-neither-was-the-rest-of-the-world-we-were/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“Why would you turn right on a red light when we can all just sit here behind you waiting to die... #AHOLE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ostrom/why-would-you-turn-right-on-a-red-light-when-we-can-all-just-sit-here/) [Andy Ostrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ostrom/) > [“Knitting is a good way to pass the time when you're waiting for something to die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-demchuk/knitting-is-a-good-way-to-pass-the-time-when-you-re-waiting-for/) [David Demchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-demchuk/) > [“If Jem dies, I cannot be with Tessa," said Will. "Because it will be as if I were waiting for him to die, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/if-jem-dies-i-cannot-be-with-tessa-said-will-because-it-will-be-as-if/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Waiting for the bus on Sherbrooke today is like waiting to die. Or what I imagine it would be like.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fanny-britt/waiting-for-the-bus-on-sherbrooke-today-is-like-waiting-to-die-or/) [Fanny Britt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fanny-britt/) > [I have interviewed so many people who are put into nursing homes or hospices and are just waiting to die. It's a very lonely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-upham/i-have-interviewed-so-many-people-who-are-put-into-nursing-homes-or/) [Misty Upham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-upham/) ## More by Benjamin Carson > [We have a war on women, race wars. Income wars, age wars, religious wars, anything you can imagine. A house divided against itself cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/we-have-a-war-on-women-race-wars-income-wars-age-wars-religious-wars/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [When I look at the human brain I'm still in awe of it. Every single time you lift off the bone and open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/when-i-look-at-the-human-brain-i-m-still-in-awe-of-it-every-single/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [I do not want to get rid of the safety net, I want to get rid of dependency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/i-do-not-want-to-get-rid-of-the-safety-net-i-want-to-get-rid-of/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [Even if somebody disagrees with you, their life is still valuable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/even-if-somebody-disagrees-with-you-their-life-is-still-valuable/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [No matter who you are,no matter what you do-do not be too big for GOD.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/no-matter-who-you-are-no-matter-what-you-do-do-not-be-too-big-for-god/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [I want the government to provide the military so we don't get invaded by somebody and destroyed. I want the government to provide the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/i-want-the-government-to-provide-the-military-so-we-don-t-get-invaded/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [Our schools too often want to shut people up so they can't talk about real solutions. People who think differently tend to clam up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/our-schools-too-often-want-to-shut-people-up-so-they-can-t-talk-about/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [If you're a Christian and you're running for president and you want to make this into a theocracy, I'm not going to support you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/if-you-re-a-christian-and-you-re-running-for-president-and-you-want/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [I don't want my kids to grow up with no father like I did. I came to the conclusion a while ago that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/i-don-t-want-my-kids-to-grow-up-with-no-father-like-i-did-i-came-to/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [Uninformed people can be easily manipulated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/uninformed-people-can-be-easily-manipulated/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [The left, of course, will say Carson doesn't believe in the Geneva Convention, Carson doesn't believe in fighting stupid wars. And - and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/the-left-of-course-will-say-carson-doesn-t-believe-in-the-geneva/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [I don't worry about things that aren't important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/i-don-t-worry-about-things-that-aren-t-important/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [Surrendering to fear and allowing ourselves to be paralyzed by peril isn't something most of us can afford to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/surrendering-to-fear-and-allowing-ourselves-to-be-paralyzed-by-peril/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [I said Ted Cruz has been lying because if you say something that isn't true, and you say it over and over again, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/i-said-ted-cruz-has-been-lying-because-if-you-say-something-that-isn/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [Whoever wins in 2016, I'm pretty sure it's going to be a Republican, I think they should make it their goal to seal that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/whoever-wins-in-2016-i-m-pretty-sure-it-s-going-to-be-a-republican-i/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) [Explore all 321 Benjamin Carson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) ## 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. 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