--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I’m an American, I’m a Jew, and I write…" description: "\"“I’m an American, I’m a Jew, and I write for all men.”\" — Bernard Malamud" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/953/bernard-malamud-3871_american_i-m-an-american-i-m-a-jew-and-i-write-fo_335028.jpg" --- # I’m an American, I’m a Jew, and I write for all men. ![“I’m an American, I’m a Jew, and I write for all men.” quote by Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/953/bernard-malamud-3871_american_i-m-an-american-i-m-a-jew-and-i-write-fo_335028.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/953/bernard-malamud-3871_american_i-m-an-american-i-m-a-jew-and-i-write-fo_335028.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/953/bernard-malamud-3871_american_i-m-an-american-i-m-a-jew-and-i-write-fo_335028.jpg) > ““I’m an American, I’m a Jew, and I write for all men.”” [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The writer identifies with multiple identities and aims to create work that speaks to all humanity. **In simple terms:** He sees himself as American, Jewish, and a universal writer. Key Takeaway Embrace multiple facets of identity to reach broader audiences. Themes identity universality writing inclusion culture Mood thoughtful inspirational Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - literary essays - public speaking - teaching - community outreach Key Concepts intersectionality humanism Questions to Reflect On - How does your personal identity shape your creative voice? - Can universal themes coexist with specific cultural narratives? A Different Perspective Risk of diluting specific cultural voices; may face criticism for over‑generalization. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [American Jew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-jew-1138008/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Jew Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jew-write-3126499/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Write Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-men-834045/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [If you write for God you will reach many men and bring them joy. If you write for men--you may make some money and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-you-write-for-god-you-will-reach-many-men-and-bring-them-joy-if/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Too much is written by the men who can't write about the men who do write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/too-much-is-written-by-the-men-who-can-t-write-about-the-men-who-do/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [We are much beholden to Machiavel and others, that write what men do, and not what they ought to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/we-are-much-beholden-to-machiavel-and-others-that-write-what-men-do/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [“The element of craftsmanship in poetry is obscured by the fact that all men are taught to speak and most to read and write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/the-element-of-craftsmanship-in-poetry-is-obscured-by-the-fact-that/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [“Now, it’s undeniably true that male writers (including yours truly) are generally and commercially allowed to write about “girl stuff” without being penalized for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-lynch/now-it-s-undeniably-true-that-male-writers-including-yours-truly-are/) [Scott Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lynch/) > [Nobody ever has a problem if a man writes a woman. I wanted to be able to say, 'Well, I can write your men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-joy/nobody-ever-has-a-problem-if-a-man-writes-a-woman-i-wanted-to-be-able/) [Lisa Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-joy/) > [“February 13, 1936 I ask of people more than they can give me. It is useless to maintain the contrary. But what a mistake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/february-13-1936-i-ask-of-people-more-than-they-can-give-me-it-is/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [For writers, you just have to have the ability to not restrict your imagination. Men can write about women; women can write about men.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-o-malley/for-writers-you-just-have-to-have-the-ability-to-not-restrict-your/) [Mike O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-o-malley/) > [I write about the men you want to read about but don't necessarily want to be married to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/i-write-about-the-men-you-want-to-read-about-but-don-t-necessarily/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [Naturally, my stories are about women - I'm a woman. I don't know what the term is for men who write mostly about men.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/naturally-my-stories-are-about-women-i-m-a-woman-i-don-t-know-what-2/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [“Someone recently asked me to write about men's problems in life. She said "I can see pain in a man's eyes! Why don't you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avijeet-das/someone-recently-asked-me-to-write-about-men-s-problems-in-life-she/) [Avijeet Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avijeet-das/) > [As an American Jew who loves Israel, I cannot support John McCain. He cannot provide what Israel needs most - a respected, credible, morally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-bronfman-sr/as-an-american-jew-who-loves-israel-i-cannot-support-john-mccain-he/) [Edgar Bronfman, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-bronfman-sr/) > [I am an American Jew and aware of the sensitivities involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-am-an-american-jew-and-aware-of-the-sensitivities-involved-in-the/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [It's hard for a Jew of my generation, an American Jew, who is philo-Zionistic, not to romanticize Israel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/it-s-hard-for-a-jew-of-my-generation-an-american-jew-who-is-philo/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [I suppose I grew up wishing I was an American Jew for the comedy and the one-liners...actress who does a Holocaust movie because, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-suppose-i-grew-up-wishing-i-was-an-american-jew-for-the-comedy-and/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) ## More by Bernard Malamud > [Writers who can't invent stories often substitute style for narrative. They remind me of the painter who couldn't paint people, so he painted chairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/writers-who-can-t-invent-stories-often-substitute-style-for-narrative/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [We have two lives... the life we learn with and the life we live after that. Suffering is what brings us towards happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/we-have-two-lives-the-life-we-learn-with-and-the-life-we-live-after/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [“Leo hurried up to bed and hid under the covers. Under the covers he thought his life through. Although he soon fell asleep he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/leo-hurried-up-to-bed-and-hid-under-the-covers-under-the-covers-he/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [You can't eat language but it eases thirst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/you-can-t-eat-language-but-it-eases-thirst/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [First drafts are for learning what your novel or story is about. Revision is working with that knowledge to enlarge and enhance an idea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/first-drafts-are-for-learning-what-your-novel-or-story-is-about/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [“Her face deeply moved him. Why, he could at first not say. It gave him the impression of youth--spring flowers, yet age--a sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/her-face-deeply-moved-him-why-he-could-at-first-not-say-it-gave-him/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [I am somewhat of a meliorist. That is to say, I act as an optimist because I find I cannot act at all, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/i-am-somewhat-of-a-meliorist-that-is-to-say-i-act-as-an-optimist/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [Teach yourself to work in uncertainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/teach-yourself-to-work-in-uncertainty/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [One's fantasy goes for a walk and returns with a bride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/one-s-fantasy-goes-for-a-walk-and-returns-with-a-bride/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [The great thing about writing: Stay with it ... ultimately you teach yourself something very important about yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/the-great-thing-about-writing-stay-with-it-ultimately-you-teach/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [We didn't starve, but we didn't eat chicken unless we were sick, or the chicken was](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/we-didn-t-starve-but-we-didn-t-eat-chicken-unless-we-were-sick-or-the/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [As long as a man stays alive he can't tell what chances will pop up next. But a dead man signs no checks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/as-long-as-a-man-stays-alive-he-can-t-tell-what-chances-will-pop-up/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [“So sleep now, without fear for your life, and if you should ever manage to get out of prison, keep in mind that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/so-sleep-now-without-fear-for-your-life-and-if-you-should-ever-manage/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [Children were strangers you loved because you could love. If they gave back love when they were grown you were ahead of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/children-were-strangers-you-loved-because-you-could-love-if-they-gave/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [“Experience makes good people better." She was staring at the lake. "How does it do that?" "Through their suffering." "I had enough of that,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/experience-makes-good-people-better-she-was-staring-at-the-lake-how/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) [Explore all 114 Bernard Malamud quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) ## 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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I’m an American, I’m a Jew, and I write for all men.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bernard Malamud" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/i-m-an-american-i-m-a-jew-and-i-write-for-all-men/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/i-m-an-american-i-m-a-jew-and-i-write-for-all-men/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/953/bernard-malamud-3871_american_i-m-an-american-i-m-a-jew-and-i-write-fo_335028.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/953/bernard-malamud-3871_american_i-m-an-american-i-m-a-jew-and-i-write-fo_335028.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/953/bernard-malamud-3871_american_i-m-an-american-i-m-a-jew-and-i-write-fo_335028.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I’m an American, I’m a Jew, and I write for all men.” — Bernard Malamud", "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": "Bernard Malamud", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I’m an American, I’m a Jew,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/i-m-an-american-i-m-a-jew-and-i-write-for-all-men/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/i-m-an-american-i-m-a-jew-and-i-write-for-all-men/#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 } } ] } ```