--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We don't do sensible things. This is…" description: "\"We don't do sensible things. This is America.\" — Bill Maher" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/bill-maher-211_america_we-don-t-do-sensible-things-this-is-amer_1770000.png" --- # We don't do sensible things. This is America. ![“We don't do sensible things. This is America.” quote by Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/bill-maher-211_america_we-don-t-do-sensible-things-this-is-amer_1770000.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/bill-maher-211_america_we-don-t-do-sensible-things-this-is-amer_1770000.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/bill-maher-211_america_we-don-t-do-sensible-things-this-is-amer_1770000.png) > “We don't do sensible things. This is America.” [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. America often prioritizes irrational actions over sensible ones, reflecting cultural contradictions. **In simple terms:** America can act irrationally. Key Takeaway Question why irrationality persists. Themes culture irrationality politics behavior Mood skeptical ironic Type satirical provocative When to use this quote - political debates - media consumption - policy decisions Key Concepts cognitive dissonance social norms Questions to Reflect On - What drives irrational choices in society? - How can rational discourse be promoted? A Different Perspective Rational solutions may be ignored due to partisan bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Don Sensible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-sensible-1769821/) [Sensible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensible/) [Sensible Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensible-things-1769820/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Things America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-america-442670/) ## Related quotes > [Part of that, I think, is being able to tune out folly, as distinguished from recognizing wisdom. You've got whole categories of things you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/part-of-that-i-think-is-being-able-to-tune-out-folly-as-distinguished/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [It is God himself who can be discovered in the beauty of sensible things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/it-is-god-himself-who-can-be-discovered-in-the-beauty-of-sensible/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [“I am not one thing. I am many things that America has been in my time. I had enough sense to keep moving, learning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-am-not-one-thing-i-am-many-things-that-america-has-been-in-my-time/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“Don’t tug your ear with anyone else. That’s mine.” I gave him a tight smile. “A lot of things are yours, America.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiera-cass/don-t-tug-your-ear-with-anyone-else-that-s-mine-i-gave-him-a-tight/) [Kiera Cass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiera-cass/) > [I'm getting optimistic. I think, as I talk to people around the country - they seem to get it. They want a return to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-demint/i-m-getting-optimistic-i-think-as-i-talk-to-people-around-the-country/) [Jim DeMint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-demint/) > [“Funny, there had been a time when building things was what America did. From massive dams to towering skyscrapers, from mechanized factories to moon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-sakey/funny-there-had-been-a-time-when-building-things-was-what-america-did/) [Marcus Sakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-sakey/) > [A lot of things are yours, America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiera-cass/a-lot-of-things-are-yours-america/) [Kiera Cass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiera-cass/) > [The two most radical things you can do in America are to slow down, and to talk to each other. If you do these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pipher/the-two-most-radical-things-you-can-do-in-america-are-to-slow-down/) [Mary Pipher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pipher/) > [One of the great things about America is we should not judge until we know the facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-a-mcchrystal/one-of-the-great-things-about-america-is-we-should-not-judge-until-we/) [Stanley A. McChrystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-a-mcchrystal/) > [“I am reminded once again that the best things about America are the little things, the little freedoms that Americans don't think twice about.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-fitzgerald/i-am-reminded-once-again-that-the-best-things-about-america-are-the/) [Laura Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-fitzgerald/) > [The things that have made America great are being subverted for the things that make Americans rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erickson/the-things-that-have-made-america-great-are-being-subverted-for-the/) [Louise Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erickson/) > [Brooklyn has a bit of everything - some of the most beautiful things in America, and some of the most wretched, ugly, impoverished things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/brooklyn-has-a-bit-of-everything-some-of-the-most-beautiful-things-in/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [If we have learned anything in the past ten years, it is that these lovely things about America were never lovely. We have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/if-we-have-learned-anything-in-the-past-ten-years-it-is-that-these/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [It's the movies that have really been running things in America ever since they were invented. They show you what to do, how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/it-s-the-movies-that-have-really-been-running-things-in-america-ever/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [“..there was always a chance, that as bad as things were, America was a big juggling act and that we could all be kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-doctrow/there-was-always-a-chance-that-as-bad-as-things-were-america-was-a/) [E. L. Doctrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-doctrow/) ## More by Bill Maher > [A lot of people say they are dyslexic; some have to realize that they are just stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/a-lot-of-people-say-they-are-dyslexic-some-have-to-realize-that-they/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [I saw this anti-drug commercial that showed a kid smoking pot in his dad's room with his friend. This kid finds a gun, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-saw-this-anti-drug-commercial-that-showed-a-kid-smoking-pot-in-his/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [To all conservative women out there: If you are so sure the embryo needed for stem cell research are precious human life that can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/to-all-conservative-women-out-there-if-you-are-so-sure-the-embryo/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [Curious people are intersting people, I wonder why that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/curious-people-are-intersting-people-i-wonder-why-that-is/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [You see, the difference is the Republicans' hatred of Obama is based on a paranoid feeling about what he might do, what he's thinking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/you-see-the-difference-is-the-republicans-hatred-of-obama-is-based-on/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [The food is out of this world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/the-food-is-out-of-this-world/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [New Rule: There is no devil, so stop blaming your screw-ups on him. Last week, one of the biggest evangelical leaders in America, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/new-rule-there-is-no-devil-so-stop-blaming-your-screw-ups-on-him-last/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [If we were a dog and God owned us, the cops would come and take us away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/if-we-were-a-dog-and-god-owned-us-the-cops-would-come-and-take-us-away/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“New Rule: The White House doesn't have to release the dead Bin Laden photos, but don't pretend we can't take it. We've seen pictures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/new-rule-the-white-house-doesn-t-have-to-release-the-dead-bin-laden/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [I think religion is bad and drugs are good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-think-religion-is-bad-and-drugs-are-good/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [I don't hate America. I love America. I want it to be better. The only way we can get it to be better is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-don-t-hate-america-i-love-america-i-want-it-to-be-better-the-only/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“New Rule: Americans must realize what makes NFL football so great: socialism. That's right, the NFL takes money from the rich teams and gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/new-rule-americans-must-realize-what-makes-nfl-football-so-great/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [So many kids are fat drug addicts these days, it's almost as if Rush Limbaugh had puppies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/so-many-kids-are-fat-drug-addicts-these-days-it-s-almost-as-if-rush/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [What we don't know is about Jeb Bush and cocaine. But we do know that he did once had his brother Florida on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/what-we-don-t-know-is-about-jeb-bush-and-cocaine-but-we-do-know-that/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“I find that the world is changing much, much faster than I can even bitch about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-find-that-the-world-is-changing-much-much-faster-than-i-can-even/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) [Explore all 897 Bill Maher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) ## 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. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We don't do sensible things. 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