--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a man is happy in America, it is…" description: "\"If a man is happy in America, it is considered he is doing something wrong.\" — Clarence Darrow" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/clarence-darrow-1714_america_if-a-man-is-happy-in-america-it-is-consi_2587689.png" --- # If a man is happy in America, it is considered he is doing… ![“If a man is happy in America, it is considered he is doing something wrong.” quote by Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/clarence-darrow-1714_america_if-a-man-is-happy-in-america-it-is-consi_2587689.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/clarence-darrow-1714_america_if-a-man-is-happy-in-america-it-is-consi_2587689.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/clarence-darrow-1714_america_if-a-man-is-happy-in-america-it-is-consi_2587689.png) > “If a man is happy in America, it is considered he is doing something wrong.” [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In America, a happy man is often assumed to be doing something wrong. **In simple terms:** Being happy in America can be seen as suspicious. Key Takeaway Question societal judgments of happiness. Themes happiness societal norms misconception Mood skeptical defiant Type critical reflective When to use this quote - workplace - public perception - personal fulfillment Key Concepts social criticism American culture Questions to Reflect On - Why do people doubt happiness? - How can you own your joy? A Different Perspective Happiness may be misinterpreted due to cultural bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Doing Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-wrong/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happy America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-america-392794/) [Man Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-happy/) [Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong/) ## Related quotes > [“Why aren't you happy in America, if everyone there drives motorcars?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/why-aren-t-you-happy-in-america-if-everyone-there-drives-motorcars/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [I just feel happy to be in America, like I said, it's the most beautiful country in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-ali/i-just-feel-happy-to-be-in-america-like-i-said-it-s-the-most/) [Ahmed Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-ali/) > [I am a new Angelina, and I am happy America has seen the real me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-pivarnick/i-am-a-new-angelina-and-i-am-happy-america-has-seen-the-real-me/) [Angelina Pivarnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-pivarnick/) > [Not a place upon earth might be so happy as America. Her situation is remote from all the wrangling world, and she has nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/not-a-place-upon-earth-might-be-so-happy-as-america-her-situation-is/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [I would be very happy to go to America. America is where I was raised and that's exactly what I want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/i-would-be-very-happy-to-go-to-america-america-is-where-i-was-raised/) [John McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcafee/) > [Happy for America, happy for Europe, perhaps for the world when, on the delivery of Cornwallis's sword to the illustrious, the immortal Washington, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-sampson/happy-for-america-happy-for-europe-perhaps-for-the-world-when-on-the/) [Deborah Sampson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-sampson/) > [“Admire and appreciate your man and he will be happy on your side”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-alfiori/admire-and-appreciate-your-man-and-he-will-be-happy-on-your-side/) [Linda Alfiori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-alfiori/) > [Learning a game and doing something wrong is sometimes funnier than being good at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dantdm/learning-a-game-and-doing-something-wrong-is-sometimes-funnier-than/) [DanTDM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dantdm/) > [If you're not doing some things that are crazy, then you're doing the wrong things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-page/if-you-re-not-doing-some-things-that-are-crazy-then-you-re-doing-the/) [Larry Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-page/) > [If you don't text your relationship partner - even if you just saw them in person - it's like you're doing something wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalid/if-you-don-t-text-your-relationship-partner-even-if-you-just-saw-them/) [Khalid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalid/) > [“If someone's not hating it you're doing something wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/royal-young/if-someone-s-not-hating-it-you-re-doing-something-wrong/) [Royal Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/royal-young/) > [“When you don't see nothing wrong in anything you do, then you are doing everything wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richmond-akhigbe/when-you-don-t-see-nothing-wrong-in-anything-you-do-then-you-are/) [Richmond Akhigbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richmond-akhigbe/) > [Come, let me know what it is that makes a Scotch man happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/come-let-me-know-what-it-is-that-makes-a-scotch-man-happy/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Call no day happy 'til it is done; call no man happy til he is dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/call-no-day-happy-til-it-is-done-call-no-man-happy-til-he-is-dead/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [“Is there any difference between a happy and a lucky man? A happy is someone who finds an oasis with drinking water in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eraldo-banovac/is-there-any-difference-between-a-happy-and-a-lucky-man-a-happy-is/) [Eraldo Banovac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eraldo-banovac/) ## More by Clarence Darrow > [We know life is futile. A man who considers that his life is of very wonderful importance is awfully close to a padded cell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/we-know-life-is-futile-a-man-who-considers-that-his-life-is-of-very/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [Great wealth often curses all who touch it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/great-wealth-often-curses-all-who-touch-it/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [Punishment as punishment is not admissible unless the offender has had the free will to select his course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/punishment-as-punishment-is-not-admissible-unless-the-offender-has/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [“One of the bravest, grandest champions of human liberty the world has ever seen. {Darrow on the great Robert Ingersoll }”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/one-of-the-bravest-grandest-champions-of-human-liberty-the-world-has/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [I cannot tell and I shall never know how many words of mine might have given birth to cruelty in place of love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/i-cannot-tell-and-i-shall-never-know-how-many-words-of-mine-might/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [“As long as the world shall last there will be wrongs, and if no man objected and if no man rebelled, those wrongs would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/as-long-as-the-world-shall-last-there-will-be-wrongs-and-if-no-man/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/i-have-never-killed-a-man-but-i-have-read-many-obituaries-with-great/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [Lost causes are the only ones worth fighting for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/lost-causes-are-the-only-ones-worth-fighting-for/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [One believes in the truthfulness of a man because of his long experience with the man, and because the man has always told a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/one-believes-in-the-truthfulness-of-a-man-because-of-his-long/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [Physical deformity, calls forth our charity. But the infinite misfortune of moral deformity calls forth nothing but hatred and vengeance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/physical-deformity-calls-forth-our-charity-but-the-infinite/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [Men have always been obliged to fight to preserve liberty. Constitutions and laws do not safeguard liberty. It can be preserved only by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/men-have-always-been-obliged-to-fight-to-preserve-liberty/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [“ Robert G. Ingersoll was a great man. a wonderful intellect, a great soul of matchless courage, one of the great men of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/robert-g-ingersoll-was-a-great-man-a-wonderful-intellect-a-great-soul/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [Everybody is a potential murderer. I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/everybody-is-a-potential-murderer-i-ve-never-killed-anyone-but-i/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [The first half of our lives are ruined by our parents and the second half by our children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/the-first-half-of-our-lives-are-ruined-by-our-parents-and-the-second/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [If there is a soul, what is it, and where did it come from, and where does it go? Can anyone who is guided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/if-there-is-a-soul-what-is-it-and-where-did-it-come-from-and-where/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) [Explore all 213 Clarence Darrow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) ## 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": "If a man is happy in America, it is considered he is doing something wrong.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Clarence Darrow" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/if-a-man-is-happy-in-america-it-is-considered-he-is-doing-something/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/if-a-man-is-happy-in-america-it-is-considered-he-is-doing-something/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/clarence-darrow-1714_america_if-a-man-is-happy-in-america-it-is-consi_2587689.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/clarence-darrow-1714_america_if-a-man-is-happy-in-america-it-is-consi_2587689.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/clarence-darrow-1714_america_if-a-man-is-happy-in-america-it-is-consi_2587689.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If a man is happy in America, it is considered he is doing something wrong.” — Clarence Darrow", "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": "Clarence Darrow", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If a man is happy in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/if-a-man-is-happy-in-america-it-is-considered-he-is-doing-something/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/if-a-man-is-happy-in-america-it-is-considered-he-is-doing-something/#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 } } ] } ```