---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This American system of ours', he…"
description: "\"“This American system of ours', he shouted, 'call it Americanism, call it capitalism, call it what you like, gives to each and every one of us a great ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/claud-cockburn-32837_capitalism_this-american-system-of-ours-he-shouted_1001197.png"
---

#  This American system of ours', he shouted, 'call it…

![“This American system of ours', he shouted, 'call it Americanism, call it capitalism, call it what you like, gives to each and every one of us a great opportunity if only we seize it with both hands, and make the most of it'. A month later in New York I was telling this story to Mr John Walter…” quote by claud cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/claud-cockburn-32837_capitalism_this-american-system-of-ours-he-shouted_1001197.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/claud-cockburn-32837_capitalism_this-american-system-of-ours-he-shouted_1001197.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/claud-cockburn-32837_capitalism_this-american-system-of-ours-he-shouted_1001197.png)

> ““This American system of ours', he shouted, 'call it Americanism, call it capitalism, call it what you like, gives to each and every one of us a great opportunity if only we seize it with both hands, and make the most of it'. A month later in New York I was telling this story to Mr John Walter, minority owner of The Times. He asked me why I had not written the Capone interview for the paper. I explained that when I had come to put my notes together, I saw that most of what Capone had said was in essence identical with what was being said in the leading articles of The Times itself, and I doubted whether the paper would be best pleased to find itself seeing eye to eye with the most notorious gangster in Chicago.””

[claud cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claud-cockburn/)

## 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 claims America offers great opportunity, but the journalist doubts publishing a gangster's interview would please the newspaper.

**In simple terms:** America promises opportunity; publishing a gangster may clash with newspaper interests.

Key Takeaway

Consider the conflict between truth and editorial bias.

Themes

opportunity media ethics politics capitalism

Mood

critical reflective skeptical

Type

advice political journalistic

When to use this quote

- Newspaper editorial meetings
- political commentary
- public speaking
- media criticism

Key Concepts

Americanism capitalism journalistic integrity public interest

Questions to Reflect On

- Should journalists prioritize truth over audience expectations?
- How does capitalism influence media decisions?

A Different Perspective

Publishing controversial voices may alienate readers or sponsors.

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[Americanism Capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americanism-capitalism-1064126/) [Capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) [Capone Interview](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capone-interview-2113907/) [Capone Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capone-said-2113906/) [Eye to eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye-to-eye/) [Gangsterism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gangsterism-70192/) [The-times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/the-times-188969/) [Times Doubted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/times-doubted-2113909/) [Written Capone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written-capone-2113908/)

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