--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I prefer the American spirit, the one…" description: "\"“I prefer the American spirit, the one that called us from the Old World to the New, to conquer and build and civilize. And destroy that what needs to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ad/colson-whitehead-1042_american-spirit_i-prefer-the-american-spirit-the-one-tha_1369743.jpg" --- # I prefer the American spirit, the one that called us from… ![“I prefer the American spirit, the one that called us from the Old World to the New, to conquer and build and civilize. And destroy that what needs to be destroyed. To lift up the lesser races. If not lift up, subjugate. And if not subjugate, exterminate. Our destiny by divine” quote by Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ad/colson-whitehead-1042_american-spirit_i-prefer-the-american-spirit-the-one-tha_1369743.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ad/colson-whitehead-1042_american-spirit_i-prefer-the-american-spirit-the-one-tha_1369743.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ad/colson-whitehead-1042_american-spirit_i-prefer-the-american-spirit-the-one-tha_1369743.jpg) > ““I prefer the American spirit, the one that called us from the Old World to the New, to conquer and build and civilize. And destroy that what needs to be destroyed. To lift up the lesser races. If not lift up, subjugate. And if not subjugate, exterminate. Our destiny by divine”” [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote glorifies a manifest destiny mindset, celebrating conquest, civilization, and the subjugation or elimination of others as a divine mission. **In simple terms:** Celebrates conquest and domination as destiny. Key Takeaway Question power, reject oppression. Themes imperialism colonialism destiny racism violence Mood defiant authoritarian aggressive Type political historical When to use this quote - political rhetoric - historical analysis - education - activism Key Concepts manifest destiny social Darwinism white supremacy Questions to Reflect On - What are the consequences of believing in a divine right to dominate? - How can societies move beyond destructive narratives? A Different Perspective It ignores the moral cost and human suffering caused by such ideologies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-spirit/) [Old world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-world/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [“I prefer the American spirit, the one that called us from the Old World to the New, to conquer and build and civilize. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-prefer-the-american-spirit-the-one-that-called-us-from-the-old/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [“my father liked his Indian talk about the Great Spirit," Ridgeway said. "All these years late, I prefer the American spirit, the one that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/my-father-liked-his-indian-talk-about-the-great-spirit-ridgeway-said/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [God is reflected in your heart as your Spirit, called as Atma. Unless and until your attention reaches that Spirit, talking about it, doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/god-is-reflected-in-your-heart-as-your-spirit-called-as-atma-unless/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [“The witnessing force behind mind, that characteristic self or spirit is called atman; the God in you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-kumar/the-witnessing-force-behind-mind-that-characteristic-self-or-spirit/) [Gian Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-kumar/) > [“fuck” is a spirit called upon for guidance in times of need.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/fuck-is-a-spirit-called-upon-for-guidance-in-times-of-need/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Grown men may learn from very little children, for the hearts of little children are pure, and, therefore, the Great Spirit may show to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/grown-men-may-learn-from-very-little-children-for-the-hearts-of/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [For all the huffing and blowing we get about rugged individualism, the American spirit and the American experiment always have had at their heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-pierce/for-all-the-huffing-and-blowing-we-get-about-rugged-individualism-the/) [Charlie Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-pierce/) > [“When the American Spirit was in its youth, the language of America was different; Liberty, sir, was then the primary object.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/when-the-american-spirit-was-in-its-youth-the-language-of-america-was/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [Baseball is the exponent of American Courage, Confidence, Combativeness, American Dash, Discipline, Determination, American Energy, Eagerness, Enthusiasm, American Pluck, Persistency, Performance, American Spirit, Sagacity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-goodwill-spalding/baseball-is-the-exponent-of-american-courage-confidence-combativeness/) Albert Goodwill Spalding > [“The funeral was a vast, elaborate affair, befitting a monarch or head of state, in marked contrast to the essential simplicity of the man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/the-funeral-was-a-vast-elaborate-affair-befitting-a-monarch-or-head/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [Together, let us make this a new beginning. 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In service to others and yes, in sacrifice for our country, there are no Republicans; there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-american-spirit-wears-no-political-label-in-service-to-others-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country” that they summoned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-caro/and-so-my-fellow-americans-ask-not-what-your-country-can-do-for-you/) [Robert A. Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-caro/) ## More by Colson Whitehead > [I'd never been much of an athlete, due to a physical condition I'd had since birth (unathleticism). Perhaps if there were a sport centered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-d-never-been-much-of-an-athlete-due-to-a-physical-condition-i-d-had/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [I want to keep growing as a writer. I find myself doing unexpected projects and sort of challenging my idea of where I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-want-to-keep-growing-as-a-writer-i-find-myself-doing-unexpected/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [“Every Tuesday, James Fulton (and later, Orville Lever) stood in the downstairs drawing room and lectured on the intricacies of his science. Lectured on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/every-tuesday-james-fulton-and-later-orville-lever-stood-in-the/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [I started writing in the '90s, so I was free to just have an eccentric career and not conform to some idea of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-started-writing-in-the-90s-so-i-was-free-to-just-have-an-eccentric/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [“Is this the truth of our historic encounter?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/is-this-the-truth-of-our-historic-encounter/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [“The Great War had always been between the white and the black. It always would be. Cora”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/the-great-war-had-always-been-between-the-white-and-the-black-it/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [“The worst sort of scoundrels took up the chase. Drunkards, incorrigibles, poor whites who didn’t even own shoes delighted in this opportunity to scourge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/the-worst-sort-of-scoundrels-took-up-the-chase-drunkards/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [Don’t go searching for a subject, let your subject find you. You can’t rush inspiration. … Once your subject finds you, it’s like falling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/don-t-go-searching-for-a-subject-let-your-subject-find-you-you-can-t/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [“its terms? 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Of the world, of the future, it didn't matter--expectation was such an innovative concept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/all-he-felt-now-was-envy-these-people-had-expectations-of-the-world/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [Growing up as a product of the black civil-rights movement, I had a lot of different models for black weirdness, whether it's Richard Pryor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/growing-up-as-a-product-of-the-black-civil-rights-movement-i-had-a/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [Schools don't teach American history that well, especially a lot of black American history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/schools-don-t-teach-american-history-that-well-especially-a-lot-of/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) [Explore all 302 Colson Whitehead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) ## More American spirit quotes > [“And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country” that they summoned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-caro/and-so-my-fellow-americans-ask-not-what-your-country-can-do-for-you/) [Robert A. Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-caro/) > [The American spirit wears no political label. In service to others and yes, in sacrifice for our country, there are no Republicans; there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-american-spirit-wears-no-political-label-in-service-to-others-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I hit around 65, 66, I started to feel tremendous worth and incredible personal esteem. I was becoming very cognisant of my contribution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lewis/when-i-hit-around-65-66-i-started-to-feel-tremendous-worth-and/) [Jerry Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lewis/) > [This country of ours has more wealth than any nation, but that's not what makes us rich. We have the most powerful military on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/this-country-of-ours-has-more-wealth-than-any-nation-but-that-s-not/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Together, let us make this a new beginning. Let us make a commitment to care for the needy, to teach our children the values…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/together-let-us-make-this-a-new-beginning-let-us-make-a-commitment-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [“The funeral was a vast, elaborate affair, befitting a monarch or head of state, in marked contrast to the essential simplicity of the man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/the-funeral-was-a-vast-elaborate-affair-befitting-a-monarch-or-head/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [Baseball is the exponent of American Courage, Confidence, Combativeness, American Dash, Discipline, Determination, American Energy, Eagerness, Enthusiasm, American Pluck, Persistency, Performance, American Spirit, Sagacity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-goodwill-spalding/baseball-is-the-exponent-of-american-courage-confidence-combativeness/) Albert Goodwill Spalding > [“When the American Spirit was in its youth, the language of America was different; Liberty, sir, was then the primary object.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/when-the-american-spirit-was-in-its-youth-the-language-of-america-was/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [For all the huffing and blowing we get about rugged individualism, the American spirit and the American experiment always have had at their heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-pierce/for-all-the-huffing-and-blowing-we-get-about-rugged-individualism-the/) [Charlie Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-pierce/) > [Grown men may learn from very little children, for the hearts of little children are pure, and, therefore, the Great Spirit may show to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/grown-men-may-learn-from-very-little-children-for-the-hearts-of/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [So long as mists envelop you, be still. 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