--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being an American is something I wanted…" description: "\"Being an American is something I wanted to be for a very long time, probably since I saw the moon landing when I was a child.\" — Craig Ferguson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/craig-ferguson-664_american_being-an-american-is-something-i-wanted_1977941.png" --- # Being an American is something I wanted to be for a very… ![“Being an American is something I wanted to be for a very long time, probably since I saw the moon landing when I was a child.” quote by Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/craig-ferguson-664_american_being-an-american-is-something-i-wanted_1977941.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/craig-ferguson-664_american_being-an-american-is-something-i-wanted_1977941.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/craig-ferguson-664_american_being-an-american-is-something-i-wanted_1977941.png) > “Being an American is something I wanted to be for a very long time, probably since I saw the moon landing when I was a child.” [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) ## 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 expresses a lifelong aspiration to embody American identity, sparked by a formative event in childhood. **In simple terms:** Wanting to be American since childhood. Key Takeaway Embrace national identity early. Themes identity aspiration childhood influence national pride Mood reflective proud Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - Immigration discussions - citizenship ceremonies - educational talks - media interviews Key Concepts Patriotism cultural identity personal narrative Questions to Reflect On - What does being American mean to you? - How did the moon landing shape your view? A Different Perspective May overlook complexities of national identity and diverse experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [American Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-wanted-441238/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Landing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/landing/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon/) [Moon landing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon-landing/) [Saws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saws/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Wanted Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-long-392166/) ## Related quotes > [ “For me, the most ironic token of \[the first human moon landing\] is the plaque signed by President Richard M. Nixon that Apollo 11… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/for-me-the-most-ironic-token-of-the-first-human-moon-landing-is-the/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [I don't believe in the moon landing conspiracy theory. I don't believe in Big Foot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-corsi/i-don-t-believe-in-the-moon-landing-conspiracy-theory-i-don-t-believe/) [Jerome Corsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-corsi/) > [Fifteen per cent of the population believe the moon landing was actually staged in a movie lot in Arizona and somewhat fewer still believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/fifteen-per-cent-of-the-population-believe-the-moon-landing-was/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Dutch beaches were known to me as man-made territories, as part of various land reclamation projects. But I was also interested in the media…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandra-mir/dutch-beaches-were-known-to-me-as-man-made-territories-as-part-of/) [Aleksandra Mir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandra-mir/) > [“I was not surprised to find the poor were protesting the extravagant expense of the Moon landing back in the 1960’s.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-was-not-surprised-to-find-the-poor-were-protesting-the-extravagant/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [To send humans back to the moon would not be advancing. It would be more than 50 years after the first moon landing when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/to-send-humans-back-to-the-moon-would-not-be-advancing-it-would-be/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [The reality in which a camera turns up is always posed, e.g., the moon landing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-magnus-enzensberger/the-reality-in-which-a-camera-turns-up-is-always-posed-e-g-the-moon/) [Hans Magnus Enzensberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-magnus-enzensberger/) > [ My take on what happened with the moon landing was \[…\] they suspect \[ sic \] that on impact that the cameras would be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-hovind/my-take-on-what-happened-with-the-moon-landing-was-they-suspect-sic/) [Kent Hovind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-hovind/) > [Well, I think of the folks who are the climate deniers as the flat Earthers and the people who say the moon landings never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-kluger/well-i-think-of-the-folks-who-are-the-climate-deniers-as-the-flat/) [Jeffrey Kluger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-kluger/) > [To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the moon landing, the three astronauts from Apollo 11 visited the White House. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/to-commemorate-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-moon-landing-the-three/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [Now, I know that he's taken some flak lately but no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/now-i-know-that-he-s-taken-some-flak-lately-but-no-one-is-prouder-to/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [In New York, the Mets are winning the World Series in 1969; that was pretty big, but I would say the moon landing was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-massimino/in-new-york-the-mets-are-winning-the-world-series-in-1969-that-was/) [Michael J. Massimino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-massimino/) > [The exciting part for me, as a pilot, was the landing on the moon. That was the time that we had achieved the national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-armstrong/the-exciting-part-for-me-as-a-pilot-was-the-landing-on-the-moon-that/) [Neil Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-armstrong/) > [In a Bloomberg poll, 88% of respondents said that Wall Street bonuses should either be banned outright or taxed at 50%. Just 7% said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-salmon/in-a-bloomberg-poll-88-of-respondents-said-that-wall-street-bonuses/) [Felix Salmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-salmon/) > [I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/i-believe-that-this-nation-should-commit-itself-to-achieving-the-goal/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) ## More by Craig Ferguson > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Sometimes people think you’re smart if you question the status quo, if nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/sometimes-people-think-you-re-smart-if-you-question-the-status-quo-if/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Sober alkies are often asked: "When did you hit rock bottom?" but a more informed question might be: "How many times did you hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/sober-alkies-are-often-asked-when-did-you-hit-rock-bottom-but-a-more/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Remember the band, Flock of Seagulls? They had their van stolen. I was like, They still have a van?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/remember-the-band-flock-of-seagulls-they-had-their-van-stolen-i-was/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [People spend thousands of dollars trying to keep their teeth straight. I just hope we can live in a world where we accept gay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/people-spend-thousands-of-dollars-trying-to-keep-their-teeth-straight/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Whoever I had become had to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/whoever-i-had-become-had-to-die/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [My pilot's license. I'm proud of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/my-pilot-s-license-i-m-proud-of-that/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [People are saying that Anderson Cooper could be the new Oprah. And then these people are struck by lightning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/people-are-saying-that-anderson-cooper-could-be-the-new-oprah-and/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I think comedy comes more from a low sense of self-esteem, and I certainly have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-think-comedy-comes-more-from-a-low-sense-of-self-esteem-and-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I'm so excited about the new iPad, I just iPeed my iPants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-m-so-excited-about-the-new-ipad-i-just-ipeed-my-ipants/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [For my birthday that year Anne gave me an inflatable atlas globe, along with a birthday card in which she wrote: I give you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/for-my-birthday-that-year-anne-gave-me-an-inflatable-atlas-globe/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [114 isn't as old as it used to be they say its the new 104.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/114-isn-t-as-old-as-it-used-to-be-they-say-its-the-new-104/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I have to do a show which is of interest to me, or else I'm lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-have-to-do-a-show-which-is-of-interest-to-me-or-else-i-m-lost/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [The first ads for medical marijuana have started airing on television in California. The ads are quite expensive. It costs a lot of money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/the-first-ads-for-medical-marijuana-have-started-airing-on-television/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I wanted to be a rock star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-wanted-to-be-a-rock-star/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) [Explore all 421 Craig Ferguson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) ## 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": "Being an American is something I wanted to be for a very long time, probably since I saw the moon landing when I was a child.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Craig Ferguson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/being-an-american-is-something-i-wanted-to-be-for-a-very-long-time/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/being-an-american-is-something-i-wanted-to-be-for-a-very-long-time/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/craig-ferguson-664_american_being-an-american-is-something-i-wanted_1977941.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/craig-ferguson-664_american_being-an-american-is-something-i-wanted_1977941.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/craig-ferguson-664_american_being-an-american-is-something-i-wanted_1977941.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Being an American is something I wanted to be for a very long time, probably since I saw the moon landing…” — Craig Ferguson", "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": "Craig Ferguson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Being an American is something I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/being-an-american-is-something-i-wanted-to-be-for-a-very-long-time/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/being-an-american-is-something-i-wanted-to-be-for-a-very-long-time/#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 } } ] } ```