--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Americans think of themselves…" description: "\"Americans think of themselves collectively as a huge rescue squad on twenty-four hour call to any spot on the globe where dispute and conflict may erup..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75d/eldridge-cleaver-15004_americans_americans-think-of-themselves-collective_549333.jpg" --- # Americans think of themselves collectively as a huge… ![“Americans think of themselves collectively as a huge rescue squad on twenty-four hour call to any spot on the globe where dispute and conflict may erupt.” quote by Eldridge Cleaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75d/eldridge-cleaver-15004_americans_americans-think-of-themselves-collective_549333.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75d/eldridge-cleaver-15004_americans_americans-think-of-themselves-collective_549333.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75d/eldridge-cleaver-15004_americans_americans-think-of-themselves-collective_549333.jpg) > “Americans think of themselves collectively as a huge rescue squad on twenty-four hour call to any spot on the globe where dispute and conflict may erupt.” [Eldridge Cleaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eldridge-cleaver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He portrays America as a self‑appointed global rescue team, always ready to intervene. **In simple terms:** America sees itself as a constant rescuer. Key Takeaway Recognize limits of intervention. Themes politics identity intervention Mood critical provocative Type political philosophical When to use this quote - foreign policy debates - humanitarian missions - media coverage - public opinion polls Key Concepts imperialism responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What are the consequences of a perpetual rescue mindset? - When does intervention become overreach? A Different Perspective Such self‑image can ignore local agency and cause. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans/) [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Twenties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twenties/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [My parents don't care what Americans think of us; we just care what the other Indian people in our community think of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himanshu-suri/my-parents-don-t-care-what-americans-think-of-us-we-just-care-what/) [Himanshu Suri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himanshu-suri/) > [Americans think they're the leader of the world and yet can say that they're putting their economic interests ahead of the lives of -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/americans-think-they-re-the-leader-of-the-world-and-yet-can-say-that/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [I think if a candidate ran for office in most states in the country, if his opponent, or her opponent was an effective advocate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sessions/i-think-if-a-candidate-ran-for-office-in-most-states-in-the-country/) [Jeff Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sessions/) > [In spite of Bush's win, the majority of Americans still think the country is headed in the wrong direction (56%), think the war wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/in-spite-of-bush-s-win-the-majority-of-americans-still-think-the/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [I love 'The Americans.' I think it's one of the best shows on TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-scott/i-love-the-americans-i-think-it-s-one-of-the-best-shows-on-tv/) [Reid Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-scott/) > [The enormous gap between what US leaders do in the world and what Americans think their leaders are doing is one of the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/the-enormous-gap-between-what-us-leaders-do-in-the-world-and-what/) [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) > [I know that nobody who hasn't been in battle or under attack can know what war is. But even in terms of being safe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/i-know-that-nobody-who-hasn-t-been-in-battle-or-under-attack-can-know/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [ I think we all \[americans\] think we're a special country. But the question is, what - what call does that give us? ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/i-think-we-all-americans-think-we-re-a-special-country-but-the/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [There's still a lot of Americans who think that those who perpetrated the attacks on 9/11 came from Canada, which is absolutely and totally incorrect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-fadden/there-s-still-a-lot-of-americans-who-think-that-those-who-perpetrated/) Richard Fadden > [Despite what many Americans think, most Soviets do not yearn for capitalism or Western-style democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/despite-what-many-americans-think-most-soviets-do-not-yearn-for/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [Most Americans think Abner Doubleday invented the game but he had little or nothing to do with cricket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-chadwick/most-americans-think-abner-doubleday-invented-the-game-but-he-had/) [Henry Chadwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-chadwick/) > [We Americans, or half of Americans, think health care is a commodity. Other countries view health care as a social service that should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uwe-reinhardt/we-americans-or-half-of-americans-think-health-care-is-a-commodity/) [Uwe Reinhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uwe-reinhardt/) > [Americans think Soviets are so grim. I want them to see that they can smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yakov-smirnoff/americans-think-soviets-are-so-grim-i-want-them-to-see-that-they-can/) [Yakov Smirnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yakov-smirnoff/) > [“The difference between America and England is that Americans think 100 years is a long time, while the English think 100 miles is a long way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earle-hitchner/the-difference-between-america-and-england-is-that-americans-think/) Earle Hitchner > [Most Americans think there's already universal background checks. They don't understand why there wouldn't be a background check to purchase a weapon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/most-americans-think-there-s-already-universal-background-checks-they/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) ## More by Eldridge Cleaver > [The myth of the strong black woman is the other side of the coin of the myth of the beautiful dumb blonde.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eldridge-cleaver/the-myth-of-the-strong-black-woman-is-the-other-side-of-the-coin-of/) [Eldridge Cleaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eldridge-cleaver/) > [In the increasingly mechanized, automated, cybernated environment of the modern world a cold, bodiless world of wheels, smooth plastic surfaces, tubes, pushbuttons, transistors, computers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eldridge-cleaver/in-the-increasingly-mechanized-automated-cybernated-environment-of/) [Eldridge Cleaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eldridge-cleaver/) > [If God himself wills such misery on people whom I love, then I say I will deal with him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eldridge-cleaver/if-god-himself-wills-such-misery-on-people-whom-i-love-then-i-say-i/) [Eldridge Cleaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eldridge-cleaver/) > [“I may even swagger a little, and, as I read in a book somewhere, 'push myself forward like a train.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eldridge-cleaver/i-may-even-swagger-a-little-and-as-i-read-in-a-book-somewhere-push/) [Eldridge Cleaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eldridge-cleaver/) > [The most revolutionary statement in history is "Love thine enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eldridge-cleaver/the-most-revolutionary-statement-in-history-is-love-thine-enemy/) [Eldridge Cleaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eldridge-cleaver/) > [I know that the black man's sick attitude toward the white woman is a revolutionary sickness: it keeps him perpetually out of harmony with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eldridge-cleaver/i-know-that-the-black-man-s-sick-attitude-toward-the-white-woman-is-a/) [Eldridge Cleaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eldridge-cleaver/) > [With all its faults, the American political system is the freest and most democratic in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eldridge-cleaver/with-all-its-faults-the-american-political-system-is-the-freest-and/) [Eldridge Cleaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eldridge-cleaver/) > [I've gone beyond civil rights and human rights to creation rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eldridge-cleaver/i-ve-gone-beyond-civil-rights-and-human-rights-to-creation-rights/) [Eldridge Cleaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eldridge-cleaver/) > [“If you are not a part of the solution, you are a part of the problem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eldridge-cleaver/if-you-are-not-a-part-of-the-solution-you-are-a-part-of-the-problem/) [Eldridge Cleaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eldridge-cleaver/) > [“Respect commands itself and it can neither be given nor withheld when it is due.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eldridge-cleaver/respect-commands-itself-and-it-can-neither-be-given-nor-withheld-when/) [Eldridge Cleaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eldridge-cleaver/) > [The racist conscience of America is such that murder does not register as murder really, unless the victim is white... blacks knew that white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eldridge-cleaver/the-racist-conscience-of-america-is-such-that-murder-does-not/) [Eldridge Cleaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eldridge-cleaver/) > [Every time I embrace a black woman I’m embracing slavery, and when I put my arms around a white woman, well, I’m hugging freedom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eldridge-cleaver/every-time-i-embrace-a-black-woman-i-m-embracing-slavery-and-when-i/) [Eldridge Cleaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eldridge-cleaver/) > [The price of hating other human beings is loving oneself less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eldridge-cleaver/the-price-of-hating-other-human-beings-is-loving-oneself-less/) [Eldridge Cleaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eldridge-cleaver/) > [“I have tried to mislead you. I am not humble at all. I have no humility and I do not fear you in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eldridge-cleaver/i-have-tried-to-mislead-you-i-am-not-humble-at-all-i-have-no-humility/) [Eldridge Cleaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eldridge-cleaver/) > [I have taken an oath in my heart to oppose communism until the day I die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eldridge-cleaver/i-have-taken-an-oath-in-my-heart-to-oppose-communism-until-the-day-i/) [Eldridge Cleaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eldridge-cleaver/) [Explore all 44 Eldridge Cleaver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eldridge-cleaver/) ## More Americans quotes > [“People – Americans, mostly – realise how attached they are to material comforts when they arrive in India.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-william-roberts/people-americans-mostly-realise-how-attached-they-are-to-material/) Paul William Roberts > [Music has an intrinsic value that touches Americans - they love their music, and want more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-rosen/music-has-an-intrinsic-value-that-touches-americans-they-love-their/) [Hilary Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-rosen/) > [Americans are very friendly and very suspicious, that is what Americans are and that is what always upsets the foreigner, who deals with them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/americans-are-very-friendly-and-very-suspicious-that-is-what/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [Just because the Americans are so good at rattling out accessible and cheap junk food, nobody looks twice when it comes to their food.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-oliver/just-because-the-americans-are-so-good-at-rattling-out-accessible-and/) [Jamie Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-oliver/) > [My parents don't care what Americans think of us; we just care what the other Indian people in our community think of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himanshu-suri/my-parents-don-t-care-what-americans-think-of-us-we-just-care-what/) [Himanshu Suri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himanshu-suri/) > [When Americans, who have no idea who I am, laugh at my jokes, it's exactly the same if someone loves you even if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gad-elmaleh/when-americans-who-have-no-idea-who-i-am-laugh-at-my-jokes-it-s/) [Gad Elmaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-elmaleh/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We Americans tend to be a prodigal lot. We are as careless with our personal resources as we are with the resources of nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-crook-de-camp/we-americans-tend-to-be-a-prodigal-lot-we-are-as-careless-with-our/) [Catherine Crook de Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-crook-de-camp/) > [Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn't block traffic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/americans-will-put-up-with-anything-provided-it-doesn-t-block-traffic/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [Most Americans believe in fairness; we believe that people should work hard but there should be a safety net. We believe in saving the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-maclean/most-americans-believe-in-fairness-we-believe-that-people-should-work/) [Nancy MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-maclean/) > [“Using a wide variety of media, we could demonstrate for our fellow Americans their anxieties, desires, insufficiencies, and frustrations--and how to assuage them all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ferris/using-a-wide-variety-of-media-we-could-demonstrate-for-our-fellow/) [Joshua Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ferris/) > [The Americans say that we are ungrateful-but I ask them for heaven's sake, what should we be grateful to them for-for murdering our fathers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/the-americans-say-that-we-are-ungrateful-but-i-ask-them-for-heaven-s/) [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) > [So many Korean Americans like me came to this country with the hope of achieving their own American Dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-steel/so-many-korean-americans-like-me-came-to-this-country-with-the-hope/) [Michelle Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-steel/) > [You are Americans. You love this country. Together we are entrusted with the principles that represent mankind's greatest political and social achievement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tsongas/you-are-americans-you-love-this-country-together-we-are-entrusted/) [Paul Tsongas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tsongas/) [Browse all 1,536 Americans quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Americans think of themselves collectively as a huge rescue squad on twenty-four hour call to any spot on the globe where dispute and conflict may erupt.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eldridge Cleaver" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eldridge-cleaver/americans-think-of-themselves-collectively-as-a-huge-rescue-squad-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Americans" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eldridge-cleaver/americans-think-of-themselves-collectively-as-a-huge-rescue-squad-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75d/eldridge-cleaver-15004_americans_americans-think-of-themselves-collective_549333.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75d/eldridge-cleaver-15004_americans_americans-think-of-themselves-collective_549333.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75d/eldridge-cleaver-15004_americans_americans-think-of-themselves-collective_549333.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Americans think of themselves collectively as a huge rescue squad on twenty-four hour call to any spot on…” — Eldridge Cleaver", "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": "Eldridge Cleaver", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eldridge-cleaver/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Americans think of themselves collectively as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eldridge-cleaver/americans-think-of-themselves-collectively-as-a-huge-rescue-squad-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eldridge-cleaver/americans-think-of-themselves-collectively-as-a-huge-rescue-squad-on/#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 } } ] } ```