---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The average American is not concerned…"
description: "\"The average American is not concerned with his society. He talks about it, but you know if one speaks of being concerned, I mean something about which ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54b/erich-fromm-367_average_the-average-american-is-not-concerned-wi_1296209.jpg"
---

#  The average American is not concerned with his society. He…

![“The average American is not concerned with his society. He talks about it, but you know if one speaks of being concerned, I mean something about which one loses one's sleep, sometimes.” quote by Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54b/erich-fromm-367_average_the-average-american-is-not-concerned-wi_1296209.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54b/erich-fromm-367_average_the-average-american-is-not-concerned-wi_1296209.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54b/erich-fromm-367_average_the-average-american-is-not-concerned-wi_1296209.jpg)

> “The average American is not concerned with his society. He talks about it, but you know if one speaks of being concerned, I mean something about which one loses one's sleep, sometimes.”

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Many Americans discuss societal issues superficially, avoiding deep concern that disrupts comfort.

**In simple terms:** Society concerns are often shallow.

Key Takeaway

Engage deeper with social issues.

Themes

society consciousness comfort

Mood

critical analytical

Type

philosophical social

When to use this quote

- political activism
- community service
- public debate
- education reform

Key Concepts

critical theory social responsibility

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do we avoid uncomfortable truths?
- How can we foster genuine concern?

A Different Perspective

Comfort can hinder meaningful change.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Average american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/average-american/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/)

## Related quotes

> [I was concerned about them. I mean, it feels good but I was concerned about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-jones-jr/i-was-concerned-about-them-i-mean-it-feels-good-but-i-was-concerned/)

[Roy Jones Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-jones-jr/)

> [As an Israeli-American I am always concerned about the well-being of Israel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haim-saban/as-an-israeli-american-i-am-always-concerned-about-the-well-being-of/)

[Haim Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haim-saban/)

> [If an American is concerned only about his nation, he will not be concerned about the peoples of Asia, Africa, or South America. Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/if-an-american-is-concerned-only-about-his-nation-he-will-not-be/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [I think the war in the Mideast, how we got into it and how we're going to address the current problems, are issues that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/i-think-the-war-in-the-mideast-how-we-got-into-it-and-how-we-re-going/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [I'm a free-thinker. I'm an American. I'm very concerned with what's happening. So, I just give it my all. I've learned how to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-drudge/i-m-a-free-thinker-i-m-an-american-i-m-very-concerned-with-what-s/)

[Matt Drudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-drudge/)

> [Actually, if you take the average American, and studies have shown that, he is really concerned only with private affairs; that is to say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/actually-if-you-take-the-average-american-and-studies-have-shown-that/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [The average American never loses his sleep about affairs which relate to his society and to our whole country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-average-american-never-loses-his-sleep-about-affairs-which-relate/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [If x is the population of the United States and y is the degree of imbecility of the average American, then democracy is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/if-x-is-the-population-of-the-united-states-and-y-is-the-degree-of/)

[H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/)

> [The name of the game is to keep from pushing the accelerator pedal so hard that we speed up the aging process. The average…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/the-name-of-the-game-is-to-keep-from-pushing-the-accelerator-pedal-so/)

[Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/)

> [The average American of today is intellectually so far removed from his forbears that instead of regarding government with apprehension, he is more likely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-reisman/the-average-american-of-today-is-intellectually-so-far-removed-from/)

[George Reisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-reisman/)

> [The average American is nothing if not patriotic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-croly/the-average-american-is-nothing-if-not-patriotic/)

[Herbert Croly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-croly/)

> [“In the U.S. there are 45,000 shopping malls employing 10.7 million people. The average American family of four metabolizes four million pounds of material…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-kaza/in-the-u-s-there-are-45-000-shopping-malls-employing-10-7-million/)

[Stephanie Kaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-kaza/)

> [“But that's crazy, " George said. "How can I be the Average American Man? I'm only five foot eight and my name is Blaxter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sheckley/but-that-s-crazy-george-said-how-can-i-be-the-average-american-man-i/)

[Robert Sheckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sheckley/)

> [“Used to the conditions of a capitalistic environment, the average American takes it for granted that every year business makes something new and better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/used-to-the-conditions-of-a-capitalistic-environment-the-average/)

[Ludwig Von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/)

> [“a kidney transplant, organ traders will continue to have a thriving business. For the average American, all of these statistics mean very little and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-thornhill/a-kidney-transplant-organ-traders-will-continue-to-have-a-thriving/)

Robert Thornhill

## More by Erich Fromm

> [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [Only when man succeeds in developing his reason and love further than he has done so far, only when he can build a world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/only-when-man-succeeds-in-developing-his-reason-and-love-further-than/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [Freedom does not mean license.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/freedom-does-not-mean-license/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [“It is hardly necessary to stress the fact that the ability to love as an act of giving depends on the character development of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/it-is-hardly-necessary-to-stress-the-fact-that-the-ability-to-love-as/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [The pace of science forces the pace of technique. Theoretical physics forces atomic energy on us; the successful production of the fission bomb forces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-pace-of-science-forces-the-pace-of-technique-theoretical-physics/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [Exploitation and manipulation produce boredom and triviality; they cripple man, and all factors that make man into a psychic cripple turn him also into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/exploitation-and-manipulation-produce-boredom-and-triviality-they/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [Well-being is possible to the degree to which one has overcome one's narcissism; to the degree to which one is open, responsive, sensitive, awake,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/well-being-is-possible-to-the-degree-to-which-one-has-overcome-one-s/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [“The wealth of data to be found in social and political life. The belief that people do not want to make sacrifices is notoriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-wealth-of-data-to-be-found-in-social-and-political-life-the/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [By equality, one once understood equality in the very same sense in which the Bible speaks of equality: that we are all equal, inasmuch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/by-equality-one-once-understood-equality-in-the-very-same-sense-in/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [“Human beings had two basic orientations: HAVING and BEING HAVING: seeks to acquire, posses things even people BEING: focuses on the experience; exchanging, engaging,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/human-beings-had-two-basic-orientations-having-and-being-having-seeks/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [“Most people are not even aware of their need to conform. They live under the illusion that they follow their own ideas and inclinations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/most-people-are-not-even-aware-of-their-need-to-conform-they-live/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [Just as modern mass production requires the standardization of commodities, so the social process requires standardization of man, and this standardization is called equality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/just-as-modern-mass-production-requires-the-standardization-of/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [To respect a person is not possible without knowing him; care and responsibility would be blind if they were not guided by knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/to-respect-a-person-is-not-possible-without-knowing-him-care-and/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [Love is an active power in man; a power which breaks through the walls which separate man from his fellow men, which unite him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/love-is-an-active-power-in-man-a-power-which-breaks-through-the-walls/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [“Perhaps most trivial talk is a need to talk about oneself; hence, the never-ending subject of health and sickness, children, travel, successes, what one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/perhaps-most-trivial-talk-is-a-need-to-talk-about-oneself-hence-the/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

[Explore all 558 Erich Fromm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

## More Average quotes

> [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/)

Brian Reade

> [There were times last year when people looked at the scoreboard and thought my batting average was the temperature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-martinez/there-were-times-last-year-when-people-looked-at-the-scoreboard-and/)

Buck Martinez

> [The average condition of the people improving or deteriorating, depends upon whether population is advancing faster than improvement, or improvement than population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-average-condition-of-the-people-improving-or-deteriorating/)

[John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/)

> [In comparative terms, there's no poverty in America by a long shot. Heritage Foundation political scientist Robert Rector has worked up figures showing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-comparative-terms-there-s-no-poverty-in-america-by-a-long-shot/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [The average well-being of our societies is not dependent any longer on national income and economic growth. ... But the differences between us and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-g-wilkinson/the-average-well-being-of-our-societies-is-not-dependent-any-longer/)

[Richard G. Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-g-wilkinson/)

> [I really focus more to hit for average, just try to put the ball in play as much as I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-soto/i-really-focus-more-to-hit-for-average-just-try-to-put-the-ball-in/)

[Juan Soto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-soto/)

> [You give me enough shots, I'll average 20. You give me a particular system where I stick close to the basket, I'll average 10 rebounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-bosh/you-give-me-enough-shots-i-ll-average-20-you-give-me-a-particular/)

[Chris Bosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-bosh/)

> [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/)

[Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/)

> [The average American expends more time becoming informed about choosing a car than choosing a candidate. But, then, the consequences of the former choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/the-average-american-expends-more-time-becoming-informed-about/)

[George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/)

> [My phone rings, they call me up and say, 'Chael, your testosterone level is too high.' I say, 'Well, how high was it?' They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chael-sonnen/my-phone-rings-they-call-me-up-and-say-chael-your-testosterone-level/)

[Chael Sonnen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chael-sonnen/)

> [In one century, we've added 28 years to our average life span - a change so rapid that our brains couldn't possibly have evolved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/in-one-century-we-ve-added-28-years-to-our-average-life-span-a-change/)

[Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/)

> [So-called Western Civilization, as practised in half of Europe, some of Asia and a few parts of North America, is better than anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/so-called-western-civilization-as-practised-in-half-of-europe-some-of/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [I feel like what motivates me is what would motivate the regular average person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rico-nasty/i-feel-like-what-motivates-me-is-what-would-motivate-the-regular/)

[Rico Nasty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rico-nasty/)

> [We're trying to do something so that when the average person uses Pinterest, it has to make the service better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-silbermann/we-re-trying-to-do-something-so-that-when-the-average-person-uses/)

[Ben Silbermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-silbermann/)

> [The extraordinary woman depends on the ordinary woman. It is only when we know what were the conditions of the average woman's life -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/the-extraordinary-woman-depends-on-the-ordinary-woman-it-is-only-when/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

Browse all 2,816 Average quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The average American is not concerned with his society. He talks about it, but you know if one speaks of being concerned, I mean something about which one loses one's sleep, sometimes.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Erich Fromm"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-average-american-is-not-concerned-with-his-society-he-talks-about/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Average"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-average-american-is-not-concerned-with-his-society-he-talks-about/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54b/erich-fromm-367_average_the-average-american-is-not-concerned-wi_1296209.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54b/erich-fromm-367_average_the-average-american-is-not-concerned-wi_1296209.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54b/erich-fromm-367_average_the-average-american-is-not-concerned-wi_1296209.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The average American is not concerned with his society. He talks about it, but you know if one speaks of…” — Erich Fromm",
                "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": "Erich Fromm",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The average American is not concerned...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-average-american-is-not-concerned-with-his-society-he-talks-about/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-average-american-is-not-concerned-with-his-society-he-talks-about/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
