--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A single word indicative of doubt, that…" description: "\"A single word indicative of doubt, that any thing, or every thing, in that country is not the very best in the world, produces an effect which must be ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b72/frances-trollope-22974_able_a-single-word-indicative-of-doubt-that-a_2131240.png" --- # A single word indicative of doubt, that any thing, or… ![“A single word indicative of doubt, that any thing, or every thing, in that country is not the very best in the world, produces an effect which must be seen and felt to be understood. If the citizens of the United States were indeed the devoted patriots they call themselves, they would surely not…” quote by Frances Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b72/frances-trollope-22974_able_a-single-word-indicative-of-doubt-that-a_2131240.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b72/frances-trollope-22974_able_a-single-word-indicative-of-doubt-that-a_2131240.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b72/frances-trollope-22974_able_a-single-word-indicative-of-doubt-that-a_2131240.png) > “A single word indicative of doubt, that any thing, or every thing, in that country is not the very best in the world, produces an effect which must be seen and felt to be understood. If the citizens of the United States were indeed the devoted patriots they call themselves, they would surely not thus encrust themselves in the hard, dry, stubborn persuasion, that they are the first and best of the human race, that nothing is to be learnt, but what they are able to teach, and that nothing is worth having, which they do not possess.” [Frances Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-trollope/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It critiques American exceptionalism, arguing that claiming superiority blinds a nation to learning and growth. **In simple terms:** America’s claim of being the best hinders learning. Key Takeaway Recognize humility and openness to new ideas. Themes nationalism humility learning Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - education reform - international diplomacy - corporate culture - personal development - media commentary Key Concepts exceptionalism cultural arrogance self‑deception growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports or refutes national superiority? - How can societies balance pride with humility? A Different Perspective The view may be too sweeping and ignore diversity within the US. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arrogance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrogance/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Human race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-race/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Patriot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriot/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Persuasion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persuasion/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I can doubt everything, except one thing, and that is the very fact that I doubt. Simply put - I think, therefore I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/i-can-doubt-everything-except-one-thing-and-that-is-the-very-fact/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [“When in doubt, do some thing outrageous!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcmanus/when-in-doubt-do-some-thing-outrageous/) Ray Mcmanus > [When you doubt one thing about yourself, you start thinking there's also something wrong with your hair, your body, your clothes, your accent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freida-pinto/when-you-doubt-one-thing-about-yourself-you-start-thinking-there-s/) [Freida Pinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freida-pinto/) > [Doubt is the thing that'll kill you, the only thing, and it'll kill your friends, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-leshem/doubt-is-the-thing-that-ll-kill-you-the-only-thing-and-it-ll-kill/) Ron Leshem > [Never underestimate my ability to doubt myself. It's the one thing I'm really good at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-underestimate-my-ability-to-doubt-myself-it-s-the-one-thing-i-m/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have learned and dismantled all the words in order to draw from them a single word: Home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-darwish/i-have-learned-and-dismantled-all-the-words-in-order-to-draw-from/) [Mahmoud Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-darwish/) > [“When just one single word comes in action then it is called ‘Knowledge’ (Gnan) and even after reading all the scriptures but not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/when-just-one-single-word-comes-in-action-then-it-is-called-knowledge/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Good guy. There was efficiency to male language. Those two words were what guys said about other guys that they really respected. Guys they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/good-guy-there-was-efficiency-to-male-language-those-two-words-were/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [“But for the first time, Boaz couldn't think of a single word to describe this kind of loneliness, so scary and real it required…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-antopol/but-for-the-first-time-boaz-couldn-t-think-of-a-single-word-to/) [Molly Antopol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-antopol/) > [I apologize for the cruel things that I did but I don't regret one single word I said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/five-finger-death-punch/i-apologize-for-the-cruel-things-that-i-did-but-i-don-t-regret-one/) [Five Finger Death Punch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/five-finger-death-punch/) > [“All right. You want to know about Nigel. I’ll tell you about Nigel. He’s come a long way since that so-called accident, Jon. Heck,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-corey/all-right-you-want-to-know-about-nigel-i-ll-tell-you-about-nigel-he-s/) Shawn Corey > [“Beyond the clouds, above people, beneath the skin, inside people, we’re waiting for you. We see you now, as you read. We’ll see you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-lu-s-peixoto/beyond-the-clouds-above-people-beneath-the-skin-inside-people-we-re/) [José Luís Peixoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-lu-s-peixoto/) > [“So this is love: the Sculptor’s chisel. And stone, which in its whole life does not utter a single word, suddenly sings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-r-fus/so-this-is-love-the-sculptor-s-chisel-and-stone-which-in-its-whole/) Milan Rúfus > [“Together. The fact that one single word could send my heart aflutter was utterly ridiculous. I didn’t fall for boys I hardly knew. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-sobon/together-the-fact-that-one-single-word-could-send-my-heart-aflutter/) [Nicole Sobon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-sobon/) > [I didn't understand Southland Tales script at all! Is there a single word to describe it? Cacophony? It's celebrity meets pornography meets politics -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-grant/i-didn-t-understand-southland-tales-script-at-all-is-there-a-single/) [Beth Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-grant/) ## More by Frances Trollope > [The American spring is by no means so agreeable as the American autumn; both move with faltering step, and slow; but this lingering pace,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-trollope/the-american-spring-is-by-no-means-so-agreeable-as-the-american/) [Frances Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-trollope/) > [To an American writer, I should think it must be a flattering distinction to escape the admiration of the newspapers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-trollope/to-an-american-writer-i-should-think-it-must-be-a-flattering/) [Frances Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-trollope/) > [The total and universal want of manners, both in males and females, is ... remarkable ... that polish which removes the coarser and rougher…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-trollope/the-total-and-universal-want-of-manners-both-in-males-and-females-is/) [Frances Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-trollope/) > [ It is rarely \[Americans\] dine in society, except in taverns and boarding-houses. Then they eat with the greatest possible rapidity, and in total silence. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-trollope/it-is-rarely-americans-dine-in-society-except-in-taverns-and-boarding/) [Frances Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-trollope/) > [it is impossible for any mind of common honesty not to be revolted by the contradictions in their principles and practice. They inveigh against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-trollope/it-is-impossible-for-any-mind-of-common-honesty-not-to-be-revolted-by/) [Frances Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-trollope/) > [there is less alms-giving in America than in any other Christian country on the face of the globe. It is not in the temper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-trollope/there-is-less-alms-giving-in-america-than-in-any-other-christian/) [Frances Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-trollope/) > [It seems hardly fair to quarrel with a place because its staple commodity is not pretty, but I am sure I should have liked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-trollope/it-seems-hardly-fair-to-quarrel-with-a-place-because-its-staple/) [Frances Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-trollope/) > [... it was not very unusual at Washington for a lady to take the arm of a gentleman, who was neither her husband, her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-trollope/it-was-not-very-unusual-at-washington-for-a-lady-to-take-the-arm-of-a/) [Frances Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-trollope/) > [I certainly do not lament the decadence of knight errantry, nor wish to exchange the protection of the laws for that of the doughtiest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-trollope/i-certainly-do-not-lament-the-decadence-of-knight-errantry-nor-wish/) [Frances Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-trollope/) > [I never saw any people who appeared to live so much without amusement as the Cincinnatians… Were it not for the churches,... Ithink there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-trollope/i-never-saw-any-people-who-appeared-to-live-so-much-without-amusement/) [Frances Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-trollope/) > [Is it to be imagined ... that women were made for no other purpose than to fabricate sweetmeats and gingerbread, construct shirts, darn stockings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-trollope/is-it-to-be-imagined-that-women-were-made-for-no-other-purpose-than/) [Frances Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-trollope/) > [“Situated on an island which I think it will one day cover, it rises like Venice from the sea, and like that fairest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-trollope/situated-on-an-island-which-i-think-it-will-one-day-cover-it-rises/) [Frances Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-trollope/) > [I draw from life - but I always pulp my acquaintance before serving them up. You would never recognize a pig in a sausage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-trollope/i-draw-from-life-but-i-always-pulp-my-acquaintance-before-serving/) [Frances Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-trollope/) > [I heard an Englishman, who had been long resident in America, declare that in following, in meeting, or in overtaking, in the street, on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-trollope/i-heard-an-englishman-who-had-been-long-resident-in-america-declare/) [Frances Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-trollope/) > [The Yankee: In acuteness and perseverance, he resembles the Scotch. In frugal neatness, he resembles the Dutch. But in truth, a Yankee is nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-trollope/the-yankee-in-acuteness-and-perseverance-he-resembles-the-scotch-in/) [Frances Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-trollope/) [Explore all 26 Frances Trollope quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-trollope/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. 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