--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pessimism is as American as apple pie…" description: "\"Pessimism is as American as apple pie - frozen apple pie with a slice of processed cheese.\" — George Will" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/george-will-1177_apple-pie_pessimism-is-as-american-as-apple-pie-fr_3131628.png" --- # Pessimism is as American as apple pie - frozen apple pie… ![“Pessimism is as American as apple pie - frozen apple pie with a slice of processed cheese.” quote by George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/george-will-1177_apple-pie_pessimism-is-as-american-as-apple-pie-fr_3131628.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/george-will-1177_apple-pie_pessimism-is-as-american-as-apple-pie-fr_3131628.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/george-will-1177_apple-pie_pessimism-is-as-american-as-apple-pie-fr_3131628.png) > “Pessimism is as American as apple pie - frozen apple pie with a slice of processed cheese.” [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. American culture often embraces pessimism as readily as it celebrates its symbols. **In simple terms:** Pessimism is common in America. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge negative narratives. Themes culture optimism pessimism national identity Mood critical reflective Type observational analytical When to use this quote - political discourse - media analysis - personal mindset - public policy Key Concepts cognitive bias social conditioning Questions to Reflect On - How does pessimism affect decision making? - What cultural factors reinforce it? A Different Perspective Pessimism can also serve as a protective mechanism against disappointment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apple pie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apple-pie/) [Optimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimism/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) [Pie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pie/) ## Related quotes > [Positive thinking is so firmly enshrined in our culture that knocking it is a little like attacking motherhood or apple pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srikumar-rao/positive-thinking-is-so-firmly-enshrined-in-our-culture-that-knocking/) [Srikumar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srikumar-rao/) > [I've always loved movies about con men. I think con men are as American as apple pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-paxton/i-ve-always-loved-movies-about-con-men-i-think-con-men-are-as/) [Bill Paxton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-paxton/) > [Colon has always thought that heroes had some special kind of clockwork that made them go out and die famously for god, country and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/colon-has-always-thought-that-heroes-had-some-special-kind-of/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I love the warmth of apple pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-tosi/i-love-the-warmth-of-apple-pie/) [Christina Tosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-tosi/) > [The sex with Mandy was good, but it wasn't like warm apple pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilmer-valderrama/the-sex-with-mandy-was-good-but-it-wasn-t-like-warm-apple-pie/) [Wilmer Valderrama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilmer-valderrama/) > [Come on, it's an American tradition. Apple soup? Mom's homemade chicken pie?' She chuckled in spite of herself, then winced. 'It's apple pie and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/come-on-it-s-an-american-tradition-apple-soup-mom-s-homemade-chicken/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Pie, in a word, is my passion. Since as far back as I can remember, watching my mom and dad make their apple pies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-haedrich/pie-in-a-word-is-my-passion-since-as-far-back-as-i-can-remember/) Ken Haedrich > [The poor folks hate the rich folks, and the rich folks hate the poor folks. All of my folks hate all of your folks,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/the-poor-folks-hate-the-rich-folks-and-the-rich-folks-hate-the-poor/) [Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/) > [The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison but apple pie. It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-greatest-enemy-of-hunger-for-god-is-not-poison-but-apple-pie-it/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [The first men who set out for Mars had better make sure they leave everything at home in apple-pie order. They won't get back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wernher-von-braun/the-first-men-who-set-out-for-mars-had-better-make-sure-they-leave/) [Wernher von Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wernher-von-braun/) > [The rest of the world loves soccer. Surely we must be missing something. Uh, isn't that what the Russians told us about communism? There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-weir/the-rest-of-the-world-loves-soccer-surely-we-must-be-missing/) Tom Weir > [You'll see a movie about someone you hate or someone you love. Will you see a movie about grandma making apple pies? No, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/you-ll-see-a-movie-about-someone-you-hate-or-someone-you-love-will/) [John McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcafee/) > [I've read hundreds of cookbooks. Most of those cookbooks don't even tell you how to get a steak ready, how to bake biscuits or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colonel-sanders/i-ve-read-hundreds-of-cookbooks-most-of-those-cookbooks-don-t-even/) [Colonel Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colonel-sanders/) > [Of emotions, of love, of breakup, of love and hate and death and dying, mama, apple pie, and the whole thing. It covers a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/of-emotions-of-love-of-breakup-of-love-and-hate-and-death-and-dying/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [Violence against women is as American as apple pie. I know, not only as a legislator, but from personal experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-moore/violence-against-women-is-as-american-as-apple-pie-i-know-not-only-as/) [Gwen Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-moore/) ## More by George Will > [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/) > [Pettiness is the tendency of people without large purposes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/pettiness-is-the-tendency-of-people-without-large-purposes/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [A politician's words reveal less about what he thinks about his subject than what he thinks about his audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/a-politician-s-words-reveal-less-about-what-he-thinks-about-his/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [As has been said, standards are always out of date - that is why we call them standards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/as-has-been-said-standards-are-always-out-of-date-that-is-why-we-call/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [Hart is still like that little tub of vaguely milklike gunk that comes with airline coffee. It is labeled a "nondairy" product. Fine: we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/hart-is-still-like-that-little-tub-of-vaguely-milklike-gunk-that/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [The realistic way to reduce the amount of money in politics is to reduce the amount of politics in money -- the importance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/the-realistic-way-to-reduce-the-amount-of-money-in-politics-is-to/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [It is important that Miers not be confirmed unless, in her 61st year, she suddenly and unexpectedly is found to have hitherto undisclosed interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/it-is-important-that-miers-not-be-confirmed-unless-in-her-61st-year/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [Greek philosophers considered sport a religious and civic-in a word, moral-undertaking. Sport, they said, is morally serious because mankind's noblest aim is the loving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/greek-philosophers-considered-sport-a-religious-and-civic-in-a-word/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [The cultivation - even celebration - of victimhood by intellectuals, tort lawyers, politicians and the media is both cause and effect of today's culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/the-cultivation-even-celebration-of-victimhood-by-intellectuals-tort/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [When I'm in my car, I'm listening to books, audio books, always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/when-i-m-in-my-car-i-m-listening-to-books-audio-books-always/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [Just as the common law derives from ancient precedents - judges' decisions - rather than statutes, baseball's codes are the game's distilled mores. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/just-as-the-common-law-derives-from-ancient-precedents-judges/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [“Football combines two of the worst things in American life. It is violence punctuated by committee meetings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/football-combines-two-of-the-worst-things-in-american-life-it-is/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [I've lived in Washington now for 44 years, and that's a lot of folly to witness up close. Whatever confidence and optimism I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/i-ve-lived-in-washington-now-for-44-years-and-that-s-a-lot-of-folly/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [The business of America is not business. Neither is it war. The business of america is justice and securing the blessings of liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/the-business-of-america-is-not-business-neither-is-it-war-the/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [Freedom is not only the absence of external restraints. It is also the absence of irresistible internal compulsions, unmanageable passion, and uncensorable highlights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/freedom-is-not-only-the-absence-of-external-restraints-it-is-also-the/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) [Explore all 279 George Will quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) ## More Apple pie quotes > [Positive thinking is so firmly enshrined in our culture that knocking it is a little like attacking motherhood or apple pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srikumar-rao/positive-thinking-is-so-firmly-enshrined-in-our-culture-that-knocking/) [Srikumar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srikumar-rao/) > [Of emotions, of love, of breakup, of love and hate and death and dying, mama, apple pie, and the whole thing. It covers a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/of-emotions-of-love-of-breakup-of-love-and-hate-and-death-and-dying/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [“New Rule: Americans must realize what makes NFL football so great: socialism. That's right, the NFL takes money from the rich teams and gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/new-rule-americans-must-realize-what-makes-nfl-football-so-great/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“In short, when it comes to colonial America, religious persecution—in the sense of persecution both based in religion and aimed at religion—was as American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corvino/in-short-when-it-comes-to-colonial-america-religious-persecution-in/) [John Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corvino/) > [I've read hundreds of cookbooks. Most of those cookbooks don't even tell you how to get a steak ready, how to bake biscuits or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colonel-sanders/i-ve-read-hundreds-of-cookbooks-most-of-those-cookbooks-don-t-even/) [Colonel Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colonel-sanders/) > [“She brushes a lock of hair back from her face and winces when she tugs through a snag. “Oh, my gosh. I must look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-falkner/she-brushes-a-lock-of-hair-back-from-her-face-and-winces-when-she/) [Tammy Falkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-falkner/) > [You'll see a movie about someone you hate or someone you love. Will you see a movie about grandma making apple pies? No, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/you-ll-see-a-movie-about-someone-you-hate-or-someone-you-love-will/) [John McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcafee/) > [I could make apple pie every single day. You need to be super precise in order for it to be perfect. I'm such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-michaels/i-could-make-apple-pie-every-single-day-you-need-to-be-super-precise/) [Julia Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-michaels/) > [The rest of the world loves soccer. Surely we must be missing something. Uh, isn't that what the Russians told us about communism? There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-weir/the-rest-of-the-world-loves-soccer-surely-we-must-be-missing/) Tom Weir > [The first men who set out for Mars had better make sure they leave everything at home in apple-pie order. They won't get back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wernher-von-braun/the-first-men-who-set-out-for-mars-had-better-make-sure-they-leave/) [Wernher von Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wernher-von-braun/) > [The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison but apple pie. It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-greatest-enemy-of-hunger-for-god-is-not-poison-but-apple-pie-it/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Scapegoating is as American as apple pie. And because there's almost always a racial or ethnic dynamic to it in our country, scapegoating is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/scapegoating-is-as-american-as-apple-pie-and-because-there-s-almost/) [Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/) > [“I've never had a better piece o' roast. But it was the apple pie as made the meal. It was flaky and sweet, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-ve-never-had-a-better-piece-o-roast-but-it-was-the-apple-pie-as/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [I try and tell her friends, but they as dumb as her, Burst of a feather, I see it makes it worse, I hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-cudi/i-try-and-tell-her-friends-but-they-as-dumb-as-her-burst-of-a-feather/) [Kid Cudi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-cudi/) > [“I had a dream about you. Flowers were overflowing in the cemetery, so we decided to have a picnic there. You brought apple pie,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-had-a-dream-about-you-flowers-were-overflowing-in-the-cemetery-so/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) [Browse all 178 Apple pie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apple-pie/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Pessimism is as American as apple pie - frozen apple pie with a slice of processed cheese.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Will" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/pessimism-is-as-american-as-apple-pie-frozen-apple-pie-with-a-slice/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Apple pie" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/pessimism-is-as-american-as-apple-pie-frozen-apple-pie-with-a-slice/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/george-will-1177_apple-pie_pessimism-is-as-american-as-apple-pie-fr_3131628.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/george-will-1177_apple-pie_pessimism-is-as-american-as-apple-pie-fr_3131628.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/george-will-1177_apple-pie_pessimism-is-as-american-as-apple-pie-fr_3131628.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Pessimism is as American as apple pie - frozen apple pie with a slice of processed cheese.” — George Will", "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": "George Will", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Pessimism is as American as apple...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/pessimism-is-as-american-as-apple-pie-frozen-apple-pie-with-a-slice/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/pessimism-is-as-american-as-apple-pie-frozen-apple-pie-with-a-slice/#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 } } ] } ```