--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One can not be an American by going about…" description: "\"One can not be an American by going about saying that one is an American. It is necessary to feel America, like America, love America and then work.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac5/georgia-o-keeffe-2763_america_one-can-not-be-an-american-by-going-abou_1382447.png" --- # One can not be an American by going about saying that one… ![“One can not be an American by going about saying that one is an American. It is necessary to feel America, like America, love America and then work.” quote by Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac5/georgia-o-keeffe-2763_america_one-can-not-be-an-american-by-going-abou_1382447.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac5/georgia-o-keeffe-2763_america_one-can-not-be-an-american-by-going-abou_1382447.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac5/georgia-o-keeffe-2763_america_one-can-not-be-an-american-by-going-abou_1382447.png) > “One can not be an American by going about saying that one is an American. It is necessary to feel America, like America, love America and then work.” [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True American identity arises from lived experience, emotional connection, love, and active contribution, not merely from a declared label. **In simple terms:** Being American is felt, loved, and worked for. Key Takeaway Engage actively with your community. Themes national identity culture participation love work Mood reflective patriotic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - volunteering - politics - education - community projects Key Concepts citizenship belonging social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What does America mean to you? - How do you express that love through action? A Different Perspective Identity can be complex and multifaceted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flower/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [“One cannot be an American by going about saying that one is an American. It is necessary to feel America, like America, love America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/one-cannot-be-an-american-by-going-about-saying-that-one-is-an/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) > [I was always a hard worker, and that's why I got invited to come to America. My uncle actually said, 'You've to go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glover-teixeira/i-was-always-a-hard-worker-and-that-s-why-i-got-invited-to-come-to/) [Glover Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glover-teixeira/) > [I like America, just as everybody else does. I love America, I gotta say that. But America will be judged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/i-like-america-just-as-everybody-else-does-i-love-america-i-gotta-say/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [There's no question I am an idealist, which is another way of saying 'I am an American.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-s-no-question-i-am-an-idealist-which-is-another-way-of-saying-i/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Flexibility. Oh, that's pretty clearly saying that what Donald Trump said to The New York Times is very different than what he's saying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/flexibility-oh-that-s-pretty-clearly-saying-that-what-donald-trump/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [The U.S. Open is so special, and I'm not even saying that as an American. I just can't envision a better atmosphere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-tiafoe/the-u-s-open-is-so-special-and-i-m-not-even-saying-that-as-an/) [Frances Tiafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-tiafoe/) > [“I'm saying the American way is to overcome, to conquer, to come out on top. And we do it by spending and eating and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-labute/i-m-saying-the-american-way-is-to-overcome-to-conquer-to-come-out-on/) [Neil LaBute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-labute/) > [I feel that America is like a child that grew up so strong and so fast and so tall that it became self-conscious about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/i-feel-that-america-is-like-a-child-that-grew-up-so-strong-and-so/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [“Fear is not the American way, I remind my children. So although I feel America's fear, and on some days even share its contempt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranya-tabari-idliby/fear-is-not-the-american-way-i-remind-my-children-so-although-i-feel/) Ranya Tabari Idliby > [If the white folks feel America is great for everybody, I don't want to change what they love. All I want is to bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-b/if-the-white-folks-feel-america-is-great-for-everybody-i-don-t-want/) [Lil B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-b/) > [You could feel America starting to ease up a little bit on racism, against blacks in certain pockets, and then suddenly The Cosby Show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mckay/you-could-feel-america-starting-to-ease-up-a-little-bit-on-racism/) [Adam McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-mckay/) > [I feel that America is essentially against the artist, that the enemy of America is the artist, because he stands for individuality and creativeness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/i-feel-that-america-is-essentially-against-the-artist-that-the-enemy/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [Neutrality is a negative word. It is a word that does not express what America ought to feel. America has a heart, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/neutrality-is-a-negative-word-it-is-a-word-that-does-not-express-what/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [I do feel more myself in America. I can regress there, and they have roller-coaster parks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/i-do-feel-more-myself-in-america-i-can-regress-there-and-they-have/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [ That's what we \[outsiders\] feel America is really about - the kind of crazed ravings of the Christian right - when it's probably something… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/that-s-what-we-outsiders-feel-america-is-really-about-the-kind-of/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) ## More by Georgia O'Keeffe > [Singing has always seemed to me the most perfect means of expression. It is so spontaneous. And after singing, I think the violin. Since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/singing-has-always-seemed-to-me-the-most-perfect-means-of-expression/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) > [When I think of death, I only regret that I will not be able to see this beautiful country anymore unless the Indians are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/when-i-think-of-death-i-only-regret-that-i-will-not-be-able-to-see/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) > [Sometimes I start in a very realistic fashion, and as I go on from one painting to another of the same kind, it becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/sometimes-i-start-in-a-very-realistic-fashion-and-as-i-go-on-from-one/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) > [I have a single track mind. I work on an idea for a long time. It's like getting acquainted with a person, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/i-have-a-single-track-mind-i-work-on-an-idea-for-a-long-time-it-s/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) > [You get whatever accomplishment you are willing to declare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/you-get-whatever-accomplishment-you-are-willing-to-declare/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) > [“I said to myself 'I have things in my head that are not like what anyone has taught me--shapes and idea so near to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/i-said-to-myself-i-have-things-in-my-head-that-are-not-like-what/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) > [I'd been taught to paint like other people, and I thought, what's the use? I couldn't do any better than they, or even as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/i-d-been-taught-to-paint-like-other-people-and-i-thought-what-s-the/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) > [I believe an artist is the last person in the world who can afford to be affected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/i-believe-an-artist-is-the-last-person-in-the-world-who-can-afford-to/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) > [My first memory is of the brightness of light ... light all around. I was sitting among pillows on a quilt on the ground…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/my-first-memory-is-of-the-brightness-of-light-light-all-around-i-was/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) > [Before I put brush to canvas, I question, 'Is this mine? ...Is it influenced by some idea which I have acquired from some man?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/before-i-put-brush-to-canvas-i-question-is-this-mine-is-it-influenced/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) > [I decided to start anew-to strip away what I had been taught, to accept as true my own thinking. This was one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/i-decided-to-start-anew-to-strip-away-what-i-had-been-taught-to/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) > [“I decided I was a very stupid fool not to at least paint as I wanted to ... I found that I could say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/i-decided-i-was-a-very-stupid-fool-not-to-at-least-paint-as-i-wanted/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) > [My painting is what I have to give back to the world for what the world gives to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/my-painting-is-what-i-have-to-give-back-to-the-world-for-what-the/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) > [He wanted head and hands and arms on a pillow - in many different positions. I was asked to move my hands in many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/he-wanted-head-and-hands-and-arms-on-a-pillow-in-many-different/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) > [I feel there is something unexplored about woman that only a woman can explore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/i-feel-there-is-something-unexplored-about-woman-that-only-a-woman/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) [Explore all 151 Georgia O'Keeffe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One can not be an American by going about saying that one is an American. 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