--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A long while ago an eager group of…" description: "\"A long while ago an eager group of reformers wrote to me asking if I could suggest anything that would improve the morals of the American people. I rep..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75f/gertrude-atherton-9180_american-people_a-long-while-ago-an-eager-group-of-refor_2028087.jpg" --- # A long while ago an eager group of reformers wrote to me… ![“A long while ago an eager group of reformers wrote to me asking if I could suggest anything that would improve the morals of the American people. I replied that the trouble with the American people in general was not lack of morals but lack of brains.” quote by Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75f/gertrude-atherton-9180_american-people_a-long-while-ago-an-eager-group-of-refor_2028087.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75f/gertrude-atherton-9180_american-people_a-long-while-ago-an-eager-group-of-refor_2028087.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75f/gertrude-atherton-9180_american-people_a-long-while-ago-an-eager-group-of-refor_2028087.jpg) > “A long while ago an eager group of reformers wrote to me asking if I could suggest anything that would improve the morals of the American people. I replied that the trouble with the American people in general was not lack of morals but lack of brains.” [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moral improvement is limited without intellectual development and critical thinking. **In simple terms:** Minds need growth, not just morals. Key Takeaway Promote education and critical thinking. Themes education morality intellect societal progress critical thinking Mood thought‑provoking analytical Type essay philosophical When to use this quote - school curricula - public policy - media literacy - community workshops Key Concepts philosophy social critique psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can we foster critical thinking in society? - What role does education play in moral behavior? A Different Perspective Intellectual change can be slow and resisted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) [Asking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking/) [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groups/) [If i could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/if-i-could/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Improve Morals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improve-morals-1038413/) [Lack Morals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lack-morals-3709543/) [Lack Of Morals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lack-of-morals-221950/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Morals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morals/) [Morals American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morals-american-3709541/) [Morals Lack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morals-lack-3709542/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reformers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reformers/) [Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble/) ## Related quotes > [It is becoming clear that the old platitudes can no longer be maintained, and that if we wish to improve our morals we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/havelock-ellis/it-is-becoming-clear-that-the-old-platitudes-can-no-longer-be/) [Havelock Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/havelock-ellis/) > [“To enlighten mankind and improve its morals is the only lesson which we offer in this story. In reading it, may the world discover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-sade/to-enlighten-mankind-and-improve-its-morals-is-the-only-lesson-which/) [Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) > [“Baltimore's slogan was 'The City that Reads', but like the rest of its one million or so inhabitants Lori knew that was a pipedream;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leather/baltimore-s-slogan-was-the-city-that-reads-but-like-the-rest-of-its/) [Stephen Leather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leather/) > [Our political system encourages that. We don't have proportional representation. There's little renewal in our political class and it's always the same faces. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-macron/our-political-system-encourages-that-we-don-t-have-proportional/) [Emmanuel Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-macron/) > [“It seemed to numerous voters that, thanks to the growing power of the ACLU, criminals were beginning to have more rights than the victims.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-flagg/it-seemed-to-numerous-voters-that-thanks-to-the-growing-power-of-the/) [Fannie Flagg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-flagg/) > [Living more lives than one, knowing people of all classes, all shades of opinion, monarchists, republicans, socialists, anarchists, has had a salutary effect on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rheta-childe-dorr/living-more-lives-than-one-knowing-people-of-all-classes-all-shades/) [Rheta Childe Dorr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rheta-childe-dorr/) > [We must help the reformers of the Middle East as they work for freedom, and strive to build a community of peaceful, democratic nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-must-help-the-reformers-of-the-middle-east-as-they-work-for/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“At a deeper psychological level, the reformers' ideas of salvation introduced a major change in the way people saw their world. They could no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-macdonald/at-a-deeper-psychological-level-the-reformers-ideas-of-salvation/) [Fiona MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-macdonald/) > [Whether our reformers admit it or not, the economic and social inferiority of women is responsible for prostitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/whether-our-reformers-admit-it-or-not-the-economic-and-social/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [“All of the Reformers agreed among themselves and with Rome on the point that the Supper lies at the heart of the person of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/all-of-the-reformers-agreed-among-themselves-and-with-rome-on-the/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [I believe that what so saddens the reformer is not his sympathy with his fellows in distress, but, though he be the holiest son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-believe-that-what-so-saddens-the-reformer-is-not-his-sympathy-with/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [We will meet our challenges head on and we will do it by rejecting the politics of mediocrity and corruption. You voted for change;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-blagojevich/we-will-meet-our-challenges-head-on-and-we-will-do-it-by-rejecting/) [Rod Blagojevich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-blagojevich/) > [“Luther, the hero of Worms, the champion of the sacred rights of conscience, was, in words, the most violent, but in practice, the least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-schaff/luther-the-hero-of-worms-the-champion-of-the-sacred-rights-of/) [Philip Schaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-schaff/) > [“This is perhaps as good a place as any to point out that what distinguishes many reformers from those who cannot accept their proposals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/this-is-perhaps-as-good-a-place-as-any-to-point-out-that-what/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [Dr. Arnold . . . the admired reformer of public schools, came across some cranks who thought it a mistake to flog boys. Anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/dr-arnold-the-admired-reformer-of-public-schools-came-across-some/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## More by Gertrude Atherton > [There is nothing so carking as the pangs of unsatisfied curiosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/there-is-nothing-so-carking-as-the-pangs-of-unsatisfied-curiosity/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [The only two good words that can be said for a hurricane are that it gives sufficient warning of its approach, and that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/the-only-two-good-words-that-can-be-said-for-a-hurricane-are-that-it/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [The world, and the great and free United States in particular, is full of narrow-minded, ignorant, moronic, bigoted, cowardly, self-righteous, anemic, pig-headed, stupid, puritanical,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/the-world-and-the-great-and-free-united-states-in-particular-is-full/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [Men are not amusing during the shooting season; but, after all, my dear, men were not especially designed to amuse women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/men-are-not-amusing-during-the-shooting-season-but-after-all-my-dear/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [genius must ever be imperfect. Life is not long enough nor slow enough for both brain and character to grow side by side to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/genius-must-ever-be-imperfect-life-is-not-long-enough-nor-slow-enough/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [the best of all good friends is pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/the-best-of-all-good-friends-is-pride/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [The final result of too much routine is death in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/the-final-result-of-too-much-routine-is-death-in-life/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [Self-admiration giveth much consolation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/self-admiration-giveth-much-consolation/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [Fame compensates for a column of wants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/fame-compensates-for-a-column-of-wants/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [If you can't get the very best in this world, take nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/if-you-can-t-get-the-very-best-in-this-world-take-nothing/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [No country can reach a high stage of civilization without a leisure class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/no-country-can-reach-a-high-stage-of-civilization-without-a-leisure/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [... France is the genius among nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/france-is-the-genius-among-nations/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [The world changed somewhat in form during its progress, but never in substance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/the-world-changed-somewhat-in-form-during-its-progress-but-never-in/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [... the irony of life is not that you cannot forget but that you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/the-irony-of-life-is-not-that-you-cannot-forget-but-that-you-can/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [ \[Alexander\] Hamilton estimated portrait painters as thieves of time. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/alexander-hamilton-estimated-portrait-painters-as-thieves-of-time/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) [Explore all 74 Gertrude Atherton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) ## More American people quotes > [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/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-as-much-as-government-can-do-and-must-do-it-is-ultimately-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Given a choice between two bald political candidates, the American people will vote for the less bald of the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-gold/given-a-choice-between-two-bald-political-candidates-the-american/) [Victor Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-gold/) > [When the American people saw the LA riots and crowds of Blacks cheering O.J. 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The system is such that the American people have lost faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-don-t-know-a-politician-who-enjoys-fundraising-the-system-is-such/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Probably the greatest single obstacle to the progress and happiness of the American people lies in the willingness of so many men to invest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/probably-the-greatest-single-obstacle-to-the-progress-and-happiness/) [John D. 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Hayworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-hayworth/) > [Hillary Clinton truly is sincere, but she has to connect more with the American people in terms of what she believes in and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/hillary-clinton-truly-is-sincere-but-she-has-to-connect-more-with-the/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [The American people are incredibly generous and even playful when you open yourself up and feed the media beast until it goes away satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krystal-ball/the-american-people-are-incredibly-generous-and-even-playful-when-you/) [Krystal Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krystal-ball/) [Browse all 2,233 American people quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A long while ago an eager group of reformers wrote to me asking if I could suggest anything that would improve the morals of the American people. 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