--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It always did bother me that the American…" description: "\"It always did bother me that the American public were more interested in me than in my work. And after all there is no sense in it because if it were n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/508/gertrude-stein-667_america_it-always-did-bother-me-that-the-america_606313.jpg" --- # It always did bother me that the American public were more… ![“It always did bother me that the American public were more interested in me than in my work. And after all there is no sense in it because if it were not for my work they would not be interested in me so why should they not be more interested in my work than in me. That is one of the things one…” quote by Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/508/gertrude-stein-667_america_it-always-did-bother-me-that-the-america_606313.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/508/gertrude-stein-667_america_it-always-did-bother-me-that-the-america_606313.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/508/gertrude-stein-667_america_it-always-did-bother-me-that-the-america_606313.jpg) > “It always did bother me that the American public were more interested in me than in my work. And after all there is no sense in it because if it were not for my work they would not be interested in me so why should they not be more interested in my work than in me. That is one of the things one has to worry about in America.” [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Public fascination often prioritizes personality over work, creating a tension between fame and substance. **In simple terms:** People may care more about the person than the work. Key Takeaway Balance public image with authentic contribution. Themes celebrity public perception authenticity art society Mood critical analytical Type cultural philosophical When to use this quote - marketing campaigns - media interviews - personal branding Key Concepts media focus self‑presentation value of work Questions to Reflect On - Should creators protect their work from being eclipsed by fame? - How can audiences appreciate substance over spectacle? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on image can dilute artistic integrity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [American public](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-public/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) ## Related quotes > [The American Public is who I'm interested in. Ultimately, if they think I'm good and they think I'm entertaining that's all that matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-angel/the-american-public-is-who-i-m-interested-in-ultimately-if-they-think/) [Criss Angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-angel/) > [It is difficult to keep the public interested. The public demands new wonders piled on new wonders. Often we don't know where our next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-barthelme/it-is-difficult-to-keep-the-public-interested-the-public-demands-new/) [Donald Barthelme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-barthelme/) > [It does not help that some politicians and journalists assume the public is interested only in those aspects of science that promise immediate practical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weinberg/it-does-not-help-that-some-politicians-and-journalists-assume-the/) [Steven Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weinberg/) > [The public is interested in the service it receives, not the mechanism that delivers it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/the-public-is-interested-in-the-service-it-receives-not-the-mechanism/) [David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/) > [The mass of the reading public is not interested in learning and assimilating the results of accurate investigation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-mass-of-the-reading-public-is-not-interested-in-learning-and/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [As for techniques and processes, as seen in the works themselves, neither public nor artists will find anything about them here. Those things are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/as-for-techniques-and-processes-as-seen-in-the-works-themselves/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [It's not my fault if the media and the public are more interested in Tiger Woods than in women farm workers,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-allred/it-s-not-my-fault-if-the-media-and-the-public-are-more-interested-in/) [Gloria Allred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-allred/) > [To love is to be engaged is to work is to be interested is to create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lina-wertmuller/to-love-is-to-be-engaged-is-to-work-is-to-be-interested-is-to-create/) [Lina Wertmuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lina-wertmuller/) > [This work made me more and more interested in biological matter, and I decided that I really wanted to work on the X-ray analysis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-klug/this-work-made-me-more-and-more-interested-in-biological-matter-and-i/) [Aaron Klug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-klug/) > [When you actually take the time to go over to somebody's office and personally thank them - whether their office is in a cockpit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-bethune/when-you-actually-take-the-time-to-go-over-to-somebody-s-office-and/) [Gordon Bethune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-bethune/) > [In all my work, I'm interested in understanding big issues through the lives of individuals...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-poitras/in-all-my-work-i-m-interested-in-understanding-big-issues-through-the/) [Laura Poitras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-poitras/) > [You don't want your personality to eclipse your work because no one would be interested in seeing your work anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-landecker/you-don-t-want-your-personality-to-eclipse-your-work-because-no-one/) [Amy Landecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-landecker/) > [My wife and I are a team, and it's good for my work because I'm interested in working from a stable base.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sizemore/my-wife-and-i-are-a-team-and-it-s-good-for-my-work-because-i-m/) [Tom Sizemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sizemore/) > [In all my work, I'm interested in trying to understand the human consequences of government policies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-poitras/in-all-my-work-i-m-interested-in-trying-to-understand-the-human/) [Laura Poitras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-poitras/) > [Sometimes people can't afford to work for you, or they're not interested or available, and you hate to have written the whole movie with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/sometimes-people-can-t-afford-to-work-for-you-or-they-re-not/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) ## More by Gertrude Stein > [I certainly do care for you Jeff Campbell less than you are always thinking and much more than you are ever knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-certainly-do-care-for-you-jeff-campbell-less-than-you-are-always/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [Americans are very friendly and very suspicious, that is what Americans are and that is what always upsets the foreigner, who deals with them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/americans-are-very-friendly-and-very-suspicious-that-is-what/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [Just as everybody has the vote including women, I think children should, because as a child is conscious of itself then it has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/just-as-everybody-has-the-vote-including-women-i-think-children/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [“When is there some discharge when. There never is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/when-is-there-some-discharge-when-there-never-is/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [There is no such thing as repetition. Only insistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/there-is-no-such-thing-as-repetition-only-insistance/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [I am I because my little dog knows me but, creatively speaking the little dog knowing that you are you and your recognising that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-am-i-because-my-little-dog-knows-me-but-creatively-speaking-the/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [How likely are definitions to be pleasurable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/how-likely-are-definitions-to-be-pleasurable/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [ “What is the answer?" \[ I \[Alice B Toklas\] was silent \] In that case, what is the question?” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/what-is-the-answer-i-alice-b-toklas-was-silent-in-that-case-what-is/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [More and more I like to take a train. I understand why the French prefer it to automobiling it is so much more sociable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/more-and-more-i-like-to-take-a-train-i-understand-why-the-french/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [Adventure is making the distant approach nearer but romance is having what is where it is which is not where you are stay where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/adventure-is-making-the-distant-approach-nearer-but-romance-is-having/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [Forensics is eloquence and reduction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/forensics-is-eloquence-and-reduction/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [Eating and sleeping are not like loving and breathing. Washing is not like eating and sleeping. Believing is like breathing and loving. Religion can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/eating-and-sleeping-are-not-like-loving-and-breathing-washing-is-not/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [I write for myself and strangers. The strangers, dear Readers, are an afterthought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-write-for-myself-and-strangers-the-strangers-dear-readers-are-an/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [“A bag which was left and not only taken but turned away was not found. The place was shown to be very like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/a-bag-which-was-left-and-not-only-taken-but-turned-away-was-not-found/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [I don't envisage collectivism. There is no such animal, it is always individualism, sometimes the rest vote and sometimes they do not, and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-don-t-envisage-collectivism-there-is-no-such-animal-it-is-always/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) [Explore all 418 Gertrude Stein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) ## 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": "It always did bother me that the American public were more interested in me than in my work. And after all there is no sense in it because if it were not for my work they would not be interested in me so why should they not be more interested in my work than in me. 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