--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The word \"America\" has well-developed…" description: "\"“The word \"America\" has well-developed grandiose associations for a Soviet person, for whom it refers to a country of skyscrapers, where day and night ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/ilya-ilf-26240_america_the-word-america-has-well-developed-gran_1652840.png" --- # The word "America" has well-developed grandiose… ![“The word "America" has well-developed grandiose associations for a Soviet person, for whom it refers to a country of skyscrapers, where day and night one hears the unceasing thunder of surface and underground trains, the hellish roar of automobile horns, and the continuous despairing screams of…” quote by Ilya Ilf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/ilya-ilf-26240_america_the-word-america-has-well-developed-gran_1652840.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/ilya-ilf-26240_america_the-word-america-has-well-developed-gran_1652840.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/ilya-ilf-26240_america_the-word-america-has-well-developed-gran_1652840.png) > ““The word "America" has well-developed grandiose associations for a Soviet person, for whom it refers to a country of skyscrapers, where day and night one hears the unceasing thunder of surface and underground trains, the hellish roar of automobile horns, and the continuous despairing screams of stockbrokers rushing through the skyscrapers waving their ever-falling shares.”” [Ilya Ilf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-ilf/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Soviet view of America is a mix of awe and dread, seeing it as a towering, noisy, and chaotic place driven by relentless commerce. **In simple terms:** America seen as grand yet chaotic. Key Takeaway Recognize the dual perception of progress and stress. Themes culture perception globalism Mood critical analytical Type sociological observational When to use this quote - travel - media analysis - cross‑cultural studies Key Concepts sociology urbanization capitalism Questions to Reflect On - How do media portrayals shape national images? - What aspects of American life contradict this perception? A Different Perspective Such a view may exaggerate stereotypes and ignore everyday realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Day and night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day-and-night/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Soviet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soviet/) ## Related quotes > [There is one word in America that says it all, and that one word is, 'You never know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-andujar/there-is-one-word-in-america-that-says-it-all-and-that-one-word-is/) [Joaquin Andujar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-andujar/) > [The most problematic word in America is the word "problematic." It's a wuss word used by people to silence language without actually saying that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/the-most-problematic-word-in-america-is-the-word-problematic-it-s-a/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [America is our continent. You feel in the daily language that Americans use the word "America" to erase the rest of the continent from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfredo-jaar/america-is-our-continent-you-feel-in-the-daily-language-that/) [Alfredo Jaar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfredo-jaar/) > [In common with all Protestant or Jewish cultures, America was developed on the idea that your word is your bond. Otherwise, the frontier could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/in-common-with-all-protestant-or-jewish-cultures-america-was/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [Britain won its wars on the playing fields of Eton. America developed its mettle at the muddy gaps of the Cumberlands, in the swift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-broome/britain-won-its-wars-on-the-playing-fields-of-eton-america-developed/) [Harvey Broome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-broome/) > [Even back in its colonial days, America developed a reputation as a safe harbor for people with unusual or radical religious beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-horowitz/even-back-in-its-colonial-days-america-developed-a-reputation-as-a/) [Mitch Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-horowitz/) > [America is the only developed nation in the world with no guaranteed paid leave of any kind. That means we're leaving a whole lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/america-is-the-only-developed-nation-in-the-world-with-no-guaranteed/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I just want to stay by you day and night. 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She reclined her seat, and listened to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/in-the-parking-lot-she-drove-and-parked-in-a-dark-area-with-no-other/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [Whose school-hours are all the days and nights of our existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/whose-school-hours-are-all-the-days-and-nights-of-our-existence/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [“helping me. It’s a full-time job, and I am grateful for your concern for my reader friends. Of course, thanks to my daughter and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-kingsbury/helping-me-it-s-a-full-time-job-and-i-am-grateful-for-your-concern/) [Karen Kingsbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-kingsbury/) ## More by Ilya Ilf > [“Ippolit Matveevich turned even redder, pulled out a tiny notebook, and wrote in a calligraphic hand: 25/4/1927 — rubles issued to Comrade Bender —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilya-ilf/ippolit-matveevich-turned-even-redder-pulled-out-a-tiny-notebook-and/) [Ilya Ilf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-ilf/) > [Americans don't like to waste time on stupid things, for example, on the torturous process of coming up with names for their towns. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilya-ilf/americans-don-t-like-to-waste-time-on-stupid-things-for-example-on/) [Ilya Ilf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-ilf/) > [Everyone drank to popular education and to the irrigation of Uzbekistan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilya-ilf/everyone-drank-to-popular-education-and-to-the-irrigation-of/) [Ilya Ilf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-ilf/) > [“If you should attempt to maintain that film is an art in conversation with a cultured, intelligent American, he'll just plain stop talking to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilya-ilf/if-you-should-attempt-to-maintain-that-film-is-an-art-in-conversation/) [Ilya Ilf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-ilf/) > [“It wouldn't have been surprising if the girl suddenly stamped her foot and began: "Comrades! 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We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilya-ilf/investigating-koreiko-s-case-might-take-a-long-time-said-ostap-god/) [Ilya Ilf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-ilf/) > [“She was, after all, a mattress owner and understood the subtleties of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilya-ilf/she-was-after-all-a-mattress-owner-and-understood-the-subtleties-of/) [Ilya Ilf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-ilf/) > [“So what was in this building before historical materialism?' 'Before what?' 'You know, back then, under the old regime?' 'Oh. Under the old regime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilya-ilf/so-what-was-in-this-building-before-historical-materialism-before/) [Ilya Ilf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-ilf/) > [“I am Emir Dynamite!" he shouted, swaying on top of the tall camelback. "If within two days we don't get any decent food, I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilya-ilf/i-am-emir-dynamite-he-shouted-swaying-on-top-of-the-tall-camelback-if/) [Ilya Ilf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-ilf/) > [“He was only thirty-eight. His body was clean, well-fed, and benign. He had all his teeth. A fresh Armenian joke stirred in his head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilya-ilf/he-was-only-thirty-eight-his-body-was-clean-well-fed-and-benign-he/) [Ilya Ilf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-ilf/) > [“To a Soviet person, used to the nationality policy of the USSR, all the mistakes of the American government's Indian policy are evident from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilya-ilf/to-a-soviet-person-used-to-the-nationality-policy-of-the-ussr-all-the/) [Ilya Ilf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-ilf/) > [“Fifteen of his clubs, dedicated to politics, music, and the performing arts, had all been developing strategic plans for the past two years. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilya-ilf/fifteen-of-his-clubs-dedicated-to-politics-music-and-the-performing/) [Ilya Ilf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-ilf/) > [“Let's put it to a vote. Shall the ballots be open or secret?" "We don't need Soviet-style voting," Charushnikov said, offended. "Let's vote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilya-ilf/let-s-put-it-to-a-vote-shall-the-ballots-be-open-or-secret-we-don-t/) [Ilya Ilf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-ilf/) > [“It should be explained at this point that there are no girls in the world who do not sense an impending declaration of love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilya-ilf/it-should-be-explained-at-this-point-that-there-are-no-girls-in-the/) [Ilya Ilf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-ilf/) [Explore all 21 Ilya Ilf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-ilf/) ## 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. 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