--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The big problem in America is that…" description: "\"The big problem in America is that everyone is spending 2-3 hours a day watching TV. If you spend that same amount of time reading, you'll be in the to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/jack-canfield-796_america_the-big-problem-in-america-is-that-every_1090632.png" --- # The big problem in America is that everyone is spending… ![“The big problem in America is that everyone is spending 2-3 hours a day watching TV. If you spend that same amount of time reading, you'll be in the top 1% of whatever your field is.” quote by Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/jack-canfield-796_america_the-big-problem-in-america-is-that-every_1090632.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/jack-canfield-796_america_the-big-problem-in-america-is-that-every_1090632.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/jack-canfield-796_america_the-big-problem-in-america-is-that-every_1090632.png) > “The big problem in America is that everyone is spending 2-3 hours a day watching TV. If you spend that same amount of time reading, you'll be in the top 1% of whatever your field is.” [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spending excessive TV time limits learning; reading the same hours puts you among top performers in any field. **In simple terms:** Too much TV hurts growth; reading boosts you. Key Takeaway Replace TV with reading. Themes productivity learning media consumption Mood motivational reflective Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - career development - academic study - personal growth - skill mastery Key Concepts self‑improvement knowledge acquisition Questions to Reflect On - How can you reduce TV time? - What topics will you read to excel? A Different Perspective Reading alone won't guarantee success without effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Watching tv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watching-tv/) ## Related quotes > [I think the big problem in America has is being politically correct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-think-the-big-problem-in-america-has-is-being-politically-correct/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I watch a lot of TV. That's how I spend most of my time outside of work. If I had more time, I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/i-watch-a-lot-of-tv-that-s-how-i-spend-most-of-my-time-outside-of/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [“When long-term effects were included in the calculations, however, the contribution of digital dropped by half. Online displays and Facebook advertising just cannot deliver…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mckinsey-chief-marketing-sales-officer-forum/when-long-term-effects-were-included-in-the-calculations-however-the/) McKinsey Chief Marketing & Sales Officer Forum > [I watch a lot of bad TV. I spend my entire day reading and writing, and after dinner my idea of fun is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-philbrick/i-watch-a-lot-of-bad-tv-i-spend-my-entire-day-reading-and-writing-and/) [Nathaniel Philbrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-philbrick/) > [We have a presidential election coming up. And I think the big problem, of course, is that someone will win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-crimmins/we-have-a-presidential-election-coming-up-and-i-think-the-big-problem/) [Barry Crimmins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-crimmins/) > [The key thing about all the world's big problems is that they have to be dealt with collectively. If we don't get collectively smarter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-engelbart/the-key-thing-about-all-the-world-s-big-problems-is-that-they-have-to/) [Douglas Engelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-engelbart/) > [I quit drinking. That was a big problem for a lot of years. Then after that, I just started feeling grateful again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-crystal/i-quit-drinking-that-was-a-big-problem-for-a-lot-of-years-then-after/) [Billy Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crystal/) > [There is a big problem. The problem is the country borrowed too much. We went on a borrowing binge, there was a housing boom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/there-is-a-big-problem-the-problem-is-the-country-borrowed-too-much/) [George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/) > [When you have a big problem to solve, break it down to smaller ones first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddharth-katragadda/when-you-have-a-big-problem-to-solve-break-it-down-to-smaller-ones/) [Siddharth Katragadda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddharth-katragadda/) > [I'm not anti-Muslim, I'm not anti-immigration; I'm saying we've got big problems in our cities. It's not very smart to make the problem bigger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pim-fortuyn/i-m-not-anti-muslim-i-m-not-anti-immigration-i-m-saying-we-ve-got-big/) [Pim Fortuyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pim-fortuyn/) > [We're facing growing climate change, more floods, more droughts, more crisis on a planetary level, and the systems we put in place in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/we-re-facing-growing-climate-change-more-floods-more-droughts-more/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [I do have a very, very big problem with someone who saw me coming and exploited me as a mascot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-vine/i-do-have-a-very-very-big-problem-with-someone-who-saw-me-coming-and/) [Stella Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-vine/) > [Its a big problem for American movies that all their movies are produced to be global.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-a-big-problem-for-american-movies-that-all-their-movies-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't be pretentious is my first advice to young writers. This is the big problem - just because you're getting an MFA doesn't mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/don-t-be-pretentious-is-my-first-advice-to-young-writers-this-is-the/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [Nerves are always a big problem for me, which is why I loved doing American sitcoms. Because you know when you do the take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/nerves-are-always-a-big-problem-for-me-which-is-why-i-loved-doing/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) ## More by Jack Canfield > [“ Around our pillows golden ladders rise, And up and down the skies, With winged sandals shod, The angels come, and go, the Messengers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/around-our-pillows-golden-ladders-rise-and-up-and-down-the-skies-with/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [When you really need help, people will respond. Sincerity means dropping the image facade and showing a willingness to be vulnerable. Tell it the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/when-you-really-need-help-people-will-respond-sincerity-means/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [True freedom is an inward state of being. Once it is attained, no situation in the world can bind one or limit one's freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/true-freedom-is-an-inward-state-of-being-once-it-is-attained-no/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [I like Dr. Daniel Amen's 18/40/60 Rule: When you're 18, you worry about what everybody is thinking of you; when you're 40, you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/i-like-dr-daniel-amen-s-18-40-60-rule-when-you-re-18-you-worry-about/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [If you want to find greater happiness and fulfillment in your life, you must begin to understand and live in harmony with the law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/if-you-want-to-find-greater-happiness-and-fulfillment-in-your-life/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [“ Leave sooner, drive slower, live longer. -Author Unknown ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/leave-sooner-drive-slower-live-longer-author-unknown/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [I believe that people make their own luck by great preparation and good strategy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/i-believe-that-people-make-their-own-luck-by-great-preparation-and/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [You don't know you're going to get a 'No' until you ask, and if you don't ask, you've given yourself the No.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/you-don-t-know-you-re-going-to-get-a-no-until-you-ask-and-if-you-don/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [When Olympic decathlon gold medalist Bruce Jenner asked a roomful of Olympic hopefuls if they had a list of written goals, every one raised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/when-olympic-decathlon-gold-medalist-bruce-jenner-asked-a-roomful-of/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [“ When the Angels arrive, the devils leave. -Egyptian Proverb ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/when-the-angels-arrive-the-devils-leave-egyptian-proverb/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [“ The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. -Psalm 34:7 ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/the-angel-of-the-lord-encamps-around-those-who-fear-him-and-he/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [Remember, you and you alone are responsible for maintaining your energy. Give up blaming, complaining and excuse making, and keep taking action in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/remember-you-and-you-alone-are-responsible-for-maintaining-your/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [If you go to a tree with an ax and take five whacks at the tree every day, it doesn't matter if it's an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/if-you-go-to-a-tree-with-an-ax-and-take-five-whacks-at-the-tree-every/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [I think setting goals is critical; having deadlines for ourselves- how much by when? Too many people have these big dreams where they want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/i-think-setting-goals-is-critical-having-deadlines-for-ourselves-how/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [Don't worry about failures, worry about the chances you miss when you don't even try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/don-t-worry-about-failures-worry-about-the-chances-you-miss-when-you/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) [Explore all 361 Jack Canfield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) ## 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": "The big problem in America is that everyone is spending 2-3 hours a day watching TV. 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