--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Americans took a great deal too much…" description: "\"Americans took a great deal too much credit for creating wealth, when most of the time they had really just been living off natural bounty unprecedente..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73e/jane-smiley-2120_bounty_americans-took-a-great-deal-too-much-cre_2183592.png" --- # Americans took a great deal too much credit for creating… ![“Americans took a great deal too much credit for creating wealth, when most of the time they had really just been living off natural bounty unprecedented in the history of the world.” quote by Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73e/jane-smiley-2120_bounty_americans-took-a-great-deal-too-much-cre_2183592.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73e/jane-smiley-2120_bounty_americans-took-a-great-deal-too-much-cre_2183592.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73e/jane-smiley-2120_bounty_americans-took-a-great-deal-too-much-cre_2183592.png) > “Americans took a great deal too much credit for creating wealth, when most of the time they had really just been living off natural bounty unprecedented in the history of the world.” [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Historical narratives often overstate human agency, ignoring natural resources that enable wealth. **In simple terms:** We often credit humans for wealth, ignoring nature. Key Takeaway Recognize environmental foundations of prosperity. Themes history economics environment Mood critical analytical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - policy analysis - educational curricula - public discourse - environmental advocacy Key Concepts anthropocentrism resource dependency wealth creation Questions to Reflect On - What role do natural resources play in modern economies? - How can we balance credit between people and environment? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on human effort can downplay systemic inequities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating/) [Creating wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating-wealth/) [Credit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credit/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-history/) ## Related quotes > [If we are still here to witness the destruction of our planet some five billion years or more hence, then we will have achieved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/if-we-are-still-here-to-witness-the-destruction-of-our-planet-some/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [We are in a world of irredeemable paper money - a state of affairs unprecedented in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-exter/we-are-in-a-world-of-irredeemable-paper-money-a-state-of-affairs/) John Exter > [You think your pains and heartbreaks are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. \[and then you discover that others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-baldwin/you-think-your-pains-and-heartbreaks-are-unprecedented-in-the-history/) [James A. 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That might include at-risk youth, veterans returning to the workforce, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punit-renjen/skills-building-opportunities-should-be-extended-to-people-outside-of/) [Punit Renjen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punit-renjen/) > [Socialism takes and redistributes wealth, but it is utterly incapable of creating wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/socialism-takes-and-redistributes-wealth-but-it-is-utterly-incapable/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [If you believe that when the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, then you believe that creating wealth causes poverty, and you're an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-medved/if-you-believe-that-when-the-rich-get-richer-the-poor-get-poorer-then/) [Michael Medved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-medved/) ## More by Jane Smiley > [Some novelists are luckier than others in the eras of their formative intellectual years, but all Weltanschauungs return, which means that most novelists have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/some-novelists-are-luckier-than-others-in-the-eras-of-their-formative/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) > [There can never be such a thing as a free market, because it is human nature to cheat, monopolize, and buy off others so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/there-can-never-be-such-a-thing-as-a-free-market-because-it-is-human/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) > [The only siblings I have are half-siblings. My nuclear family would have been an extra-suffocating threesome. Instead, I have an interesting brother and sister,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/the-only-siblings-i-have-are-half-siblings-my-nuclear-family-would/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) > [How will you know a good farmer when you meet him? He will not ask you for any favors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/how-will-you-know-a-good-farmer-when-you-meet-him-he-will-not-ask-you/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) > [You know what getting married is? 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It seemed like I had, but actually,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/we-watched-the-swimmers-and-sunbathers-and-i-thought-about-this-had-i/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) > [“They throw themselves on the waters of the world, and they know they will be borne up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/they-throw-themselves-on-the-waters-of-the-world-and-they-know-they/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) > [everything is toxic. That's the point. You can't avoid toxins. Thinking you can is just another symptom of the toxic overload stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/everything-is-toxic-that-s-the-point-you-can-t-avoid-toxins-thinking/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) > [“Shame is a distinct feeling. I couldn’t look at my hands around the coffee cup or hear my own laments without feeling appalled, wanting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/shame-is-a-distinct-feeling-i-couldn-t-look-at-my-hands-around-the/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) > [“She could not have created this moment, these lovely faces, these candles flickering, the flash of the silverware, the fragrances of the food hanging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/she-could-not-have-created-this-moment-these-lovely-faces-these/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) > [Horse racing is really much more intimidating than anything having to do with literature. When I had horses at the racetrack, I would wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/horse-racing-is-really-much-more-intimidating-than-anything-having-to/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) > [“Had I faced all the facts It seemed like I had but actually you never know just by remembering how many there were to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/had-i-faced-all-the-facts-it-seemed-like-i-had-but-actually-you-never/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) > [A theory of creativity is actually just a metaphor. A pool of ideas, a well of memories, a voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/a-theory-of-creativity-is-actually-just-a-metaphor-a-pool-of-ideas-a/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) > [There are hundreds of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings around the United States and in other countries, too. Wright lived into his 90s, and one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/there-are-hundreds-of-frank-lloyd-wright-buildings-around-the-united/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) [Explore all 185 Jane Smiley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) ## More Bounty quotes > [Stop and go: always on some journey. My bounty is a photograph or two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plachy/stop-and-go-always-on-some-journey-my-bounty-is-a-photograph-or-two/) [Sylvia Plachy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plachy/) > [Our acts of kindness we reserve for our friends, our bounties for our dependants, our riches for our children and relations, our praises for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-massillon/our-acts-of-kindness-we-reserve-for-our-friends-our-bounties-for-our/) [Jean Baptiste Massillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-massillon/) > [The pious farmer, who ne'er misses pray'rs, With patience suffers unexpected rain; He blesses Heav'n for what its bounty spares, And sees, resign'd, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wortley-montagu/the-pious-farmer-who-ne-er-misses-pray-rs-with-patience-suffers/) [Mary Wortley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wortley-montagu/) > [Allah (swt) by His grace has given you some ni'ma (blessing), some bounty. So, the best way to be thankful to Allah (swt) is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junaid-jamshed/allah-swt-by-his-grace-has-given-you-some-ni-ma-blessing-some-bounty/) [Junaid Jamshed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junaid-jamshed/) > [Let us give out of our own bounty, just as God gives to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/let-us-give-out-of-our-own-bounty-just-as-god-gives-to-us/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The bounty of nature is too little for the greedy person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/the-bounty-of-nature-is-too-little-for-the-greedy-person/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [We have a greedy cycle where Human Rights Commissions fine citizens in order to pay their own salaries so they can employ more Human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/we-have-a-greedy-cycle-where-human-rights-commissions-fine-citizens/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [The bible teaches that woman brought sin and death into the world, that she precipitated the fall of the race, that she was arraigned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/the-bible-teaches-that-woman-brought-sin-and-death-into-the-world/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [“Champagne arrived in flûtes on trays, and we emptied them with gladness in our hearts... for when feasts are laid and classical music is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/champagne-arrived-in-fl-tes-on-trays-and-we-emptied-them-with/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) > [O blessed bounty, giving ail content! The only fautress of all noble arts That lend'st success to every good intent. A grace that rests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-drayton/o-blessed-bounty-giving-ail-content-the-only-fautress-of-all-noble/) [Michael Drayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-drayton/) > [Diversity creates harmony, and harmony creates beauty, balance, bounty and peace in nature and society, in agriculture and culture, in science and in politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vandana-shiva/diversity-creates-harmony-and-harmony-creates-beauty-balance-bounty/) [Vandana Shiva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vandana-shiva/) > [We have learned to turn out lots of goods and services, but we haven't learned as well how to have everybody share in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/we-have-learned-to-turn-out-lots-of-goods-and-services-but-we-haven-t/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [ There are certain aspects of celebrity that I understand, although that's not the main point of the story \[in Assassination of Jesse James\] ,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-pitt/there-are-certain-aspects-of-celebrity-that-i-understand-although/) [Brad Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-pitt/) > [Halloween is an ancient druidic holiday, one the Celtic peoples have celebrated for millennia. It is the crack between the last golden rays of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-colgan/halloween-is-an-ancient-druidic-holiday-one-the-celtic-peoples-have/) [Jenny Colgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-colgan/) > [We should be happy. We should be enjoying that there is all this bounty. Somebody can take an iPod and have all the world's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-stock/we-should-be-happy-we-should-be-enjoying-that-there-is-all-this/) [Gregory Stock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-stock/) Browse all 141 Bounty quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Americans took a great deal too much credit for creating wealth, when most of the time they had really just been living off natural bounty unprecedented in the history of the world.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jane Smiley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/americans-took-a-great-deal-too-much-credit-for-creating-wealth-when/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bounty" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/americans-took-a-great-deal-too-much-credit-for-creating-wealth-when/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73e/jane-smiley-2120_bounty_americans-took-a-great-deal-too-much-cre_2183592.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73e/jane-smiley-2120_bounty_americans-took-a-great-deal-too-much-cre_2183592.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73e/jane-smiley-2120_bounty_americans-took-a-great-deal-too-much-cre_2183592.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Americans took a great deal too much credit for creating wealth, when most of the time they had really just…” — Jane Smiley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jane Smiley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Americans took a great deal too...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/americans-took-a-great-deal-too-much-credit-for-creating-wealth-when/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/americans-took-a-great-deal-too-much-credit-for-creating-wealth-when/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```