--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We ought to be beating our chests every…" description: "\"We ought to be beating our chests every day. We ought to look in the mirror, stick out our chests, suck in our bellies, and say, 'Damn, we're Americans..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/jay-garner-91808_american_we-ought-to-be-beating-our-chests-every_3222496.jpg" --- # We ought to be beating our chests every day. We ought to… ![“We ought to be beating our chests every day. We ought to look in the mirror, stick out our chests, suck in our bellies, and say, 'Damn, we're Americans,' and smile.” quote by Jay Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/jay-garner-91808_american_we-ought-to-be-beating-our-chests-every_3222496.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/jay-garner-91808_american_we-ought-to-be-beating-our-chests-every_3222496.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/jay-garner-91808_american_we-ought-to-be-beating-our-chests-every_3222496.jpg) > “We ought to be beating our chests every day. We ought to look in the mirror, stick out our chests, suck in our bellies, and say, 'Damn, we're Americans,' and smile.” [Jay Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-garner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker urges daily patriotic pride, encouraging people to assertively celebrate American identity. **In simple terms:** Daily patriotic affirmation of American identity. Key Takeaway Embrace and express national pride. Themes patriotism confidence identity daily ritual nationalism Mood proud energetic Type appeal motivational When to use this quote - public speaking - social media - community events Key Concepts self‑affirmation public display cultural pride Questions to Reflect On - How does patriotism affect inclusivity? - What alternative ways to celebrate community? A Different Perspective May alienate dissenting perspectives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [Americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans/) [Americans Smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans-smile-6064649/) [Beating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beating/) [Beating Chests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beating-chests-6064650/) [Damn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damn/) [Damn Americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damn-americans-2112346/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Every](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every/) [Every day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-day/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Mirror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirror/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [Ought Beating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought-beating-6064648/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say/) [Smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smile/) [Stick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stick/) [Suck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suck/) ## Related quotes > [Damn Americans. I hate those bastards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-parrish/damn-americans-i-hate-those-bastards/) [Carolyn Parrish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-parrish/) > [Why did Americans smile so often? Was it out of politeness or because of a gay disposition? Whatever it was, I for one had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alliluyeva/why-did-americans-smile-so-often-was-it-out-of-politeness-or-because/) [Svetlana Alliluyeva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alliluyeva/) > [I love beating up on heavyweights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-toney/i-love-beating-up-on-heavyweights/) [James Toney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-toney/) > [If you have a beating heart, that's good enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/if-you-have-a-beating-heart-that-s-good-enough/) [Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/) > [Beating a women is unacceptable. Period. She tries to hit you first, do like I do and tickle her until she pisses herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/beating-a-women-is-unacceptable-period-she-tries-to-hit-you-first-do/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [If you feel more emotion looking at a picture of queuing lorries than a picture of desperate humans living in a lay-by, you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-boyle/if-you-feel-more-emotion-looking-at-a-picture-of-queuing-lorries-than/) [Frankie Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-boyle/) > [ “Bear ‘beating’ in this world. Therein is the taste of the Soul \[the Atma\]. There is no taste \[feeling of goodness, happiness\] in giving… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/bear-beating-in-this-world-therein-is-the-taste-of-the-soul-the-atma/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Were all given some sort of skill in life. Mine just happens to be beating up on people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/were-all-given-some-sort-of-skill-in-life-mine-just-happens-to-be/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [Beating somebody up and dominating them, it's fun. It's sick. But it's fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/beating-somebody-up-and-dominating-them-it-s-fun-it-s-sick-but-it-s/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [Some prescient American collectors, including Vicki and Kent Logan and Mera and Donald Rubell, began collecting Chinese art before 2000 with a genuine passion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-glimcher/some-prescient-american-collectors-including-vicki-and-kent-logan-and/) [Arne Glimcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-glimcher/) > [Beating yourself up about a mistake you made is only going to make you more inclined to do it again. Just accept that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suman-rai/beating-yourself-up-about-a-mistake-you-made-is-only-going-to-make/) [Suman Rai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suman-rai/) > [Its beating for you.. but now its beating for someone else. -.-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexia/its-beating-for-you-but-now-its-beating-for-someone-else/) [Alexia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexia/) > [Until your heart stops beating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-black/until-your-heart-stops-beating/) [Jacob Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-black/) > [There's nothing worse than a violent beating from an unremarkable person. Physical violence with someone is too much like shagging them. Too much id…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-violent-beating-from-an-unremarkable/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [Sometimes the challenge of beating the jet lag and getting a decent sleep can be as hard to solve as finding the right setup…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-grosjean/sometimes-the-challenge-of-beating-the-jet-lag-and-getting-a-decent/) [Romain Grosjean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-grosjean/) ## More by Jay Garner > [I think the day you start building the war plan is the day you start beginning the postwar plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-garner/i-think-the-day-you-start-building-the-war-plan-is-the-day-you-start/) [Jay Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-garner/) [Explore all 2 Jay Garner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-garner/) ## More American quotes > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in a tremendous investment to support millions of workers without a paycheck and behind on bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/congress-passed-the-american-rescue-plan-act-in-a-tremendous/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and employ almost half of the working population. Yet because of their size, they rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/small-businesses-are-the-backbone-of-the-american-economy-and-employ/) [Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/) > [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [New York and San Francisco are distinctly different. San Francisco is driving the American media, not New York. You have young, microwaved millionaires and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/new-york-and-san-francisco-are-distinctly-different-san-francisco-is/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) [Browse all 7,717 American quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We ought to be beating our chests every day. We ought to look in the mirror, stick out our chests, suck in our bellies, and say, 'Damn, we're Americans,' and smile.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay Garner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-garner/we-ought-to-be-beating-our-chests-every-day-we-ought-to-look-in-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-garner/we-ought-to-be-beating-our-chests-every-day-we-ought-to-look-in-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/jay-garner-91808_american_we-ought-to-be-beating-our-chests-every_3222496.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/jay-garner-91808_american_we-ought-to-be-beating-our-chests-every_3222496.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/jay-garner-91808_american_we-ought-to-be-beating-our-chests-every_3222496.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We ought to be beating our chests every day. We ought to look in the mirror, stick out our chests, suck in…” — Jay Garner", "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": "Jay Garner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-garner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We ought to be beating our...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-garner/we-ought-to-be-beating-our-chests-every-day-we-ought-to-look-in-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-garner/we-ought-to-be-beating-our-chests-every-day-we-ought-to-look-in-the/#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 } } ] } ```