---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I’m like America ” he said. Stephanie…"
description: "\"I’m like America ” he said. Stephanie swung around to look at him unnerved. “What are you talking about ” she said. “Are you off your meds ” “Our hands..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43d/jennifer-egan-825_america_i-m-like-america-he-said-stephanie-swung_2757078.jpg"
---

#  I’m like America ” he said. Stephanie swung around to look…

![“I’m like America ” he said. Stephanie swung around to look at him unnerved. “What are you talking about ” she said. “Are you off your meds ” “Our hands are dirty ” Jules said.” quote by Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43d/jennifer-egan-825_america_i-m-like-america-he-said-stephanie-swung_2757078.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43d/jennifer-egan-825_america_i-m-like-america-he-said-stephanie-swung_2757078.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43d/jennifer-egan-825_america_i-m-like-america-he-said-stephanie-swung_2757078.jpg)

> “I’m like America ” he said. Stephanie swung around to look at him unnerved. “What are you talking about ” she said. “Are you off your meds ” “Our hands are dirty ” Jules said.”

[Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A character confronts another, questioning reality and sanity, highlighting disorientation and confrontation.

**In simple terms:** A person questions another’s sanity and motives.

Key Takeaway

Question assumptions and seek clarity.

Themes

identity conflict reality sanity communication

Mood

tense uncertain defensive

Type

dialogue dramatic confrontational

When to use this quote

- family dinner
- therapy session
- political debate
- friendship argument

Key Concepts

psychology social dynamics narrative tension

Questions to Reflect On

- What does “being off your meds” imply about stigma?
- How do we responsibly address mental health in conversation?

A Different Perspective

The dialogue may oversimplify complex mental health issues.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/)

## Related quotes

> [“Joe" I said. "It's Stephanie." "Does this involve death?" "Not yet." "Does this involve sex?" "Not yet." "I can't imagine why else you'd be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/joe-i-said-it-s-stephanie-does-this-involve-death-not-yet-does-this/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [“Like being a little brat?” he asked. “Depends,” said Stephanie. “Will it get me into trouble?” “A lot of trouble,” Derrick whispered between kissing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bryan/like-being-a-little-brat-he-asked-depends-said-stephanie-will-it-get/)

Anthony Bryan

> [I wouldn't say our relationship is always smooth sailing. In a fun sort of way, this publicizing of some feud has brought us closer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-zimbalist/i-wouldn-t-say-our-relationship-is-always-smooth-sailing-in-a-fun/)

[Stephanie Zimbalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-zimbalist/)

> [ He \[Ranger\] stopped in front of my parents' house, and we both looked to the door. My mother and my grandmother were standing there,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/he-ranger-stopped-in-front-of-my-parents-house-and-we-both-looked-to/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [“It's a penis,' Grandma said. 'Stephanie got it in the mail. It's a pretty good one too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/it-s-a-penis-grandma-said-stephanie-got-it-in-the-mail-it-s-a-pretty/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [Dont let anybody tell you that those who spit on us as we were walking to vote on a health care bill for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-jackson-lee/dont-let-anybody-tell-you-that-those-who-spit-on-us-as-we-were/)

[Sheila Jackson Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-jackson-lee/)

> [“It's a coffee place. You can't just automatically classify anything that isn't a steak house as vegetarian. Yes, I can. This is America. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/it-s-a-coffee-place-you-can-t-just-automatically-classify-anything/)

[Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/)

> [“America?" said Gamesh, smiling. "Roland, what's American to you? Or me, or those tens of thousands up in the the stands? It's just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/america-said-gamesh-smiling-roland-what-s-american-to-you-or-me-or/)

[Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/)

> [We live in America,' he said. 'Everyone who speaks English understands you. How they interpret you is something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/we-live-in-america-he-said-everyone-who-speaks-english-understands/)

[Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/)

> [Bunkum and tummyrot! You'll never get anywhere if you go about what-iffing like that. Would Columbus have discovered America if he'd said 'What if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/bunkum-and-tummyrot-you-ll-never-get-anywhere-if-you-go-about-what/)

[Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/)

> [“In America,” I said, “if you can’t pay back a loan, you declare bankruptcy and that’s the end of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleo-odzer/in-america-i-said-if-you-can-t-pay-back-a-loan-you-declare-bankruptcy/)

Cleo Odzer

> [“sure how that was going to work, but once I got Boris out of the house I could figure something out. “Please, come on.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/sure-how-that-was-going-to-work-but-once-i-got-boris-out-of-the-house/)

[Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/)

> [“You should have asked her first, Trav," America said, shaking her head and covering her mouth with her fingers. "Asked her what? If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/you-should-have-asked-her-first-trav-america-said-shaking-her-head/)

[Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

> [He stood and went to read my pin as I approached. “America, is it?” he said, a smile playing on his lips. “Yes, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiera-cass/he-stood-and-went-to-read-my-pin-as-i-approached-america-is-it-he/)

[Kiera Cass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiera-cass/)

> [“America and Shepley followed behind him. “Let’s just hope no one is stupid enough to say anything to him,” America said. “Or her,” Shepley…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/america-and-shepley-followed-behind-him-let-s-just-hope-no-one-is/)

[Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

## More by Jennifer Egan

> [“Behind the desk was nothing but view-the whole city flung out in front of us the way street vendors fling out their towels packed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/behind-the-desk-was-nothing-but-view-the-whole-city-flung-out-in/)

[Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/)

> [I just think that, for my particular personality, feeling slightly invisible is always a help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-just-think-that-for-my-particular-personality-feeling-slightly/)

[Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/)

> [Between books, I have to throw out everything I did before, because the tools I've used to write the previous book will not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/between-books-i-have-to-throw-out-everything-i-did-before-because-the/)

[Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/)

> [As a reader and a writer, I'm happiest when apparently mutually exclusive states can somehow coexist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/as-a-reader-and-a-writer-i-m-happiest-when-apparently-mutually/)

[Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/)

> [I teach intermittently, and while I enjoy it, I don't find that it's a calling for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-teach-intermittently-and-while-i-enjoy-it-i-don-t-find-that-it-s-a/)

[Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/)

> [Like all failed experiments, that one taught me something I didn’t expect: one key ingredient of so-called experience is the delusional faith that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/like-all-failed-experiments-that-one-taught-me-something-i-didn-t/)

[Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/)

> [“Thousands of solar panels lift and tilt at the same time, in the same way. I clutch at Dad's arm: "Why are they doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/thousands-of-solar-panels-lift-and-tilt-at-the-same-time-in-the-same/)

[Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/)

> [It was the hat. He looked sweet in the hat. How could a man in a fuzzy blue hat have used human bones to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/it-was-the-hat-he-looked-sweet-in-the-hat-how-could-a-man-in-a-fuzzy/)

[Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/)

> [I was a stepchild in two different families. The hardest thing about being a stepchild is you know that in some way everything would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-was-a-stepchild-in-two-different-families-the-hardest-thing-about/)

[Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/)

> [“The seconds pass. I know what’s going on because it’s the same thing that always happens: give me something nice, something I love or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/the-seconds-pass-i-know-what-s-going-on-because-it-s-the-same-thing/)

[Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/)

> [I had this idea that I could hire myself out as a person to go on archeological digs and dig, without any training! I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-had-this-idea-that-i-could-hire-myself-out-as-a-person-to-go-on/)

[Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/)

> [At night, the house thick with sleep, she would peer out her bedroom window at the trees and sky and feel the presence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/at-night-the-house-thick-with-sleep-she-would-peer-out-her-bedroom/)

[Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/)

> [I number my drafts, and by the time a book is done, I'll have 75 or 80 drafts of some sections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-number-my-drafts-and-by-the-time-a-book-is-done-i-ll-have-75-or-80/)

[Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/)

> [Read at the level at which you want to write. Reading is the nourishment that feeds the kind of writing you want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/read-at-the-level-at-which-you-want-to-write-reading-is-the/)

[Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/)

> [I was a stepchild in two different families. The hardest thing about being a stepchild is you know that in some way everything would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-was-a-stepchild-in-two-different-families-the-hardest-thing-about-2/)

[Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/)

[Explore all 358 Jennifer Egan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/)

## 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": "I’m like America ” he said. Stephanie swung around to look at him unnerved. “What are you talking about ” she said. “Are you off your meds ” “Our hands are dirty ” Jules said.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jennifer Egan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-m-like-america-he-said-stephanie-swung-around-to-look-at-him/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "America"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-m-like-america-he-said-stephanie-swung-around-to-look-at-him/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43d/jennifer-egan-825_america_i-m-like-america-he-said-stephanie-swung_2757078.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43d/jennifer-egan-825_america_i-m-like-america-he-said-stephanie-swung_2757078.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43d/jennifer-egan-825_america_i-m-like-america-he-said-stephanie-swung_2757078.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I’m like America ” he said. Stephanie swung around to look at him unnerved. “What are you talking about ”…” — Jennifer Egan",
                "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": "Jennifer Egan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I’m like America ” he said....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-m-like-america-he-said-stephanie-swung-around-to-look-at-him/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-m-like-america-he-said-stephanie-swung-around-to-look-at-him/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
