---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democracy is the eagle on the back of a…"
description: "\"Democracy is the eagle on the back of a dollar bill, with 13 arrows in one claw, 13 leaves on a branch, 13 tail feathers, and 13 stars over its head - ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f15/johnny-carson-2644_american-eagle_democracy-is-the-eagle-on-the-back-of-a_1332474.jpg"
---

#  Democracy is the eagle on the back of a dollar bill, with…

![“Democracy is the eagle on the back of a dollar bill, with 13 arrows in one claw, 13 leaves on a branch, 13 tail feathers, and 13 stars over its head - this signifies that when the white man came to this country, it was bad luck for the Indians, bad luck for the trees, bad luck for the wildlife…” quote by Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f15/johnny-carson-2644_american-eagle_democracy-is-the-eagle-on-the-back-of-a_1332474.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f15/johnny-carson-2644_american-eagle_democracy-is-the-eagle-on-the-back-of-a_1332474.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f15/johnny-carson-2644_american-eagle_democracy-is-the-eagle-on-the-back-of-a_1332474.jpg)

> “Democracy is the eagle on the back of a dollar bill, with 13 arrows in one claw, 13 leaves on a branch, 13 tail feathers, and 13 stars over its head - this signifies that when the white man came to this country, it was bad luck for the Indians, bad luck for the trees, bad luck for the wildlife, and lights out for the American eagle.”

[Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/)

## About This Quote

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

The dollar’s design hides a critique of colonization and its impact on indigenous peoples and nature.

**In simple terms:** Symbols can reveal hidden histories.

Key Takeaway

Recognize deeper meanings in everyday symbols.

Themes

history colonialism environment

Mood

critical analytical

Type

historical cultural

When to use this quote

- education curricula
- museum exhibits
- public policy debates
- art installations

Key Concepts

symbolism cultural critique economic power

Questions to Reflect On

- How do symbols shape our view of history?
- What responsibilities do we have to acknowledge past injustices?

A Different Perspective

Interpretations may oversimplify complex histories.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[American eagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-eagle/) [Bad luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-luck/) [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollars/) [Eagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eagle/) [Eagles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eagles/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) [White man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-man/) [Wildlife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wildlife/)

## Related quotes

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> [Every time Europe looks across the Atlantic to see the American Eagle, it observes only the rear end of an ostrich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-g-wells/every-time-europe-looks-across-the-atlantic-to-see-the-american-eagle/)

[H. G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-g-wells/)

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> [The American nation in the sixth ward is a fine people; they love the eagle - on the back of a dollar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finley-peter-dunne/the-american-nation-in-the-sixth-ward-is-a-fine-people-they-love-the/)

[Finley Peter Dunne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finley-peter-dunne/)

> [The Romans worshipped their standard; and the Roman standard happened to be an eagle. Our standard is only one tenth of an eagle,--a dollar,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/the-romans-worshipped-their-standard-and-the-roman-standard-happened/)

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> [The foolish think the Eagle weak, and easy to bring to heel. The Eagle's wings are silken, but its claws are made of steel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-sheldon/the-foolish-think-the-eagle-weak-and-easy-to-bring-to-heel-the-eagle/)

[Sidney Sheldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-sheldon/)

> [Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tecumseh/love-your-life-perfect-your-life-beautify-all-things-in-your-life/)

[Tecumseh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tecumseh/)

> [Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view and demand that they respect yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tecumseh/trouble-no-one-about-their-religion-respect-others-in-their-view-and/)

[Tecumseh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tecumseh/)

> [American Eagle clothing is stylish, flattering and all about embracing your individuality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/american-eagle-clothing-is-stylish-flattering-and-all-about-embracing/)

[Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/)

> [Each man is good in the sight of the Great Spirit. It is not necessary for eagles to be crows. Now we are poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sitting-bull/each-man-is-good-in-the-sight-of-the-great-spirit-it-is-not-necessary/)

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> [Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crazy-horse/treat-the-earth-well-it-was-not-given-to-you-by-your-parents-it-was/)

[Crazy Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crazy-horse/)

> [I've always thought the American eagle needed a left wing and a right wing. The right wing would see to it that economic interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/i-ve-always-thought-the-american-eagle-needed-a-left-wing-and-a-right/)

[Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/)

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> [“Let me guess. Dark hair, brown eyes, great abs, white teeth, Abercrombie & Fitch.” “Close,” I say. “Light brown hair, correct on the eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/let-me-guess-dark-hair-brown-eyes-great-abs-white-teeth-abercrombie/)

[Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/)

## More by Johnny Carson

> [It's silly to have as one's sole object in life just making money, accumulating wealth. I work because I enjoy what I'm doing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/it-s-silly-to-have-as-one-s-sole-object-in-life-just-making-money/)

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> [ I can empathize with President \[George Bush\]. I know what it feels like having a young guy waiting around for you to keel over. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/i-can-empathize-with-president-george-bush-i-know-what-it-feels-like/)

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[Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/)

[Explore all 156 Johnny Carson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/)

## More American eagle quotes

> [“Let me guess. Dark hair, brown eyes, great abs, white teeth, Abercrombie & Fitch.” “Close,” I say. “Light brown hair, correct on the eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/let-me-guess-dark-hair-brown-eyes-great-abs-white-teeth-abercrombie/)

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Gabrielle Davis

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[Sitting Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sitting-bull/)

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