--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's this American dream to put enough…" description: "\"There's this American dream to put enough away that you can golf and build a birdhouse or just be in a Barcalounger watching football all day. I'll nev..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00e/kevin-bacon-2641_american-dream_there-s-this-american-dream-to-put-enoug_2600986.jpg" --- # There's this American dream to put enough away that you… ![“There's this American dream to put enough away that you can golf and build a birdhouse or just be in a Barcalounger watching football all day. I'll never be that guy. And I'm not really sure the people who have that are all that happy. Our desires as a man are to work, plow ahead, and overcome…” quote by Kevin Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00e/kevin-bacon-2641_american-dream_there-s-this-american-dream-to-put-enoug_2600986.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00e/kevin-bacon-2641_american-dream_there-s-this-american-dream-to-put-enoug_2600986.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00e/kevin-bacon-2641_american-dream_there-s-this-american-dream-to-put-enoug_2600986.jpg) > “There's this American dream to put enough away that you can golf and build a birdhouse or just be in a Barcalounger watching football all day. I'll never be that guy. And I'm not really sure the people who have that are all that happy. Our desires as a man are to work, plow ahead, and overcome conflict.” [Kevin Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bacon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The ideal of leisure and comfort is not universally satisfying; true fulfillment comes from purposeful work and overcoming challenges. **In simple terms:** Comfort alone isn’t enough; work gives meaning. Key Takeaway Embrace effort over idle comfort. Themes work purpose contentment Mood thoughtful motivational Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - personal goals - financial planning - life balance Key Concepts psychology social expectations Questions to Reflect On - What drives your sense of purpose? - How do you balance work and relaxation? A Different Perspective Too much leisure can lead to stagnation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-dream/) [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Desires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desires/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [All you want is to be happy. All your desires, whatever they may be, are longing for happiness. Basically, you wish yourself well...desire by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/all-you-want-is-to-be-happy-all-your-desires-whatever-they-may-be-are/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [Seek the outstanding mental conflict in the person, give him the remedy that will overcome that conflict and all the hope and encouragement you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bach/seek-the-outstanding-mental-conflict-in-the-person-give-him-the/) [Edward Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bach/) > [“What absurd victims of contrary desires we are! If a man is settled in one place he yearns to wander; when he wanders he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-morley/what-absurd-victims-of-contrary-desires-we-are-if-a-man-is-settled-in/) [Christopher Morley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-morley/) > [“No man demands what he desires; each man demands what he fancies he can get. Soon people forget what the man really wanted first;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/no-man-demands-what-he-desires-each-man-demands-what-he-fancies-he/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [I am persuaded that the people of the world have no grievances, one against the other. The hopes and desires of a man who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/i-am-persuaded-that-the-people-of-the-world-have-no-grievances-one/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [The desires of man increase with his acquisitions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-desires-of-man-increase-with-his-acquisitions/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“Nothing would be regarded as obscene, I feel, if men were living out their inmost desires. What man dreads most is to be faced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/nothing-would-be-regarded-as-obscene-i-feel-if-men-were-living-out/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [Where are there are two desires in a man's heart he has no choice between the two but must obey the strongest, there being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/where-are-there-are-two-desires-in-a-man-s-heart-he-has-no-choice/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Limited in his nature, infinite in his desires, man is a fallen god who remembers the heavens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-de-lamartine/limited-in-his-nature-infinite-in-his-desires-man-is-a-fallen-god-who/) [Alphonse de Lamartine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-de-lamartine/) > [The strong desires of man's insatiate breast may stand possess'd Of all that earth can give; but earth can give no rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-strong-desires-of-man-s-insatiate-breast-may-stand-possess-d-of/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Ive never been a huge fan. Ive always enjoyed watching football but Ive never been an avid fan. My family always loved it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-britton/ive-never-been-a-huge-fan-ive-always-enjoyed-watching-football-but/) [Connie Britton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-britton/) > [I spend 12 hours a day at the training ground and, apart from speaking to my family on the phone and watching football on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javi-gracia/i-spend-12-hours-a-day-at-the-training-ground-and-apart-from-speaking/) [Javi Gracia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javi-gracia/) > [If we, as a group, can change people's view from thinking they're watching football as opposed to women's football, then I think we've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steph-houghton/if-we-as-a-group-can-change-people-s-view-from-thinking-they-re/) [Steph Houghton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steph-houghton/) > [That was really when I started to get into watching football and college football, right when Tim Tebow was in his heyday at Florida.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-lawrence/that-was-really-when-i-started-to-get-into-watching-football-and/) [Trevor Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-lawrence/) > [The first thing I do on a Sunday is five hours in front of the TV watching football, football, football. I watch my games…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romelu-lukaku/the-first-thing-i-do-on-a-sunday-is-five-hours-in-front-of-the-tv/) [Romelu Lukaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romelu-lukaku/) ## More by Kevin Bacon > [Music is a soundtrack for your life. You hear some tune and you just get swept right back to that point in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-bacon/music-is-a-soundtrack-for-your-life-you-hear-some-tune-and-you-just/) [Kevin Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bacon/) > [Certainly, network television in general relies a little bit too much on keeping people focused and emotional and scared and pushing the envelope by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-bacon/certainly-network-television-in-general-relies-a-little-bit-too-much/) [Kevin Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bacon/) > ['The River Wild' was great, with Meryl Streep. That guy was really a bad dude who was ultimately sort of fundamentally impotent in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-bacon/the-river-wild-was-great-with-meryl-streep-that-guy-was-really-a-bad/) [Kevin Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bacon/) > [After so many years it's embarrassing to admit that I don't honestly know how much I want to be directed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-bacon/after-so-many-years-it-s-embarrassing-to-admit-that-i-don-t-honestly/) [Kevin Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bacon/) > [To me, the struggle is to try to make a less-well-written or less-well-rounded character and find who they are. If you really get it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-bacon/to-me-the-struggle-is-to-try-to-make-a-less-well-written-or-less-well/) [Kevin Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bacon/) > [I wanted to do something heroic if I was going to be on TV. And the first thing that appeals to me once I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-bacon/i-wanted-to-do-something-heroic-if-i-was-going-to-be-on-tv-and-the/) [Kevin Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bacon/) > [I have fond memories of Chris Penn, who's sadly not with us. He always made me laugh - it was great to be with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-bacon/i-have-fond-memories-of-chris-penn-who-s-sadly-not-with-us-he-always/) [Kevin Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bacon/) > [For years and years, people would say, 'The business is changing.' And I would say, 'The business is not changing. It's exactly the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-bacon/for-years-and-years-people-would-say-the-business-is-changing-and-i/) [Kevin Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bacon/) > [Part of being a man is learning to take responsibility for your successes and for your failures. You can't go blaming others or being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-bacon/part-of-being-a-man-is-learning-to-take-responsibility-for-your/) [Kevin Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bacon/) > [I was in the first 'Friday The 13th,' and that was a microbudget horror film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-bacon/i-was-in-the-first-friday-the-13th-and-that-was-a-microbudget-horror/) [Kevin Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bacon/) > [There are people who tell you to shut up because you're just a celebrity, but pundits, talking heads, they're every bit the celebrity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-bacon/there-are-people-who-tell-you-to-shut-up-because-you-re-just-a/) [Kevin Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bacon/) > ['Animal House' was my first movie, so I didn't have anything to compare it to. I was a sight gag more than anything else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-bacon/animal-house-was-my-first-movie-so-i-didn-t-have-anything-to-compare/) [Kevin Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bacon/) > [I want to see the numbers that prove that show-business marriages are any less successful than other marriages. It's just very public when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-bacon/i-want-to-see-the-numbers-that-prove-that-show-business-marriages-are/) [Kevin Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bacon/) > [I like to hike and cook. I enjoy furniture and design - not making it, just looking at it. I'm always kind of trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-bacon/i-like-to-hike-and-cook-i-enjoy-furniture-and-design-not-making-it/) [Kevin Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bacon/) > [It's easy to get laid when you're rich and famous. When you're broke and unknown, it takes skill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-bacon/it-s-easy-to-get-laid-when-you-re-rich-and-famous-when-you-re-broke/) [Kevin Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bacon/) [Explore all 156 Kevin Bacon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bacon/) ## More American dream quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [Are we a nation of guarantees or are we a nation of opportunities to achieve the American dream?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mcdonnell/are-we-a-nation-of-guarantees-or-are-we-a-nation-of-opportunities-to/) [Bob McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mcdonnell/) > [I believe keeping our promises should be our highest priority and that means saving Social Security and Medicare while preserving the American dream for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/i-believe-keeping-our-promises-should-be-our-highest-priority-and/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [Our families and our homes are the center of American life, Everything we do is to make those homes-and the lives in them-more beautiful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stewart/our-families-and-our-homes-are-the-center-of-american-life-everything/) [Martha Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stewart/) > [I want people to know where I come from. I think I have come really far from that, and I did it on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aj-lee/i-want-people-to-know-where-i-come-from-i-think-i-have-come-really/) [AJ Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aj-lee/) > [We need to remain a nation that doesn't just welcome but that celebrates legal immigrants who come here seeking to pursue the American Dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/we-need-to-remain-a-nation-that-doesn-t-just-welcome-but-that/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [By disgracing and degrading the presidency of the United States, by fleeing the White House like a diseased cur, Richard Nixon broke the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/by-disgracing-and-degrading-the-presidency-of-the-united-states-by/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [So many Korean Americans like me came to this country with the hope of achieving their own American Dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-steel/so-many-korean-americans-like-me-came-to-this-country-with-the-hope/) [Michelle Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-steel/) > [“Let's make no mistake about this: The American Dream starts with the neighborhoods. If we wish to rebuild our cities, we must first rebuild…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-milk/let-s-make-no-mistake-about-this-the-american-dream-starts-with-the/) [Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/) > [As a kid, I learned from my parents, teachers, coaches, and friends that what mattered most was Truth - to uncover it, share it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiva-ayyadurai/as-a-kid-i-learned-from-my-parents-teachers-coaches-and-friends-that/) [Shiva Ayyadurai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiva-ayyadurai/) > [Theres a zoom up in the TV screen Living cancer to our self-esteem yea Cause if this an airless beauty queen But everything aint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentinooo-c/theres-a-zoom-up-in-the-tv-screen-living-cancer-to-our-self-esteem/) Valentinooo\_c > [College is part of the American dream. It shouldnt be part of a financial nightmare for families](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mikulski/college-is-part-of-the-american-dream-it-shouldnt-be-part-of-a/) [Barbara Mikulski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mikulski/) > [“New Rule: Americans must realize what makes NFL football so great: socialism. That's right, the NFL takes money from the rich teams and gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/new-rule-americans-must-realize-what-makes-nfl-football-so-great/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [I believe it from the bottom of my heart, and your sons and daughters, too, can have the American dream come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-a-ribicoff/i-believe-it-from-the-bottom-of-my-heart-and-your-sons-and-daughters/) [Abraham A. Ribicoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-a-ribicoff/) > [I dare to imagine a country where every child I hold in my hands, are all God's children, regardless of the color of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wellstone/i-dare-to-imagine-a-country-where-every-child-i-hold-in-my-hands-are/) [Paul Wellstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wellstone/) [Browse all 1,001 American dream quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-dream/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There's this American dream to put enough away that you can golf and build a birdhouse or just be in a Barcalounger watching football all day. I'll never be that guy. And I'm not really sure the people who have that are all that happy. 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