--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What would my parents think about America…" description: "\"What would my parents think about America if they arrived here today? Would they even want to come? I wonder.\" — Kirk Douglas" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/kirk-douglas-4420_america_what-would-my-parents-think-about-americ_811461.jpg" --- # What would my parents think about America if they arrived… ![“What would my parents think about America if they arrived here today? Would they even want to come? I wonder.” quote by Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/kirk-douglas-4420_america_what-would-my-parents-think-about-americ_811461.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/kirk-douglas-4420_america_what-would-my-parents-think-about-americ_811461.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/kirk-douglas-4420_america_what-would-my-parents-think-about-americ_811461.jpg) > “What would my parents think about America if they arrived here today? Would they even want to come? I wonder.” [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Imagining immigrant parents' perspective on America raises questions of belonging and hope. **In simple terms:** Consider how parents would view modern America. Key Takeaway Reflect on cultural and generational differences. Themes immigration identity belonging Mood contemplative nostalgic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - family reunion - policy debate - personal reflection Key Concepts cultural shock generational gap American Dream Questions to Reflect On - How would their experiences shape their view? - What does America represent to them? A Different Perspective Assumes parents share similar values. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America Arrived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-arrived-263011/) [Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Parents Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents-think/) [Think America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-america/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-come/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [“Lefty, who'd been observing all the ways Greece had been handed down to America, arrived now at where the transmission stopped. In other words:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/lefty-who-d-been-observing-all-the-ways-greece-had-been-handed-down/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [I've always had tremendous support from my parents. I think there's a myth that gay people have lousy relationships with their parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-always-had-tremendous-support-from-my-parents-i-think-there-s-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Imagine if your success in life is determined only by your guts, your hard work, and your willpower, and not by the wealth of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ng/imagine-if-your-success-in-life-is-determined-only-by-your-guts-your/) [Andrew Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ng/) > [My parents did their best - that earns a lot of forgiveness. But they say children grow up in spite of their parents, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-drake/my-parents-did-their-best-that-earns-a-lot-of-forgiveness-but-they/) [Larry Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-drake/) > [Always obey your parents. When they are present. This is the best policy in the long run. Because if you don't, they will make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/always-obey-your-parents-when-they-are-present-this-is-the-best/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [It's funny how parents think we go on the computer to do homework, when were actually on Facebook…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sra/it-s-funny-how-parents-think-we-go-on-the-computer-to-do-homework/) [Sra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sra/) > [Some girls think that your ugly, some boys think your pathetique, some parents think your a rebel, some teachers think that your hopless. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levita-charin/some-girls-think-that-your-ugly-some-boys-think-your-pathetique-some/) [Levita Charin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/levita-charin/) > [My parents think I'm in love with my books buh I'm not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dopekidd/my-parents-think-i-m-in-love-with-my-books-buh-i-m-not/) [Dopekidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dopekidd/) > [Speaking as a parent, I don't think parents think all the time about structures. I know from conversations I've had with other mums, I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-morgan/speaking-as-a-parent-i-don-t-think-parents-think-all-the-time-about/) [Nicky Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-morgan/) > [My parents think I am crazy in the proudest way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rosenthal/my-parents-think-i-am-crazy-in-the-proudest-way/) [Tom Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rosenthal/) > [Every generation has had some sort of focus for their unrest and discomfort with growing up. But today, the music that's in the charts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siouxsie-sioux/every-generation-has-had-some-sort-of-focus-for-their-unrest-and/) [Siouxsie Sioux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siouxsie-sioux/) > [Chinese parents always think you can do better. But it comes from wanting you to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/chinese-parents-always-think-you-can-do-better-but-it-comes-from/) [Alvin Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/) > [Bad parents think it's everyone else's fault and responsibility when little Joey or Jane turns out to be a societal nightmare. Good parents do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bad-parents-think-it-s-everyone-else-s-fault-and-responsibility-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My imaginary friend's parents think I'm not real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/my-imaginary-friend-s-parents-think-i-m-not-real/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“That’s what parents often do, I think, we persuade ourselves we’re doing everything for the sake of the child. It’s too painful to us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fredrik-backman/that-s-what-parents-often-do-i-think-we-persuade-ourselves-we-re/) [Fredrik Backman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fredrik-backman/) ## More by Kirk Douglas > [If I can get enough signatures, to present an apology to slavery, I will present it to the President. The House of Representatives has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/if-i-can-get-enough-signatures-to-present-an-apology-to-slavery-i/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [When I produced Spartacus, the writer was Dalton Trumbo, who spent a year in jail because he would not answer McCarthy's questions about other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/when-i-produced-spartacus-the-writer-was-dalton-trumbo-who-spent-a/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [When you get old the worst thing is you lose so many friends. Burt Lancaster, Frank Sinatra, John Wayne. People who I loved to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/when-you-get-old-the-worst-thing-is-you-lose-so-many-friends-burt/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [Know what a loner is? He's a born cripple. He's a cripple because the only person he can live with is himself. It's his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/know-what-a-loner-is-he-s-a-born-cripple-he-s-a-cripple-because-the/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [When you have a stroke, you must talk slowly to be understood, and I've discovered that when I talk slowly, people listen. They think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/when-you-have-a-stroke-you-must-talk-slowly-to-be-understood-and-i-ve/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [Love has more depth as you get older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/love-has-more-depth-as-you-get-older/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [On a crowded bus in Israel, a mother was speaking to her son in Yiddish. An Israeli woman reprimanded her. "You should be speaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/on-a-crowded-bus-in-israel-a-mother-was-speaking-to-her-son-in/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [You know, you have to have some inner philosophy to deal with adversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/you-know-you-have-to-have-some-inner-philosophy-to-deal-with-adversity/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [I've played some good guys as well, in Spartacus, Paths of Glory and my favorite picture, Lonely Are the Brave, so I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/i-ve-played-some-good-guys-as-well-in-spartacus-paths-of-glory-and-my/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [I never had any desire to be a film actor. I never thought I was the good-looking movie type, which I assumed they wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/i-never-had-any-desire-to-be-a-film-actor-i-never-thought-i-was-the/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [When you get to my age, you find that most of your dear friends are gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/when-you-get-to-my-age-you-find-that-most-of-your-dear-friends-are/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [I came from abject poverty. There was nowhere to go but up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/i-came-from-abject-poverty-there-was-nowhere-to-go-but-up/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [You'll never see Spartacus in a (expletive) chair!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/you-ll-never-see-spartacus-in-a-expletive-chair/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [I'm a loner clear down deep to my guts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/i-m-a-loner-clear-down-deep-to-my-guts/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [I went to Hollywood to test for Martha Ivers and I thought I was going to play the part that Van Heflin played.But they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/i-went-to-hollywood-to-test-for-martha-ivers-and-i-thought-i-was/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) [Explore all 111 Kirk Douglas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) ## 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. 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