--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: America has not always been kind to its…" description: "\"America has not always been kind to its artists and scholars. Somehow the scientists always seem to get the penthouse while the arts and humanities get..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff3/lyndon-b-johnson-684_america_america-has-not-always-been-kind-to-its_201138.jpg" --- # America has not always been kind to its artists and… ![“America has not always been kind to its artists and scholars. Somehow the scientists always seem to get the penthouse while the arts and humanities get the basement.” quote by Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff3/lyndon-b-johnson-684_america_america-has-not-always-been-kind-to-its_201138.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff3/lyndon-b-johnson-684_america_america-has-not-always-been-kind-to-its_201138.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff3/lyndon-b-johnson-684_america_america-has-not-always-been-kind-to-its_201138.jpg) > “America has not always been kind to its artists and scholars. Somehow the scientists always seem to get the penthouse while the arts and humanities get the basement.” [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artists and scholars often receive less support and prestige than scientists, reflecting cultural bias toward utilitarian fields. **In simple terms:** Arts get less support than science. Key Takeaway Advocate for equal funding for arts. Themes culture inequality funding value of humanities Mood reflective concerned Type political observational When to use this quote - policy debates - grant applications - education curricula - public advocacy Key Concepts cultural bias resource allocation social hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - How can society better recognize the economic impact of the arts? - What policies could balance support for science and humanities? A Different Perspective Arts may be seen as less economically valuable, affecting funding decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Arts and humanities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arts-and-humanities/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Penthouses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/penthouses/) [Rewards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewards/) [Scholar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scholar/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) ## Related quotes > [Many artists and scholars have pointed out that ultimately art depends on human nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/many-artists-and-scholars-have-pointed-out-that-ultimately-art/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [Vowels are the most illuminated letters in the alphabet. Vowels are the colors and souls of poetry and speech. (1976 Penthouse interview)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/vowels-are-the-most-illuminated-letters-in-the-alphabet-vowels-are/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I have been asked to pose for Penthouse on my hundredth birthday. Everybody is going to be sorry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-have-been-asked-to-pose-for-penthouse-on-my-hundredth-birthday/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [You can put me in the basement or the penthouse, it doesn’t matter to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davy-jones/you-can-put-me-in-the-basement-or-the-penthouse-it-doesn-t-matter-to/) [Davy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davy-jones/) > [I saw that Donald Trump is selling his penthouse suite at the Trump Park Avenue building here in New York City for $21 million.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/i-saw-that-donald-trump-is-selling-his-penthouse-suite-at-the-trump/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [It's more about subtracting every single buck from the tourists that still flock there. Gentrification and the need for developers to maximize their profits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-ridgers/it-s-more-about-subtracting-every-single-buck-from-the-tourists-that/) [Derek Ridgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-ridgers/) > [Hell is being trapped in a night-club with the'beautiful people'and forced to live in a'luxury penthouse flat'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-johnson/hell-is-being-trapped-in-a-night-club-with-the-beautiful-people-and/) [Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-johnson/) > [Forget about writing to Penthouse. This one was going to be a story for their grandkids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-brockmann/forget-about-writing-to-penthouse-this-one-was-going-to-be-a-story/) [Suzanne Brockmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-brockmann/) > [Inside the mirrored elevator, Mulch used a telescopic pointer to push P for the penthouse. For the first few months he had jumped to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/inside-the-mirrored-elevator-mulch-used-a-telescopic-pointer-to-push/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [You’re right,” she acknowledged. “I don’t know you, really. We spent all of about thirty minutes together nearly a decade ago. Still, I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-james/you-re-right-she-acknowledged-i-don-t-know-you-really-we-spent-all-of/) [Julie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-james/) > [My family didn't find out until I told them, which was when I won Penthouse Pet of the Year. They took it as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunny-leone/my-family-didn-t-find-out-until-i-told-them-which-was-when-i-won/) Sunny Leone > [My ultimate goal will be my being told in a Penthouse letter that I can frame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-cooper/my-ultimate-goal-will-be-my-being-told-in-a-penthouse-letter-that-i/) [Alice Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-cooper/) > [Success is like a high-rise building I'm on the first floor. There are a lot of people in the basement or the parking lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-guarini/success-is-like-a-high-rise-building-i-m-on-the-first-floor-there-are/) [Justin Guarini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-guarini/) > [It's a short trip from the penthouse to the outhouse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dietzel/it-s-a-short-trip-from-the-penthouse-to-the-outhouse/) [Paul Dietzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dietzel/) > [I am in Paris. Yes ma'am , I made it back. I came up from Berlin, stopped here ten days, fought a losing battle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-anne-porter/i-am-in-paris-yes-ma-am-i-made-it-back-i-came-up-from-berlin-stopped/) [Katherine Anne Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-anne-porter/) ## More by Lyndon B. Johnson > [There is something more important than any ultimate weapon. That is the ultimate position-the position of total control over Earth that lies somewhere out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/there-is-something-more-important-than-any-ultimate-weapon-that-is/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [Each year more than 100,000 high school graduates, with proved ability, do not enter college because they cannot afford it. And if we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/each-year-more-than-100-000-high-school-graduates-with-proved-ability/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [Knowledge is of two kinds: we know a subject itself, or know where to find it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/knowledge-is-of-two-kinds-we-know-a-subject-itself-or-know-where-to/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [We come to reason, not to dominate. We do not seek to have our way, but to find a common way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/we-come-to-reason-not-to-dominate-we-do-not-seek-to-have-our-way-but/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [I have learned that only two things are necessary to keep one's wife happy. First, let her think she's having her own way. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/i-have-learned-that-only-two-things-are-necessary-to-keep-one-s-wife/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [For me, it is a deep personal tragedy. I know that the world shares the sorrow that Mrs. Kennedy and her family bear. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/for-me-it-is-a-deep-personal-tragedy-i-know-that-the-world-shares-the/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [Today, 8 million adult Americans, more than the entire population of Michigan, have not finished 5 years of school. Nearly 20 million have not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/today-8-million-adult-americans-more-than-the-entire-population-of/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [Republicans simply don't know how to manage the economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/republicans-simply-don-t-know-how-to-manage-the-economy/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [I don't believe I'll ever get credit for anything I do in foreign affairs, no matter how successful it is, because I didn't go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/i-don-t-believe-i-ll-ever-get-credit-for-anything-i-do-in-foreign/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [There are no favorites in my office. I treat them all with the same general inconsideration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/there-are-no-favorites-in-my-office-i-treat-them-all-with-the-same/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [I'm the only president you've got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/i-m-the-only-president-you-ve-got/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [I am afraid, ... that health begins, after seventy, and often long before, to have a meaning different from that which it had at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/i-am-afraid-that-health-begins-after-seventy-and-often-long-before-to/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [The family is the corner stone of our society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/the-family-is-the-corner-stone-of-our-society/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [Never make a speech at a country dance or a football game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/never-make-a-speech-at-a-country-dance-or-a-football-game/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [Our society is illuminated by the spiritual insights of the Hebrew prophets. America and Israel have a common love of human freedom and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/our-society-is-illuminated-by-the-spiritual-insights-of-the-hebrew/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) [Explore all 411 Lyndon B. Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) ## 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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