--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's difficult to be alive in America…" description: "\"It's difficult to be alive in America today and truly be in denial anymore. It's not hip to be unconscious or uninvolved. One of our great strengths is..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/marianne-williamson-90_alive_it-s-difficult-to-be-alive-in-america-to_1843151.png" --- # It's difficult to be alive in America today and truly be… ![“It's difficult to be alive in America today and truly be in denial anymore. It's not hip to be unconscious or uninvolved. One of our great strengths is that we're an optimistic people, but that doesn't mean we don't have sad days.” quote by Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/marianne-williamson-90_alive_it-s-difficult-to-be-alive-in-america-to_1843151.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/marianne-williamson-90_alive_it-s-difficult-to-be-alive-in-america-to_1843151.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/marianne-williamson-90_alive_it-s-difficult-to-be-alive-in-america-to_1843151.png) > “It's difficult to be alive in America today and truly be in denial anymore. It's not hip to be unconscious or uninvolved. One of our great strengths is that we're an optimistic people, but that doesn't mean we don't have sad days.” [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Living in America now forces acknowledgment of harsh realities; optimism coexists with sadness. **In simple terms:** We must face reality while keeping hope. Key Takeaway Embrace hopeful realism. Themes social awareness optimism sadness politics Mood hopeful concerned Type inspirational political When to use this quote - activism - community organizing - personal reflection - media consumption Key Concepts sociology emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay hopeful amid distress? - What actions turn optimism into change? A Different Perspective Optimism may overlook systemic issues if not paired with action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-today/) [Denial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/denial/) [Denial Anymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/denial-anymore-2367624/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Hips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hips/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Optimistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimistic/) [Optimistic People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimistic-people-235834/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sad day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sad-day/) [Strengths Optimistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strengths-optimistic-2367625/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Unconscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unconscious/) ## Related quotes > [Even a happy life has a sad day. We fail to provide a context which says it's okay to cry, it's okay to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/even-a-happy-life-has-a-sad-day-we-fail-to-provide-a-context-which/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [The soul force we need in America today, more than any other, is the spirit of atonement. We need to humble ourselves before God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-soul-force-we-need-in-america-today-more-than-any-other-is-the/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Be so positive and optimistic that people give up trying to contain you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-barnett/be-so-positive-and-optimistic-that-people-give-up-trying-to-contain/) [Matthew Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-barnett/) > [It is a very interesting world. I'm excited. It is much more optimistic than people think, and there is going to be huge job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-moelis/it-is-a-very-interesting-world-i-m-excited-it-is-much-more-optimistic/) [Ken Moelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-moelis/) > [“There is an advantage, the research shows us, in being op­timistic. People who cope well tend to have an indelible belief that things will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-a-bonanno/there-is-an-advantage-the-research-shows-us-in-being-op-timistic/) [George A. Bonanno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-a-bonanno/) > [Designers are inherently optimistic people who try to make the world a better place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mcdonough/designers-are-inherently-optimistic-people-who-try-to-make-the-world/) [William McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mcdonough/) > [Surround yourself with optimistic people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/surround-yourself-with-optimistic-people/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [There is an interesting scientific dispute about realism and optimism. Some find that very optimistic people have benign illusions about themselves. These people may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-seligman/there-is-an-interesting-scientific-dispute-about-realism-and-optimism/) [Martin Seligman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-seligman/) > [I'm optimistic about people and about the planet and about nature. I think it's resilient, like people are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/i-m-optimistic-about-people-and-about-the-planet-and-about-nature-i/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [“I consider my work optimistic in that the people, during the period I’m writing about them, are experiencing intense emotion. It is my belief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-carpenter/i-consider-my-work-optimistic-in-that-the-people-during-the-period-i/) [Don Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-carpenter/) > [Choosing to associate with positive, optimistic people will accelerate our positive growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-miller/choosing-to-associate-with-positive-optimistic-people-will-accelerate/) [Dan Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-miller/) > [Surround yourself with awesome, confident, positive and optimistic people who will encourage you to stretch, grow and achieve. The more positive energy you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-housham/surround-yourself-with-awesome-confident-positive-and-optimistic/) [Ricardo Housham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-housham/) > [Modest, kind or optimistic people often smile more than snobbish, unkind or pessimistic people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/modest-kind-or-optimistic-people-often-smile-more-than-snobbish/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [If you are hopeful, if you are optimistic, other people want to help you. And if you are down in the dumps, other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/if-you-are-hopeful-if-you-are-optimistic-other-people-want-to-help/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“It is generally the trustful and optimistic people who can afford to retreat. The loveless and faithless ones are compelled by their pessimism to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-white/it-is-generally-the-trustful-and-optimistic-people-who-can-afford-to/) [T.H. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-h-white/) ## More by Marianne Williamson > [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [The reason so many of us are obsessed with becoming stars is because we are not yet starring in our own lives. The cosmic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-reason-so-many-of-us-are-obsessed-with-becoming-stars-is-because/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Great people are not people who have never fallen down. Greatness has to do with how you get back up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/great-people-are-not-people-who-have-never-fallen-down-greatness-has/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [I feel that if your soul was branded by the sixties, you never lost the brand. It's like going into a nightclub and having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-feel-that-if-your-soul-was-branded-by-the-sixties-you-never-lost/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Until we have met the monsters in ourselves, we keep trying to slay them in the outer world. And we find that we cannot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/until-we-have-met-the-monsters-in-ourselves-we-keep-trying-to-slay/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [No matter how sad we might be, the universe is still planning our happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/no-matter-how-sad-we-might-be-the-universe-is-still-planning-our/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Love is who we are, and when we deviate from that love we're deviating from our ultimate, essential, eternal reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/love-is-who-we-are-and-when-we-deviate-from-that-love-we-re-deviating/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [For many, many people, getting married is one of the most important things they will ever do in the pursuit of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/for-many-many-people-getting-married-is-one-of-the-most-important/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [As all of us are only too aware, the loud and frantic voices of the outer world easily drown out the small, still loving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/as-all-of-us-are-only-too-aware-the-loud-and-frantic-voices-of-the/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [It is not too late. You are not too old. You are right on time-And you are better than you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/it-is-not-too-late-you-are-not-too-old-you-are-right-on-time-and-you/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [I tell my mother I went to God in spite of my religious education. I feel that my religious education was inadequate, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-tell-my-mother-i-went-to-god-in-spite-of-my-religious-education-i/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [You don't have to be a spiritual seeker, you can be a businessman dealing with the revolution in computers. You could be a congressman,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/you-don-t-have-to-be-a-spiritual-seeker-you-can-be-a-businessman/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Dear God, I surrender this thought to you, for I would see the miracle that lies behind it. Amen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/dear-god-i-surrender-this-thought-to-you-for-i-would-see-the-miracle/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Sex is not the ultimate high, but the ultimate high hangs out around sex. The ultimate high is the dance with another person, played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/sex-is-not-the-ultimate-high-but-the-ultimate-high-hangs-out-around/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) [Explore all 1,347 Marianne Williamson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) ## More Alive 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/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's difficult to be alive in America today and truly be in denial anymore. It's not hip to be unconscious or uninvolved. 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