--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is a cleavage and a divide in…" description: "\"There is a cleavage and a divide in America like I have never seen before.\" — Mark Shields" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/mark-shields-1572_america_there-is-a-cleavage-and-a-divide-in-amer_893228.png" --- # There is a cleavage and a divide in America like I have… ![“There is a cleavage and a divide in America like I have never seen before.” quote by Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/mark-shields-1572_america_there-is-a-cleavage-and-a-divide-in-amer_893228.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/mark-shields-1572_america_there-is-a-cleavage-and-a-divide-in-amer_893228.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/mark-shields-1572_america_there-is-a-cleavage-and-a-divide-in-amer_893228.png) > “There is a cleavage and a divide in America like I have never seen before.” [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. America is experiencing a deep political and cultural split unseen in recent history. **In simple terms:** America is divided politically. Key Takeaway Seek common ground despite differences. Themes politics division polarization Mood analytical concerned Type political observational When to use this quote - elections - community meetings - online debates Key Concepts social cohesion media influence Questions to Reflect On - What factors contribute to the current divide? - How can dialogue bridge gaps? A Different Perspective Divisions can be reinforced by echo chambers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-like/) [Cleavage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleavage/) [Cleavage Divide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleavage-divide-1169119/) [Divide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divide/) [Divide America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divide-america-1169118/) [Divides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divides/) ## Related quotes > [We do not need to divide America over who served and how. I have personally always believed that many served in many different ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/we-do-not-need-to-divide-america-over-who-served-and-how-i-have/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [America faces very real challenges. The climate crisis, inequality, stagnant wages, student debt - the list goes on. Rather than address these serious problems,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-steyer/america-faces-very-real-challenges-the-climate-crisis-inequality/) [Tom Steyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-steyer/) > [Differences don’t just threaten and divide us. They also inform, enrich, and enliven us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/differences-don-t-just-threaten-and-divide-us-they-also-inform-enrich/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Comedy unites, it doesn't divide!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/comedy-unites-it-doesn-t-divide/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [A democracy is a state in which the poor, gaining the upper hand, kill some and banish others, and then divide the offices among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/a-democracy-is-a-state-in-which-the-poor-gaining-the-upper-hand-kill/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [To get the full value of joy You must have someone to divide it with. After all these years I see that I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/to-get-the-full-value-of-joy-you-must-have-someone-to-divide-it-with/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [When you expect something, when you aim at something, right there you dilute your energy; you split your energy, you split your attention and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taizan-maezumi/when-you-expect-something-when-you-aim-at-something-right-there-you/) [Taizan Maezumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taizan-maezumi/) > [Divide and conquer must become define and empower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/divide-and-conquer-must-become-define-and-empower/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [When we talk about what we believe we divide. When we talk about who we believe in we unite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-stanley-jones/when-we-talk-about-what-we-believe-we-divide-when-we-talk-about-who/) [E. Stanley Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-stanley-jones/) > [If I am able to determine the enemy's dispositions while at the same time I conceal my own, then I can concentrate and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/if-i-am-able-to-determine-the-enemy-s-dispositions-while-at-the-same/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [It was close to like a 67- or 70-day shoot for 'Tron' on stage, in the suit. You can't even sit down during the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hedlund/it-was-close-to-like-a-67-or-70-day-shoot-for-tron-on-stage-in-the/) [Garrett Hedlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hedlund/) > [I think Donald Trump is dividing the American people. He is not good for America. It's not good for our standing in the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/i-think-donald-trump-is-dividing-the-american-people-he-is-not-good/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [“Pick a leader who will keep jobs in your country by offering companies incentives to hire only within their borders, not one who allows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/pick-a-leader-who-will-keep-jobs-in-your-country-by-offering/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [The forces that divide us are not as strong as those that unite us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-forces-that-divide-us-are-not-as-strong-as-those-that-unite-us/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) ## More by Mark Shields > [I'm not sure Betsy DeVos has ever spent a day in a public school. And I don't - I'm pretty sure Donald Trump hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/i-m-not-sure-betsy-devos-has-ever-spent-a-day-in-a-public-school-and/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Donald Trump is sounding the same theme he has sounded since May or June of 2015.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/donald-trump-is-sounding-the-same-theme-he-has-sounded-since-may-or/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [I do look upon the secretary of education's primary responsibility as the quality of education that - and improving the education that every child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/i-do-look-upon-the-secretary-of-education-s-primary-responsibility-as/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Dan Coats, retiring senator from Indiana, a mild-mannered man, a former United States ambassador to Germany, former congressman, said of Ted Cruz he's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/dan-coats-retiring-senator-from-indiana-a-mild-mannered-man-a-former/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [It's interesting how identity politics and Ann Coulter-style tactics have now blossomed. But they were always there in CPAC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/it-s-interesting-how-identity-politics-and-ann-coulter-style-tactics/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [When you run for president of the United States, everybody does the same thing in the campaign-they talk about veterans, how much they admire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/when-you-run-for-president-of-the-united-states-everybody-does-the/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Americans don't like powerful figures who punch down, that is, who pick on someone less powerful and less able to speak for themselves than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/americans-don-t-like-powerful-figures-who-punch-down-that-is-who-pick/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Everyone has to take Donald Trump seriously, and I think that's what we're seeing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/everyone-has-to-take-donald-trump-seriously-and-i-think-that-s-what/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Donald Trump defies gravity. And so I guess he has to be Donald Trump. It's gotten him so far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/donald-trump-defies-gravity-and-so-i-guess-he-has-to-be-donald-trump/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [ My church \[Catholisism\] is hurting from arrogance and from its indifference to the suffering of children that were abused and the inclination of the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/my-church-catholisism-is-hurting-from-arrogance-and-from-its/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [America is Republican until 5:00 or 6:00 at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/america-is-republican-until-5-00-or-6-00-at-night/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [John Kerry's biography was central to his campaign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/john-kerry-s-biography-was-central-to-his-campaign/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [I think Guantanamo, has been synonymous with the staining of American values and American legal tradition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/i-think-guantanamo-has-been-synonymous-with-the-staining-of-american/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Stronger together is, I think, a preposition and a comparative adjective, but it's not really an action verb or what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/stronger-together-is-i-think-a-preposition-and-a-comparative/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [If you only make fights that you're going to win, there would be no women's vote in America, there would be no civil rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/if-you-only-make-fights-that-you-re-going-to-win-there-would-be-no/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) [Explore all 227 Mark Shields quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) ## 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. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is a cleavage and a divide in America like I have never seen before.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mark Shields" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/there-is-a-cleavage-and-a-divide-in-america-like-i-have-never-seen/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/there-is-a-cleavage-and-a-divide-in-america-like-i-have-never-seen/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/mark-shields-1572_america_there-is-a-cleavage-and-a-divide-in-amer_893228.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/mark-shields-1572_america_there-is-a-cleavage-and-a-divide-in-amer_893228.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a37/mark-shields-1572_america_there-is-a-cleavage-and-a-divide-in-amer_893228.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is a cleavage and a divide in America like I have never seen before.” — Mark Shields", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mark Shields", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There is a cleavage and a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/there-is-a-cleavage-and-a-divide-in-america-like-i-have-never-seen/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/there-is-a-cleavage-and-a-divide-in-america-like-i-have-never-seen/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```