--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People - and I think this is particularly…" description: "\"People - and I think this is particularly true of Americans - don't like to be passive. They like to seize control.\" — Martha Nussbaum" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/martha-nussbaum-4759_america_people-and-i-think-this-is-particularly_429209.jpg" --- # People - and I think this is particularly true of… ![“People - and I think this is particularly true of Americans - don't like to be passive. They like to seize control.” quote by Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/martha-nussbaum-4759_america_people-and-i-think-this-is-particularly_429209.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/martha-nussbaum-4759_america_people-and-i-think-this-is-particularly_429209.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/martha-nussbaum-4759_america_people-and-i-think-this-is-particularly_429209.jpg) > “People - and I think this is particularly true of Americans - don't like to be passive. They like to seize control.” [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Americans tend to avoid passivity, preferring active control and agency in life and decisions. **In simple terms:** Americans like to take charge. Key Takeaway Encourage proactive behavior. Themes culture agency individualism psychology politics Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - political campaigns - team projects - personal goal setting Key Concepts passivity vs activity social norms personal empowerment Questions to Reflect On - When is it better to be passive? - How does culture shape agency? A Different Perspective Passivity can be valuable for reflection and listening. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans/) [Americans Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans-don/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Like Passive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-passive-2351703/) [Passive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passive/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-think/) [Seize Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seize-control-2143706/) [True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true/) ## Related quotes > [I'd rather have the market tell us what - I'd rather have events precipitate events, rather than just sit there like passive people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/i-d-rather-have-the-market-tell-us-what-i-d-rather-have-events/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [“Strunk and White don’t speculate as to why so many writers are attracted to passive verbs, but I’m willing to; I think timid writers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/strunk-and-white-don-t-speculate-as-to-why-so-many-writers-are/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Messrs. Strunk and White don’t speculate as to why so many writers are attracted to passive verbs, but I’m willing to; I think timid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/messrs-strunk-and-white-don-t-speculate-as-to-why-so-many-writers-are/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“One might have to be a little ruthless to seize back control of one's life, don't you think?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-george/one-might-have-to-be-a-little-ruthless-to-seize-back-control-of-one-s/) [Nina George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-george/) > [Well, I kind of think that the opposite is true. The customer is rarely right. And that is why you must seize the control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-trotter/well-i-kind-of-think-that-the-opposite-is-true-the-customer-is-rarely/) [Charlie Trotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-trotter/) > [“Be yourself and seize control of your destiny. There is nothing more shameful in life than living someone else's existence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mouloud-benzadi/be-yourself-and-seize-control-of-your-destiny-there-is-nothing-more/) [Mouloud Benzadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mouloud-benzadi/) > [“We seize control FOR THE GREATER GOOD.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/we-seize-control-for-the-greater-good/) [J.K. 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A good way is to construct a bridge between theory and practice -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/you-have-to-connect-your-work-to-what-people-are-doing-a-good-way-is/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [You can't have a democracy when people don't learn to put themselves in the shoes of another person, who can't think what their policies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/you-can-t-have-a-democracy-when-people-don-t-learn-to-put-themselves/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [Every time I undress in the locker room of my gym, I see women bearing the scars of liposuction, tummy tucks, breast implants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/every-time-i-undress-in-the-locker-room-of-my-gym-i-see-women-bearing/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [The U.S. has always understood itself to be united around political principles and not around culture, whereas the nations of Europe have a much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/the-u-s-has-always-understood-itself-to-be-united-around-political/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [Gandhi, when he was on the salt march, had everyone singing the song of Rabindranath Tagore, which goes, 'Walk alone, walk alone...' 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