--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some Americans are under the grossly…" description: "\"Some Americans are under the grossly mistaken impression that because we violently and triumphantly unyoked ourselves from the British Empire oh so man..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5c/mary-katharine-ham-5137_british-empire_some-americans-are-under-the-grossly-mis_2738096.jpg" --- # Some Americans are under the grossly mistaken impression… ![“Some Americans are under the grossly mistaken impression that because we violently and triumphantly unyoked ourselves from the British Empire oh so many years ago, we are under some sort of informal directive to spurn the traditions and hoopla of the royal family.” quote by Mary Katharine Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5c/mary-katharine-ham-5137_british-empire_some-americans-are-under-the-grossly-mis_2738096.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5c/mary-katharine-ham-5137_british-empire_some-americans-are-under-the-grossly-mis_2738096.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5c/mary-katharine-ham-5137_british-empire_some-americans-are-under-the-grossly-mis_2738096.jpg) > “Some Americans are under the grossly mistaken impression that because we violently and triumphantly unyoked ourselves from the British Empire oh so many years ago, we are under some sort of informal directive to spurn the traditions and hoopla of the royal family.” [Mary Katharine Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-katharine-ham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that many Americans mistakenly believe they must reject British traditions because of historical rebellion. **In simple terms:** People think they must reject British customs due to past independence. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about cultural rejection. Themes identity history culture Mood reflective critical Type political cultural When to use this quote - political debates - social media discussions - educational curricula - family traditions - public events Key Concepts nationalism colonial legacy cultural memory Questions to Reflect On - Why do historical narratives shape current cultural attitudes? - How can we balance respect for tradition with national identity? A Different Perspective Not all Americans share this view; some still appreciate British heritage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Americans Grossly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans-grossly-3006099/) [British empire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british-empire/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Grossly Mistaken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grossly-mistaken-3006100/) [Impression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impression/) [Many](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/many/) [Mistaken Impression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistaken-impression-422189/) [Royal family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/royal-family/) [Spurn Traditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spurn-traditions-3006097/) [Unyoked British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unyoked-british-3006098/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) ## Related quotes > [“He was under the mistaken impression that I didn't have enough tact. The truth was, I had no tact.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-hanson/he-was-under-the-mistaken-impression-that-i-didn-t-have-enough-tact/) [Caroline Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-hanson/) > [He raked his fingers through his hair. "She doesn't need me." Ralston smirked. "You are laboring under that mistaken impression that it is their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-maclean/he-raked-his-fingers-through-his-hair-she-doesn-t-need-me-ralston/) [Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) > [“After the British victory against Napoleon, Britain was indisputably the leading global power. The British Empire expanded significantly toward Asia, driven by the advances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/after-the-british-victory-against-napoleon-britain-was-indisputably/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [By 1917, thanks to the new munitions factories and the women that worked in them, the British Empire was supplying more than 50 million…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-david/by-1917-thanks-to-the-new-munitions-factories-and-the-women-that/) [Saul David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-david/) > [You know, when I was a girl, the idea that the British Empire could ever end was absolutely inconceivable. And it just disappeared, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/you-know-when-i-was-a-girl-the-idea-that-the-british-empire-could/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Happy Independence Day to Pakistan! On this day sixty-six years ago the country gained sovereignty from the British Empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happy-independence-day-to-pakistan-on-this-day-sixty-six-years-ago/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let it be our endeavour, let it be our task, to keep alight the torch of imperial patriotism, to hold fast the affection and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chamberlain/let-it-be-our-endeavour-let-it-be-our-task-to-keep-alight-the-torch/) [Joseph Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chamberlain/) > [A nationally known advertising man wrote me theother day ... to suggest that we tell the truth, i.e., that we are not concerned with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-nationally-known-advertising-man-wrote-me-theother-day-to-suggest/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“First law of poultry farming: keep your livestock busy with trivial problems, so they stay ever oblivious to systemic criminal activities. That's why the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/first-law-of-poultry-farming-keep-your-livestock-busy-with-trivial/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Canada's ruling circles seek to ally themselves more closely with American imperialism without giving up the economic advantages of membership in the British Empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-buck/canada-s-ruling-circles-seek-to-ally-themselves-more-closely-with/) [Tim Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-buck/) > [“People still said that “The Sun Never Sets on the British Empire,” even though the Commonwealth was starting to come apart. In spite of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/captain-hank-bracker-seawater-two/people-still-said-that-the-sun-never-sets-on-the-british-empire-even/) [Captain Hank Bracker, "Seawater Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/captain-hank-bracker-seawater-two/) > [England are still the only difference in the world was the first British Empire were slaves of the slaves of today's English language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/england-are-still-the-only-difference-in-the-world-was-the-first/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [“Holocaust Theatre (Naskaristana 2799) Most social issues are rooted in religion, most religious issues are rooted in politics, most political issues are vestiges of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/holocaust-theatre-naskaristana-2799-most-social-issues-are-rooted-in/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Taxation, the very thing that had triggered the British civil wars, would do so again, this time in America. The taxes may have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/taxation-the-very-thing-that-had-triggered-the-british-civil-wars/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) > [the twelve or fifteen millions in the British Empire, who, while they possess no electoral rights, are yet persuaded they are freemen, and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cobden/the-twelve-or-fifteen-millions-in-the-british-empire-who-while-they/) [Richard Cobden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cobden/) ## More by Mary Katharine Ham > [TV images are powerful and sometimes unfair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-katharine-ham/tv-images-are-powerful-and-sometimes-unfair/) [Mary Katharine Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-katharine-ham/) > [People will take every opportunity to pay you nothing if you're willing to do your work for free, be you man or woman. Women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-katharine-ham/people-will-take-every-opportunity-to-pay-you-nothing-if-you-re/) [Mary Katharine Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-katharine-ham/) > [Mistakes will always happen, but the way they're corrected can help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-katharine-ham/mistakes-will-always-happen-but-the-way-they-re-corrected-can-help/) [Mary Katharine Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-katharine-ham/) > [One of the hallmarks of a Trump administration has been to introduce us to quintessentially New York characters and their special brand of famous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-katharine-ham/one-of-the-hallmarks-of-a-trump-administration-has-been-to-introduce/) [Mary Katharine Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-katharine-ham/) > [Passionate critics of the president often go after him because he violates norms and goes to extraordinary measures to take on his adversaries. Fair,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-katharine-ham/passionate-critics-of-the-president-often-go-after-him-because-he/) [Mary Katharine Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-katharine-ham/) > [Before 'trolling' was a phenomenon with a well-known name, PETA had perfected it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-katharine-ham/before-trolling-was-a-phenomenon-with-a-well-known-name-peta-had/) [Mary Katharine Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-katharine-ham/) > [Disappearing controversial words and works doesn't make us smarter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-katharine-ham/disappearing-controversial-words-and-works-doesn-t-make-us-smarter/) [Mary Katharine Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-katharine-ham/) > [It's important to the country for the gulf between many American voters and the people who cover them to get smaller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-katharine-ham/it-s-important-to-the-country-for-the-gulf-between-many-american/) [Mary Katharine Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-katharine-ham/) > [I always had overlapping social circles with different ideological groups and different activist groups.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-katharine-ham/i-always-had-overlapping-social-circles-with-different-ideological/) [Mary Katharine Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-katharine-ham/) > [Criticism of a government can, of course, come from those who also have racist intent. We should always be careful not to scapegoat people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-katharine-ham/criticism-of-a-government-can-of-course-come-from-those-who-also-have/) [Mary Katharine Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-katharine-ham/) > [There are plenty of things a White House can't control in the run-up to a midterm election. But they can control the way they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-katharine-ham/there-are-plenty-of-things-a-white-house-can-t-control-in-the-run-up/) [Mary Katharine Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-katharine-ham/) > [Protections of free speech are what makes inclusion and diversity possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-katharine-ham/protections-of-free-speech-are-what-makes-inclusion-and-diversity/) [Mary Katharine Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-katharine-ham/) > [The way that social media is structured, you get a payout for high emotion, for clickability. And your 40-point tax plan is not emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-katharine-ham/the-way-that-social-media-is-structured-you-get-a-payout-for-high/) [Mary Katharine Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-katharine-ham/) > [There are injustices in the world. Life isn't fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-katharine-ham/there-are-injustices-in-the-world-life-isn-t-fair/) [Mary Katharine Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-katharine-ham/) > [When you go to a dinner party in Durham, you bring your moral outrage instead of wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-katharine-ham/when-you-go-to-a-dinner-party-in-durham-you-bring-your-moral-outrage/) [Mary Katharine Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-katharine-ham/) [Explore all 103 Mary Katharine Ham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-katharine-ham/) ## More British empire quotes > [the twelve or fifteen millions in the British Empire, who, while they possess no electoral rights, are yet persuaded they are freemen, and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cobden/the-twelve-or-fifteen-millions-in-the-british-empire-who-while-they/) [Richard Cobden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cobden/) > [Taxation, the very thing that had triggered the British civil wars, would do so again, this time in America. The taxes may have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/taxation-the-very-thing-that-had-triggered-the-british-civil-wars/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) > [“Holocaust Theatre (Naskaristana 2799) Most social issues are rooted in religion, most religious issues are rooted in politics, most political issues are vestiges of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/holocaust-theatre-naskaristana-2799-most-social-issues-are-rooted-in/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [England are still the only difference in the world was the first British Empire were slaves of the slaves of today's English language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/england-are-still-the-only-difference-in-the-world-was-the-first/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [“People still said that “The Sun Never Sets on the British Empire,” even though the Commonwealth was starting to come apart. In spite of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/captain-hank-bracker-seawater-two/people-still-said-that-the-sun-never-sets-on-the-british-empire-even/) [Captain Hank Bracker, "Seawater Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/captain-hank-bracker-seawater-two/) > [Canada's ruling circles seek to ally themselves more closely with American imperialism without giving up the economic advantages of membership in the British Empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-buck/canada-s-ruling-circles-seek-to-ally-themselves-more-closely-with/) [Tim Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-buck/) > [“First law of poultry farming: keep your livestock busy with trivial problems, so they stay ever oblivious to systemic criminal activities. That's why the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/first-law-of-poultry-farming-keep-your-livestock-busy-with-trivial/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [A nationally known advertising man wrote me theother day ... to suggest that we tell the truth, i.e., that we are not concerned with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-nationally-known-advertising-man-wrote-me-theother-day-to-suggest/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let it be our endeavour, let it be our task, to keep alight the torch of imperial patriotism, to hold fast the affection and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chamberlain/let-it-be-our-endeavour-let-it-be-our-task-to-keep-alight-the-torch/) [Joseph Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chamberlain/) > [Happy Independence Day to Pakistan! On this day sixty-six years ago the country gained sovereignty from the British Empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happy-independence-day-to-pakistan-on-this-day-sixty-six-years-ago/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You know, when I was a girl, the idea that the British Empire could ever end was absolutely inconceivable. And it just disappeared, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/you-know-when-i-was-a-girl-the-idea-that-the-british-empire-could/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [By 1917, thanks to the new munitions factories and the women that worked in them, the British Empire was supplying more than 50 million…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-david/by-1917-thanks-to-the-new-munitions-factories-and-the-women-that/) [Saul David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-david/) > [“After the British victory against Napoleon, Britain was indisputably the leading global power. The British Empire expanded significantly toward Asia, driven by the advances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/after-the-british-victory-against-napoleon-britain-was-indisputably/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [Savagery was a word that Westerners used to, again, to consciously differentiate them from non-Westerners, to assert that superiority, that cultural superiority. It goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-williams-jr/savagery-was-a-word-that-westerners-used-to-again-to-consciously/) [Robert A. Williams, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-williams-jr/) > [“A dull, decent people, cherishing and fortifying their dullness behind a quarter of a million bayonets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/a-dull-decent-people-cherishing-and-fortifying-their-dullness-behind/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) [Browse all 169 British empire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british-empire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Some Americans are under the grossly mistaken impression that because we violently and triumphantly unyoked ourselves from the British Empire oh so many years ago, we are under some sort of informal directive to spurn the traditions and hoopla of the royal family.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mary Katharine Ham" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-katharine-ham/some-americans-are-under-the-grossly-mistaken-impression-that-because/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "British empire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-katharine-ham/some-americans-are-under-the-grossly-mistaken-impression-that-because/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5c/mary-katharine-ham-5137_british-empire_some-americans-are-under-the-grossly-mis_2738096.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5c/mary-katharine-ham-5137_british-empire_some-americans-are-under-the-grossly-mis_2738096.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5c/mary-katharine-ham-5137_british-empire_some-americans-are-under-the-grossly-mis_2738096.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Some Americans are under the grossly mistaken impression that because we violently and triumphantly unyoked…” — Mary Katharine Ham", "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": "Mary Katharine Ham", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-katharine-ham/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Some Americans are under the grossly...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-katharine-ham/some-americans-are-under-the-grossly-mistaken-impression-that-because/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-katharine-ham/some-americans-are-under-the-grossly-mistaken-impression-that-because/#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 } } ] } ```