--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's a very American thing that…" description: "\"It's a very American thing that everything has to be a business. Americans think... I like America, or I would not be here. There are great qualities t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46c/michel-gondry-6811_america_it-s-a-very-american-thing-that-everythi_1917240.png" --- # It's a very American thing that everything has to be a… ![“It's a very American thing that everything has to be a business. Americans think... I like America, or I would not be here. There are great qualities to this country. But this sense that everything has to be a business is sometimes overwhelming.” quote by Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46c/michel-gondry-6811_america_it-s-a-very-american-thing-that-everythi_1917240.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46c/michel-gondry-6811_america_it-s-a-very-american-thing-that-everythi_1917240.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46c/michel-gondry-6811_america_it-s-a-very-american-thing-that-everythi_1917240.png) > “It's a very American thing that everything has to be a business. Americans think... I like America, or I would not be here. There are great qualities to this country. But this sense that everything has to be a business is sometimes overwhelming.” [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. American culture often treats everything as a commercial venture, which can be overwhelming despite its strengths. **In simple terms:** Business mindset pervades US life, sometimes too much. Key Takeaway Balance commercial drive with personal values. Themes culture capitalism national identity Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical commentary When to use this quote - career choices - policy making - personal budgeting - creative work Key Concepts consumerism entrepreneurship social critique Questions to Reflect On - How does commercial pressure affect your daily life? - Can you identify non‑commercial values you cherish? A Different Perspective Not all aspects of American life are business‑driven; many are altruistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [American Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-thing-523979/) [Americans Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans-think/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Business Americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business-americans-2922872/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Like America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-america/) [Overwhelming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overwhelming/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“The most un-American thing you can say is, 'You can't say that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-most-un-american-thing-you-can-say-is-you-can-t-say-that/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [I was taught from a very early age that it was probably the most American thing you can do is to question what's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/i-was-taught-from-a-very-early-age-that-it-was-probably-the-most/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [The term "trash talk" is such an American thing. I still laugh at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/the-term-trash-talk-is-such-an-american-thing-i-still-laugh-at-it/) [Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/) > [“I deigned to suggest to him that it was also the American thing -- America was nothing if not good intentions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandar-hemon/i-deigned-to-suggest-to-him-that-it-was-also-the-american-thing/) [Aleksandar Hemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandar-hemon/) > [It's a very American thing to hide away from death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/it-s-a-very-american-thing-to-hide-away-from-death/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [The Hall Of Fame thing, it's an American thing. We don't have that in England or Germany or Australia or Russia or anywhere in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gillan/the-hall-of-fame-thing-it-s-an-american-thing-we-don-t-have-that-in/) [Ian Gillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gillan/) > [You always want what you can't have, and that all-American thing, from the day I was born, I could never enter that dream. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitski/you-always-want-what-you-can-t-have-and-that-all-american-thing-from/) [Mitski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitski/) > [I don't know if it's a uniquely American thing, but I associate it that way. People get excited by this idea of, 'Let's come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saikat-chakrabarti/i-don-t-know-if-it-s-a-uniquely-american-thing-but-i-associate-it/) [Saikat Chakrabarti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saikat-chakrabarti/) > [I think the most un-American thing you can say is, 'You can't say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/i-think-the-most-un-american-thing-you-can-say-is-you-can-t-say-that/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [A peacetime draft is the most un-American thing I know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/a-peacetime-draft-is-the-most-un-american-thing-i-know/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [It's a uniquely American thing that we as individuals not relying on government but we as individuals pitch in to make our communities better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-bush/it-s-a-uniquely-american-thing-that-we-as-individuals-not-relying-on/) [Neil Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-bush/) > [The most un-American thing you can do is to stifle dissent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/utah-phillips/the-most-un-american-thing-you-can-do-is-to-stifle-dissent/) [Utah Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/utah-phillips/) > [I've said many a time that I think the Un-American Activities Committee in the House of Representatives was the most un-American thing in America!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/i-ve-said-many-a-time-that-i-think-the-un-american-activities/) [Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/) > [And children, if your parents haven't been teaching you what it means to be an American, let 'em know and nail 'em on it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/and-children-if-your-parents-haven-t-been-teaching-you-what-it-means/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [My parents don't care what Americans think of us; we just care what the other Indian people in our community think of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himanshu-suri/my-parents-don-t-care-what-americans-think-of-us-we-just-care-what/) [Himanshu Suri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himanshu-suri/) ## More by Michel Gondry > [I learned to drive when I was 35. I'm driving like an old lady and very close to the wheel. I don't take many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/i-learned-to-drive-when-i-was-35-i-m-driving-like-an-old-lady-and/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [I'm just thinking of 2001, which I think is the most expensive independent film ever made - which is great, someday I hope I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/i-m-just-thinking-of-2001-which-i-think-is-the-most-expensive/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [I try to learn from both, from features and documentaries. In both cases you have to find a way to make the camera as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/i-try-to-learn-from-both-from-features-and-documentaries-in-both/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [I'm attracted to working with comedians because they don't have that stars' idea of what a hero should be. The downside is they're always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/i-m-attracted-to-working-with-comedians-because-they-don-t-have-that/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [There is an amount of abstraction in my movies, and sometimes they don't really understand it until the film is finished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/there-is-an-amount-of-abstraction-in-my-movies-and-sometimes-they-don/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [I shoot people in a way that makes the audience feel equal to them. And it's hard to express and it's hard to execute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/i-shoot-people-in-a-way-that-makes-the-audience-feel-equal-to-them/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [In my opinion, it's more interesting to see magic happening in a world that feels grounded. If the world is already crazy, then anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/in-my-opinion-it-s-more-interesting-to-see-magic-happening-in-a-world/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [All these gadgets, the phone and the computer, they expose the inside of your brain in a way that's bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/all-these-gadgets-the-phone-and-the-computer-they-expose-the-inside/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [Michael Jackson will always be my favorite pop musician; he was for years and years until his death, which was horrible to me. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/michael-jackson-will-always-be-my-favorite-pop-musician-he-was-for/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [I find it particularly shocking that people work all week long, and then on the weekend they give their money to another big corporation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/i-find-it-particularly-shocking-that-people-work-all-week-long-and/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [ I like collaboration, I like to incorporate other people's ideas \[and\] that's what happens when you do a big movie. Unless you're called Stanley… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/i-like-collaboration-i-like-to-incorporate-other-people-s-ideas-and/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [If people don't like the trailer, then blame it on the people who made the trailer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/if-people-don-t-like-the-trailer-then-blame-it-on-the-people-who-made/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [I like actors who just are who they are, with a little bit of qualification to adapt to their character. But mostly they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/i-like-actors-who-just-are-who-they-are-with-a-little-bit-of/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [I had a lot of encouragement and tolerance from my parents, but I also have many friends who didn't get that from their parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/i-had-a-lot-of-encouragement-and-tolerance-from-my-parents-but-i-also/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [When people are very original, sometimes they are original as a way to resist the mainstream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/when-people-are-very-original-sometimes-they-are-original-as-a-way-to/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) [Explore all 97 Michel Gondry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) ## 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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