--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Americans are raised to believe that…" description: "\"Americans are raised to believe that anything is possible in America if you are pure of heart and willing to work hard, which is nonsense, and that any..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d05/neil-macdonald-5908_america_americans-are-raised-to-believe-that-any_1322849.jpg" --- # Americans are raised to believe that anything is possible… ![“Americans are raised to believe that anything is possible in America if you are pure of heart and willing to work hard, which is nonsense, and that anyone can become president, which is even more foolish, and that free markets always make the right decision, which is nuts.” quote by Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d05/neil-macdonald-5908_america_americans-are-raised-to-believe-that-any_1322849.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d05/neil-macdonald-5908_america_americans-are-raised-to-believe-that-any_1322849.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d05/neil-macdonald-5908_america_americans-are-raised-to-believe-that-any_1322849.jpg) > “Americans are raised to believe that anything is possible in America if you are pure of heart and willing to work hard, which is nonsense, and that anyone can become president, which is even more foolish, and that free markets always make the right decision, which is nuts.” [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. American myths about limitless opportunity, meritocracy, and free markets are unrealistic. **In simple terms:** American ideals are often false. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge national myths. Themes politics economics culture Mood skeptical critical Type political social commentary When to use this quote - policy analysis - public discourse - education Key Concepts mythic narratives critical realism Questions to Reflect On - Which myth influences your decisions most? - How can policies address these false narratives? A Different Perspective Idealism can ignore systemic barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Right decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-decision/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/) ## Related quotes > [Like most North Americans, I'd been raised on the notion that milk is the first food, and everybody must like it because it's so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-harris/like-most-north-americans-i-d-been-raised-on-the-notion-that-milk-is/) [Marvin Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-harris/) > [“To the generations of Americans raised since World War 2, the identities of criminals such as Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd, Baby Face Nelson, "Ma"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-burrough/to-the-generations-of-americans-raised-since-world-war-2-the/) [Bryan Burrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-burrough/) > [It certainly would be possible for America to redefine its role in the world, especially if, in the short run, America is able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/it-certainly-would-be-possible-for-america-to-redefine-its-role-in/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [President Kennedy's life and death represent both what is possible in America, and all of the work left undone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-schlossberg/president-kennedy-s-life-and-death-represent-both-what-is-possible-in/) [Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schlossberg/) > [Anything may be possible in America, but a Palin presidency is virtually implausible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/anything-may-be-possible-in-america-but-a-palin-presidency-is/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [Anything is possible in America, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-silvstedt/anything-is-possible-in-america-right/) [Victoria Silvstedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-silvstedt/) > [“I was raised to believe you should never be mean to someone who’s given you head.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shukyou/i-was-raised-to-believe-you-should-never-be-mean-to-someone-who-s-2/) shukyou > [“we’re raised to believe that deep down everyone has a conscience.” At”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ronson/we-re-raised-to-believe-that-deep-down-everyone-has-a-conscience-at/) [Jon Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ronson/) > [We're raised to believe that black men have to be one specific way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-sanders/we-re-raised-to-believe-that-black-men-have-to-be-one-specific-way/) [Ashton Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-sanders/) > [Mom raised us to believe that every lie puts something out there in the world that's inevitably going to come back and bite you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/mom-raised-us-to-believe-that-every-lie-puts-something-out-there-in/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“They were old-school Yankees, for the most part, raised to believe that what a man doesn’t choose to talk about is no one’s business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-were-old-school-yankees-for-the-most-part-raised-to-believe-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was raised to believe that sex was for marriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-bidot/i-was-raised-to-believe-that-sex-was-for-marriage/) [Denise Bidot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-bidot/) > [“I was raised to believe you should never be mean to someone who's given you head." (Jameson)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shukyou/i-was-raised-to-believe-you-should-never-be-mean-to-someone-who-s/) shukyou > [I was raised to believe that America was a force for good in the world and that it should take its leadership role seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/i-was-raised-to-believe-that-america-was-a-force-for-good-in-the/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [I was raised to believe that other people's suffering was my responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-wolfe/i-was-raised-to-believe-that-other-people-s-suffering-was-my/) [George C. Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-wolfe/) ## More by Neil Macdonald > [It's almost ironic sitting here watching stories about Norm's courageous 'battle' with cancer. He actually did a bit on stage about how stupid that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/it-s-almost-ironic-sitting-here-watching-stories-about-norm-s/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [Elizabeth Warren fully intends to change the system, and says so. When she said how good it felt to be with working people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/elizabeth-warren-fully-intends-to-change-the-system-and-says-so-when/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [In fact, American presidents never apologize for what America does in war, because in the American mind, all its wars are defensive, always fought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/in-fact-american-presidents-never-apologize-for-what-america-does-in/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [Resist, however peacefully and even in your own home, and heaven help you, no matter what your skin color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/resist-however-peacefully-and-even-in-your-own-home-and-heaven-help/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [The fact is, no modern president, Democrat or Republican, has shown the level of contempt for taking questions from the media that Stephen Harper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/the-fact-is-no-modern-president-democrat-or-republican-has-shown-the/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [Some economists seem to think that only a credentialed economist has the right to be utterly wrong about an issue of economics. Their contempt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/some-economists-seem-to-think-that-only-a-credentialed-economist-has/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [Trump is the white evangelicals' version of V.I. Lenin's 'useful idiot,' a character who is helping achieve their apocalyptic fever dreams, but who will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/trump-is-the-white-evangelicals-version-of-v-i-lenin-s-useful-idiot-a/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [France has long been regarded as the most adept at stealing trade secrets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/france-has-long-been-regarded-as-the-most-adept-at-stealing-trade/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [White nationalism is about keeping power white. Yes, yes, there are minority groups represented among Justin Trudeau's ministers, but they were all given jobs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/white-nationalism-is-about-keeping-power-white-yes-yes-there-are/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [I am delighted to see the government spending more money to improve Indigenous life, and I would be happy to see even more spent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/i-am-delighted-to-see-the-government-spending-more-money-to-improve/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [Canada needs to be flood-proofed, and somebody has to pay for it. Yes, there are other threats, too - fire, hail, wind, snow load,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/canada-needs-to-be-flood-proofed-and-somebody-has-to-pay-for-it-yes/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [Canada has treated abortion as just another medical procedure since 1988, when the Supreme Court struck down the old criminal law. Most Canadians seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/canada-has-treated-abortion-as-just-another-medical-procedure-since/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [Quibbling over the definition of genocide does nothing but help obscure the long history of vicious racism and undeniable suffering of Indigenous people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/quibbling-over-the-definition-of-genocide-does-nothing-but-help/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [Maybe the Tea Party dream is coming true, and the next Republican presidential nominee will be a blunt-object, red-meat down-the-line rightie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/maybe-the-tea-party-dream-is-coming-true-and-the-next-republican/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [Quietly, without much public fuss or discussion, a new ruling class has risen in the richer nations. These men and women are unelected and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/quietly-without-much-public-fuss-or-discussion-a-new-ruling-class-has/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) [Explore all 100 Neil Macdonald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) ## 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": "Americans are raised to believe that anything is possible in America if you are pure of heart and willing to work hard, which is nonsense, and that anyone can become president, which is even more foolish, and that free markets always make the right decision, which is nuts.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neil Macdonald" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/americans-are-raised-to-believe-that-anything-is-possible-in-america/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/americans-are-raised-to-believe-that-anything-is-possible-in-america/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d05/neil-macdonald-5908_america_americans-are-raised-to-believe-that-any_1322849.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d05/neil-macdonald-5908_america_americans-are-raised-to-believe-that-any_1322849.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d05/neil-macdonald-5908_america_americans-are-raised-to-believe-that-any_1322849.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Americans are raised to believe that anything is possible in America if you are pure of heart and willing to…” — Neil Macdonald", "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": "Neil Macdonald", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Americans are raised to believe that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/americans-are-raised-to-believe-that-anything-is-possible-in-america/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/americans-are-raised-to-believe-that-anything-is-possible-in-america/#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 } } ] } ```