--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The American people may not be the…" description: "\"The American people may not be the best-educated, but they're very wise at heart.\" — Norman Lear" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ced/norman-lear-7597_american-people_the-american-people-may-not-be-the-best_306789.png" --- # The American people may not be the best-educated, but… ![“The American people may not be the best-educated, but they're very wise at heart.” quote by Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ced/norman-lear-7597_american-people_the-american-people-may-not-be-the-best_306789.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ced/norman-lear-7597_american-people_the-american-people-may-not-be-the-best_306789.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ced/norman-lear-7597_american-people_the-american-people-may-not-be-the-best_306789.png) > “The American people may not be the best-educated, but they're very wise at heart.” [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The American populace may lack formal education but possesses common sense and moral intuition. **In simple terms:** Americans are wise at heart despite limited schooling. Key Takeaway Value intuition alongside knowledge. Themes wisdom common sense education Mood hopeful pragmatic Type political inspirational When to use this quote - political discourse - community leadership - education reform Key Concepts sociology democracy folk wisdom Questions to Reflect On - How can we blend wisdom with education? - What role does common sense play in policy? A Different Perspective Education gaps can hinder informed decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) ## Related quotes > [Clinton understands that in a competitive global economy we need the best-educated workforce in the world. She and I worked together on a proposal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/clinton-understands-that-in-a-competitive-global-economy-we-need-the/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [We need the best educated workforce in the world. Hundreds of thousands of bright, young, qualified people who want to go to college or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/we-need-the-best-educated-workforce-in-the-world-hundreds-of/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [I want to see Colombian youth become the best-educated in Latin America by 2025.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-manuel-santos/i-want-to-see-colombian-youth-become-the-best-educated-in-latin/) [Juan Manuel Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-manuel-santos/) > [We're going to have the best-educated American people in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/we-re-going-to-have-the-best-educated-american-people-in-the-world-2/) [Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/) > [Young people - with their dynamism, their energy and their inherent understanding of our interconnected world - have much to teach us. Increased educational…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/young-people-with-their-dynamism-their-energy-and-their-inherent/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [The best educated human being is the one who understands most about the life in which he is placed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/the-best-educated-human-being-is-the-one-who-understands-most-about/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [We are dealing with the best-educated generation in history. But they've got a brain dressed up with nowhere to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/we-are-dealing-with-the-best-educated-generation-in-history-but-they-2/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [We are dealing with the best-educated generation in history. They are a hundred times better educated than their grandparents, and ten times more sophisticated.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/we-are-dealing-with-the-best-educated-generation-in-history-they-are/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [I can never forget that one of the most gifted, best educated nations in the world, of its own free will, surrendered its fate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/i-can-never-forget-that-one-of-the-most-gifted-best-educated-nations/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [We're going to have the best educated American people in the world. People that are really very weird can get into sensitive positions and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-re-going-to-have-the-best-educated-american-people-in-the-world/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [We are dealing with the best-educated generation in history. But they've got a brain dressed up with nowhere to go. Science is all metaphor.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/we-are-dealing-with-the-best-educated-generation-in-history-but-they/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [“Of happiness the chiefest part IS a wise heart”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/of-happiness-the-chiefest-part-is-a-wise-heart/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [To be wise, your heart must be young, in other words eager to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zira-saonu/to-be-wise-your-heart-must-be-young-in-other-words-eager-to-learn/) Zira Saonu > [There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/there-is-surely-a-future-hope-for-you-and-your-hope-will-not-be-cut/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [Only those who love can become wise, for without heart to heart communication, you will never learn anything about life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/only-those-who-love-can-become-wise-for-without-heart-to-heart/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Norman Lear > [When we went on the air, I didn't want to be interrupted for an act-one curtain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/when-we-went-on-the-air-i-didn-t-want-to-be-interrupted-for-an-act/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [In this nation, leadership is dollars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/in-this-nation-leadership-is-dollars/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [Maybe they continued to agree with Archie Bunker - as I said earlier, you can't change people's minds, but you can get them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/maybe-they-continued-to-agree-with-archie-bunker-as-i-said-earlier/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [I think if you're feeling great about where you are, everything that led up to it had to be terrific.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/i-think-if-you-re-feeling-great-about-where-you-are-everything-that/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [Life goes on pretty much the same way. I've been working on a couple of films on the side. You may see some more.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/life-goes-on-pretty-much-the-same-way-i-ve-been-working-on-a-couple/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [If there is a reason to believe in God, it would be the Havana Leaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/if-there-is-a-reason-to-believe-in-god-it-would-be-the-havana-leaf/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [In my 90-plus years, I have lived a multitude of lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/in-my-90-plus-years-i-have-lived-a-multitude-of-lives/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [America is a country of excess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/america-is-a-country-of-excess/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [We just may be the most well-informed, yet least self-aware, people in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/we-just-may-be-the-most-well-informed-yet-least-self-aware-people-in/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [The people responsible for the dollars that will buy the sex and violence so many deplore, don't even know what's going - well, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/the-people-responsible-for-the-dollars-that-will-buy-the-sex-and/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [... For all our alarm, it is clear that the religious right is responding to a real hunger in our society... a deep-seated yearning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/for-all-our-alarm-it-is-clear-that-the-religious-right-is-responding/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [The movies had a slogan at the time, to distinguish themselves from TV, that said 'movies are better than ever.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/the-movies-had-a-slogan-at-the-time-to-distinguish-themselves-from-tv/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [I think Americans have become a - much more a nation of consumers than citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/i-think-americans-have-become-a-much-more-a-nation-of-consumers-than/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [My dad called me meat head dead from the neck up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/my-dad-called-me-meat-head-dead-from-the-neck-up/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [I like getting up in the morning, and I like better having something to do when I get up in the morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/i-like-getting-up-in-the-morning-and-i-like-better-having-something/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) [Explore all 89 Norman Lear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) ## More American people quotes > [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/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-as-much-as-government-can-do-and-must-do-it-is-ultimately-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Given a choice between two bald political candidates, the American people will vote for the less bald of the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-gold/given-a-choice-between-two-bald-political-candidates-the-american/) Victor Gold > [When the American people saw the LA riots and crowds of Blacks cheering O.J. Simpson (who was acquitted by the almost all Black jury),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duke/when-the-american-people-saw-the-la-riots-and-crowds-of-blacks/) [David Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duke/) > [In any event, it is one thing to assert, then or now, that the Iraq war was ill-advised. It is quite another to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-silberman/in-any-event-it-is-one-thing-to-assert-then-or-now-that-the-iraq-war/) [Laurence Silberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-silberman/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [I don't know a politician who enjoys fundraising. The system is such that the American people have lost faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-don-t-know-a-politician-who-enjoys-fundraising-the-system-is-such/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Probably the greatest single obstacle to the progress and happiness of the American people lies in the willingness of so many men to invest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/probably-the-greatest-single-obstacle-to-the-progress-and-happiness/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [If a financial institution has business operations in the United States, hires people in the United States, if they are clogged with illiquid assets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/if-a-financial-institution-has-business-operations-in-the-united/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/) [Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/) > [The coronavirus has yet again exposed the strong contrast between President Trump - who is working ardently for the American people - and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/the-coronavirus-has-yet-again-exposed-the-strong-contrast-between/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [The American people demand results, not rhetoric, especially when it comes to national security issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-hayworth/the-american-people-demand-results-not-rhetoric-especially-when-it/) [J. D. Hayworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-hayworth/) > [Hillary Clinton truly is sincere, but she has to connect more with the American people in terms of what she believes in and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/hillary-clinton-truly-is-sincere-but-she-has-to-connect-more-with-the/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [The American people are incredibly generous and even playful when you open yourself up and feed the media beast until it goes away satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krystal-ball/the-american-people-are-incredibly-generous-and-even-playful-when-you/) [Krystal Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krystal-ball/) [Browse all 2,233 American people quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The American people may not be the best-educated, but they're very wise at heart.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Norman Lear" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/the-american-people-may-not-be-the-best-educated-but-they-re-very/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American people" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/the-american-people-may-not-be-the-best-educated-but-they-re-very/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ced/norman-lear-7597_american-people_the-american-people-may-not-be-the-best_306789.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ced/norman-lear-7597_american-people_the-american-people-may-not-be-the-best_306789.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ced/norman-lear-7597_american-people_the-american-people-may-not-be-the-best_306789.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The American people may not be the best-educated, but they're very wise at heart.” — Norman Lear", "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": "Norman Lear", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The American people may not be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/the-american-people-may-not-be-the-best-educated-but-they-re-very/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/the-american-people-may-not-be-the-best-educated-but-they-re-very/#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 } } ] } ```