---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: America has become so tense and nervous…"
description: "\"America has become so tense and nervous it has been years since I have seen anyone sleep in church - and that is a sad situation.\" — Norman Vincent Peale"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/norman-vincent-peale-539_america_america-has-become-so-tense-and-nervous_2693239.jpg"
---

#  America has become so tense and nervous it has been years…

![“America has become so tense and nervous it has been years since I have seen anyone sleep in church - and that is a sad situation.” quote by Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/norman-vincent-peale-539_america_america-has-become-so-tense-and-nervous_2693239.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/norman-vincent-peale-539_america_america-has-become-so-tense-and-nervous_2693239.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/norman-vincent-peale-539_america_america-has-become-so-tense-and-nervous_2693239.jpg)

> “America has become so tense and nervous it has been years since I have seen anyone sleep in church - and that is a sad situation.”

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

America’s tension leads to sleeplessness in sacred spaces, reflecting a collective anxiety.

**In simple terms:** America’s tension causes sleeplessness in churches.

Key Takeaway

Address societal anxiety to restore peace.

Themes

anxiety society faith culture

Mood

concerned hopeful

Type

social spiritual

When to use this quote

- public gatherings
- mental health
- community rituals

Key Concepts

social commentary religion

Questions to Reflect On

- What causes collective anxiety today?
- How can faith alleviate societal tension?

A Different Perspective

May exaggerate the prevalence of the phenomenon.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Nervous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/)

## Related quotes

> [The present tense made him nervous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/the-present-tense-made-him-nervous/)

[William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/)

> [If you want to learn to trust your vibes, you must maintain a peaceful and relatively calm attitude. When you're tense, nervous, or anxious,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/if-you-want-to-learn-to-trust-your-vibes-you-must-maintain-a-peaceful/)

[Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/)

> [I used to be tense or nervous before heats. But I've learned to get rid of the negative stuff and just stay relaxed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-parkinson/i-used-to-be-tense-or-nervous-before-heats-but-i-ve-learned-to-get/)

[Joel Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-parkinson/)

> [Tense and nervous are not the words, though they are the words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kamara/tense-and-nervous-are-not-the-words-though-they-are-the-words/)

[Chris Kamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kamara/)

> [“When we have been attending church, we find – No God – No Power – No Gospel – Bad Agendas – Poor Leadership –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-strom/when-we-have-been-attending-church-we-find-no-god-no-power-no-gospel/)

[Andrew Strom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-strom/)

> [Sometimes when you go into the match, you want it so badly. I think sometimes is tricky. It makes you a little bit, like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garbine-muguruza/sometimes-when-you-go-into-the-match-you-want-it-so-badly-i-think/)

[Garbine Muguruza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garbine-muguruza/)

> [I have been to several wars to draw. I went to Vietnam. And made drawings in Vietnam during that period of the war there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-scarfe/i-have-been-to-several-wars-to-draw-i-went-to-vietnam-and-made/)

[Gerald Scarfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-scarfe/)

> [I have felt terribly from the beginning when I saw the problems and recognized that they would be ongoing. We were hired to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-crenshaw/i-have-felt-terribly-from-the-beginning-when-i-saw-the-problems-and/)

[Ben Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-crenshaw/)

> [I think it's a really sad situation when I have to lie to my doctor about what I need a medication for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-miller/i-think-it-s-a-really-sad-situation-when-i-have-to-lie-to-my-doctor/)

[Liz Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-miller/)

> [These are the only two situations possible, and you are in the sad situation. Everybody may know about you - who you are -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/these-are-the-only-two-situations-possible-and-you-are-in-the-sad/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [We know we are all tarnished, so we doubt everyone else too. It is sad situation, where we need a leader but cannot really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chetan-bhagat/we-know-we-are-all-tarnished-so-we-doubt-everyone-else-too-it-is-sad/)

[Chetan Bhagat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chetan-bhagat/)

> [We have real cliched ideas of what prison life is like. It is not a happy place. It's a desperate, sad situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/powers-boothe/we-have-real-cliched-ideas-of-what-prison-life-is-like-it-is-not-a/)

[Powers Boothe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/powers-boothe/)

> [It's a sad situation when you have to talk crap about other organizations that you know your paths are never going to cross competitively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-goldberg/it-s-a-sad-situation-when-you-have-to-talk-crap-about-other/)

[Bill Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-goldberg/)

> [I think anybody, not just children, is a product of a great environment. If you put them in a better environment from a sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usher/i-think-anybody-not-just-children-is-a-product-of-a-great-environment/)

[Usher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usher/)

> [It would be a sad situation if the bag was better than the meat wrapped in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/it-would-be-a-sad-situation-if-the-bag-was-better-than-the-meat/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

## More by Norman Vincent Peale

> [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [Always remember, there is more strength in you than you ever realized or even imagined. Certainly nothing can keep you down if you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/always-remember-there-is-more-strength-in-you-than-you-ever-realized/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [One of the most powerful concepts, one which is a sure cure for lack of confidence, is the thought that God is with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/one-of-the-most-powerful-concepts-one-which-is-a-sure-cure-for-lack/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [When we start focusing on things we can do and don't think so much about the things we can't do, things really start to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/when-we-start-focusing-on-things-we-can-do-and-don-t-think-so-much/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [The only figure in history who endures is Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/the-only-figure-in-history-who-endures-is-jesus/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [I believe absolutely and certainly that, when you die, you will meet your loved ones and know them and be reunited with them, never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/i-believe-absolutely-and-certainly-that-when-you-die-you-will-meet/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [The cyclone derives its powers from a calm center. So does a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/the-cyclone-derives-its-powers-from-a-calm-center-so-does-a-person/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [Positive Thinkers get positive results because they appreciate the inestimable value of a day, this day, not the next day, but this day, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/positive-thinkers-get-positive-results-because-they-appreciate-the/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [It takes struggle, a goal and enthusiasm to make a champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-takes-struggle-a-goal-and-enthusiasm-to-make-a-champion/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [“Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.” JOB 22:21”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/submit-to-god-and-be-at-peace-with-him-in-this-way-prosperity-will/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [Scatter good will and love and prayers all around, everywhere, and you will be astonished, not only by what it does for other people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/scatter-good-will-and-love-and-prayers-all-around-everywhere-and-you/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [Stand up to an obstacle. Just stand up to it, that's all, and don't give way under it, and it will finally break. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/stand-up-to-an-obstacle-just-stand-up-to-it-that-s-all-and-don-t-give/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [Never allow sick attitudes to poison your thinking, nor let ill will make you ill. Avoid making your mind sore by that painful rehurting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/never-allow-sick-attitudes-to-poison-your-thinking-nor-let-ill-will/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [“How you think about a problem is more important than the problem itself – so always think positively. Believe it is possible to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/how-you-think-about-a-problem-is-more-important-than-the-problem/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

[Explore all 487 Norman Vincent Peale quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

## 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": "America has become so tense and nervous it has been years since I have seen anyone sleep in church - and that is a sad situation.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Norman Vincent Peale"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/america-has-become-so-tense-and-nervous-it-has-been-years-since-i/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "America"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/america-has-become-so-tense-and-nervous-it-has-been-years-since-i/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/norman-vincent-peale-539_america_america-has-become-so-tense-and-nervous_2693239.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/norman-vincent-peale-539_america_america-has-become-so-tense-and-nervous_2693239.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/norman-vincent-peale-539_america_america-has-become-so-tense-and-nervous_2693239.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“America has become so tense and nervous it has been years since I have seen anyone sleep in church - and…” — Norman Vincent Peale",
                "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 Vincent Peale",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "America has become so tense and...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/america-has-become-so-tense-and-nervous-it-has-been-years-since-i/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/america-has-become-so-tense-and-nervous-it-has-been-years-since-i/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
