--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: America is the only place where man is…" description: "\"America is the only place where man is full-grown!\" — Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e5/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-18686_america_america-is-the-only-place-where-man-is-f_2645409.jpg" --- # America is the only place where man is full-grown! ![“America is the only place where man is full-grown!” quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e5/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-18686_america_america-is-the-only-place-where-man-is-f_2645409.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e5/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-18686_america_america-is-the-only-place-where-man-is-f_2645409.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e5/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-18686_america_america-is-the-only-place-where-man-is-f_2645409.jpg) > “America is the only place where man is full-grown!” [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. America is unique in its maturity, suggesting a nation of adults rather than children. **In simple terms:** America is mature. Key Takeaway Recognize national maturity. Themes national identity growth responsibility Mood analytical pragmatic Type historical political When to use this quote - policy making - education - leadership - international relations - media Key Concepts political science history culture development Questions to Reflect On - How does maturity affect policy? - What responsibilities follow? A Different Perspective Maturity can mask systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) ## Related quotes > [Bitch you cant rasie a man he already grown and he wasn't rasied right before you so what the hell you going to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-michelle-2/bitch-you-cant-rasie-a-man-he-already-grown-and-he-wasn-t-rasied/) [K Michelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-michelle-2/) > [Stop trying to be THE MAN & start becoming A MAN. Too many GROWN boys walking around!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stop-trying-to-be-the-man-start-becoming-a-man-too-many-grown-boys/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He was like a man who had grown frozen with horror once and had never come completely unthawed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/he-was-like-a-man-who-had-grown-frozen-with-horror-once-and-had-never/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [I'm grown ass man and grown ass men can do whatever they want, got it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/i-m-grown-ass-man-and-grown-ass-men-can-do-whatever-they-want-got-it/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [The power of man has grown in every sphere, except over himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-power-of-man-has-grown-in-every-sphere-except-over-himself/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“I will tell you this much; it is the moment (not the year or the month, mind you, nor even the hour, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belloc/i-will-tell-you-this-much-it-is-the-moment-not-the-year-or-the-month/) Belloc > [There is not a day that goes by when I do not think of my son, and the man he would have grown up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-mcbath/there-is-not-a-day-that-goes-by-when-i-do-not-think-of-my-son-and-the/) [Lucy McBath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-mcbath/) > [A man must have grown old and lived long in order to see how short life is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/a-man-must-have-grown-old-and-lived-long-in-order-to-see-how-short/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [If idioms are more to be born than to be selected, then the things of life and human nature that a man has grown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-ives/if-idioms-are-more-to-be-born-than-to-be-selected-then-the-things-of/) [Charles Ives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-ives/) > [America is a place of many great events. Here is where Adam dwelt, where the Garden of Eden was located. America was the place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/america-is-a-place-of-many-great-events-here-is-where-adam-dwelt/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [I'm a business man and I'm a grown man. I spend a lot of time thinking about how to restructure my life, support my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/i-m-a-business-man-and-i-m-a-grown-man-i-spend-a-lot-of-time-thinking/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [The reason why we love America so much is America is the only place you can actually come in and wave your flag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyclef-jean/the-reason-why-we-love-america-so-much-is-america-is-the-only-place/) [Wyclef Jean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyclef-jean/) > [America is a place where we all come together. It is a place of consensus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/america-is-a-place-where-we-all-come-together-it-is-a-place-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My vision of America is an America where everyone has a place, if you're willing to work hard, you do your part, you contribute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/my-vision-of-america-is-an-america-where-everyone-has-a-place-if-you/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [To the man grown the long crowded mile of his boyhood becomes less than the throw of a stone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/to-the-man-grown-the-long-crowded-mile-of-his-boyhood-becomes-less/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) ## More by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr > [No families take so little medicine as those of doctors, except those of apothecaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/no-families-take-so-little-medicine-as-those-of-doctors-except-those/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [What refuge is there for the victim who is oppressed with the feeling that there are a thousand new books he ought to read,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/what-refuge-is-there-for-the-victim-who-is-oppressed-with-the-feeling/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [Science is the topography of ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/science-is-the-topography-of-ignorance/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [“My experience with public libraries is that the first volume of the book I inquire for is out, unless I happen to want the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/my-experience-with-public-libraries-is-that-the-first-volume-of-the/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [“The great thing in this world, is not so much where we are, but in which direction we are moving.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/the-great-thing-in-this-world-is-not-so-much-where-we-are-but-in/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [And if I should live to be The last leaf upon the tree In the spring, Let them smile, as I do now, At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/and-if-i-should-live-to-be-the-last-leaf-upon-the-tree-in-the-spring/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [“Yet in opinions look not always back,-- Your wake is nothing, mind the coming track; Leave what you've done for what you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/yet-in-opinions-look-not-always-back-your-wake-is-nothing-mind-the/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [“The Last Leaf I saw him once before, As he passed by the door, And again The pavement stones resound, As he totters o'er…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/the-last-leaf-i-saw-him-once-before-as-he-passed-by-the-door-and/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [Me wretched! Let me curr to quercine shades! Effund your albid hausts, lactiferous maids! O, might I vole to some umbrageous clump,-- Depart,--be off,--excede,--evade,--erump!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/me-wretched-let-me-curr-to-quercine-shades-effund-your-albid-hausts/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [Man is born a predestined idealist, for he is born to act. To act is to affirm the worth of an end, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/man-is-born-a-predestined-idealist-for-he-is-born-to-act-to-act-is-to/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [“If the wild filly, "Progress," thou wouldst ride, Have young companions ever at thy side; But wouldst thou stride the stanch old mare, "Success,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/if-the-wild-filly-progress-thou-wouldst-ride-have-young-companions/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [Youth fades; love droops; the leaves of friendship fall. A mother's secret love outlives them all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/youth-fades-love-droops-the-leaves-of-friendship-fall-a-mother-s/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [“Have faith and pursue the unknown end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/have-faith-and-pursue-the-unknown-end/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [“A man's mind is stretched by a new idea or sensation, and never shrinks back to its former dimensions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/a-man-s-mind-is-stretched-by-a-new-idea-or-sensation-and-never/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) > [The year is getting to feel rich, for his golden fruits are ripening fast, and he has a large balance in the barns, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/the-year-is-getting-to-feel-rich-for-his-golden-fruits-are-ripening/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) [Explore all 34 Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/) ## 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 is the only place where man is full-grown!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/america-is-the-only-place-where-man-is-full-grown/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/america-is-the-only-place-where-man-is-full-grown/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e5/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-18686_america_america-is-the-only-place-where-man-is-f_2645409.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e5/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-18686_america_america-is-the-only-place-where-man-is-f_2645409.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e5/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr-18686_america_america-is-the-only-place-where-man-is-f_2645409.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“America is the only place where man is full-grown!” — Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr", "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": "Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "America is the only place where...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/america-is-the-only-place-where-man-is-full-grown/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-sr/america-is-the-only-place-where-man-is-full-grown/#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 } } ] } ```