--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Leaving America is like losing twenty…" description: "\"Leaving America is like losing twenty pounds and finding a new girlfriend.\" — Phil Ochs" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/101/phil-ochs-11616_america_leaving-america-is-like-losing-twenty-po_1725954.png" --- # Leaving America is like losing twenty pounds and finding a… ![“Leaving America is like losing twenty pounds and finding a new girlfriend.” quote by Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/101/phil-ochs-11616_america_leaving-america-is-like-losing-twenty-po_1725954.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/101/phil-ochs-11616_america_leaving-america-is-like-losing-twenty-po_1725954.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/101/phil-ochs-11616_america_leaving-america-is-like-losing-twenty-po_1725954.png) > “Leaving America is like losing twenty pounds and finding a new girlfriend.” [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Compares emigrating to America with personal transformation and new relationships. **In simple terms:** Leaving America feels like shedding weight and gaining love. Key Takeaway Recognize change as opportunity for growth. Themes migration identity relationships Mood reflective thoughtful critical Type social personal When to use this quote - immigration decision - career move - personal growth - relationship changes Key Concepts cultural shift personal reinvention Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of migration are overlooked? - How does new environment reshape identity? A Different Perspective Oversimplifies complex immigrant experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Findings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/findings/) [Girlfriend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girlfriend/) [Leaving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaving/) [Leaving America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaving-america-267887/) [Like Losing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-losing/) [Losing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing/) [Losing Pounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing-pounds-1384511/) [New girlfriend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-girlfriend/) [Pounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pounds/) [Twenties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twenties/) ## Related quotes > [Weight was the thing I hyperfocused on. It went from me losing a few pounds to slowly over time losing more and more weight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-pomers/weight-was-the-thing-i-hyperfocused-on-it-went-from-me-losing-a-few/) [Scarlett Pomers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-pomers/) > [Leaving America means renouncing your citizenship, moving out of the country and leaving family and friends behind. You can retain your citizenship if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arrington/leaving-america-means-renouncing-your-citizenship-moving-out-of-the/) [Michael Arrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arrington/) > [I'm not leaving America because it doesn't support me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jones/i-m-not-leaving-america-because-it-doesn-t-support-me/) [Leslie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jones/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [Boy: I saw her today. Girl: I saw him today. B: It seems like it has been forever. G: I wonder if he still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/boy-i-saw-her-today-girl-i-saw-him-today-b-it-seems-like-it-has-been/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everybody I've ever met was destroyed by a member of the opposite sex early on and that damage you took into every relationship after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/everybody-i-ve-ever-met-was-destroyed-by-a-member-of-the-opposite-sex/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [A new club is like having a new girlfriend – you don't have feelings straight away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-owen/a-new-club-is-like-having-a-new-girlfriend-you-don-t-have-feelings/) [Michael Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-owen/) > [I really believe in setting goals, no matter what it is: whether it's losing five pounds or making the world championship team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dara-torres/i-really-believe-in-setting-goals-no-matter-what-it-is-whether-it-s/) [Dara Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dara-torres/) > [Pay more attention to losing inches than losing pounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/pay-more-attention-to-losing-inches-than-losing-pounds/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [“Your goal should be permanent, not rapid, weight loss. Losing even a half pound a week that doesn’t come back is better than losing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-spencer/your-goal-should-be-permanent-not-rapid-weight-loss-losing-even-a/) [Stan Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-spencer/) > [When we lose twenty pounds... we may be losing the twenty best pounds we have! We may be losing the pounds that contain our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/when-we-lose-twenty-pounds-we-may-be-losing-the-twenty-best-pounds-we/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Keeping your body in shape is a spiritual discipline. Its not just about losing a few pounds, wanting to live longer, or trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/keeping-your-body-in-shape-is-a-spiritual-discipline-its-not-just/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I could do with losing a few pounds off my bum, but I enjoy my social life and going out for dinner far too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-atack/i-could-do-with-losing-a-few-pounds-off-my-bum-but-i-enjoy-my-social/) [Emily Atack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-atack/) > [“If a man introduces his male friend to his extraordinary new girlfriend, his friend will think—I want a girl like that. If a woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarryn-fisher/if-a-man-introduces-his-male-friend-to-his-extraordinary-new/) [Tarryn Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarryn-fisher/) > [If your new girlfriend hates you talking to and being friends with your ex, stop. The present should always be more important than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-your-new-girlfriend-hates-you-talking-to-and-being-friends-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Phil Ochs > [Even though you can't expect to defeat the absurdity of the world, you must make that attempt. That's morality, that's religion. That's art. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/even-though-you-can-t-expect-to-defeat-the-absurdity-of-the-world-you/) [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) > [You can do right or you can do what you are told. And the prize of the victory will belong to the bold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/you-can-do-right-or-you-can-do-what-you-are-told-and-the-prize-of-the/) [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) > [Is there anybody here who thinks that following the orders takes away the blame Is there anybody here who wouldn't mind a murder by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/is-there-anybody-here-who-thinks-that-following-the-orders-takes-away/) [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) > [I can spare a dime, brother, but in these morally inflationary times, a dime goes a lot farther if it's demanding work rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/i-can-spare-a-dime-brother-but-in-these-morally-inflationary-times-a/) [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) > [God help the troubadour who tries to be a star. The more that you try to find success, the more that you will fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/god-help-the-troubadour-who-tries-to-be-a-star-the-more-that-you-try/) [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) > [Even though you can't expect to defeat the absurdity of the world, you must make that attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/even-though-you-can-t-expect-to-defeat-the-absurdity-of-the-world-you-2/) [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) > [I wonder who I left behind on the other side of fame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/i-wonder-who-i-left-behind-on-the-other-side-of-fame/) [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) > [In the state of Mississippi, Many Years Ago, a boy of 14 years got a taste of Southern law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/in-the-state-of-mississippi-many-years-ago-a-boy-of-14-years-got-a/) [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) > [There is an urgent need for Americans to look deeply into themselves and their actions, and musical poetry is perhaps the most effective mirror…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/there-is-an-urgent-need-for-americans-to-look-deeply-into-themselves/) [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) > [One legged veterans will greet the dawn, and they're whistling marches as they mow the lawn, and the gargoyles on sit and grieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/one-legged-veterans-will-greet-the-dawn-and-they-re-whistling-marches/) [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) > [The only possibility in the United States for a humane society would be a revolution with Elvis Presley as leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/the-only-possibility-in-the-united-states-for-a-humane-society-would/) [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) > [Oh you tell me that there's danger to the land you call your own, And you watch them build the war machine right beside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/oh-you-tell-me-that-there-s-danger-to-the-land-you-call-your-own-and/) [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) > [Step outside the guidelines of the official umpires and make your own rules and your own reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/step-outside-the-guidelines-of-the-official-umpires-and-make-your-own/) [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) > [It is wrong to expect a reward for your struggles. The reward is the act of struggle itself, not what you win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/it-is-wrong-to-expect-a-reward-for-your-struggles-the-reward-is-the/) [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) > [And if there's any hope for America, it lies in a revolution, and if there's any hope for a revolution in America, it lies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/and-if-there-s-any-hope-for-america-it-lies-in-a-revolution-and-if/) [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) [Explore all 59 Phil Ochs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) ## 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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