--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And it was never but once a year that…" description: "\"“And it was never but once a year that they were brought together anyway, and that was on the neutral, dereligionized ground of Thanksgiving, when ever..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/philip-roth-681_once-a-year_and-it-was-never-but-once-a-year-that-th_2962656.jpg" --- # And it was never but once a year that they were brought… ![“And it was never but once a year that they were brought together anyway, and that was on the neutral, dereligionized ground of Thanksgiving, when everybody gets to eat the same thing, nobody sneaking off to eat funny stuff--no kugel, no gefilte fish, no bitter herbs, just one colossal turkey for…” quote by Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/philip-roth-681_once-a-year_and-it-was-never-but-once-a-year-that-th_2962656.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/philip-roth-681_once-a-year_and-it-was-never-but-once-a-year-that-th_2962656.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/philip-roth-681_once-a-year_and-it-was-never-but-once-a-year-that-th_2962656.jpg) > ““And it was never but once a year that they were brought together anyway, and that was on the neutral, dereligionized ground of Thanksgiving, when everybody gets to eat the same thing, nobody sneaking off to eat funny stuff--no kugel, no gefilte fish, no bitter herbs, just one colossal turkey for two hundred and fifty million people--one colossal turkey feeds all. A moratorium on the three-thousand-year-old nostalgia of the Jews, a moratorium on Christ and the cross and the crucifixion of the Christians, when everyone in New Jersey and elsewhere can be more passive about their irrationalities than they are the rest of the year. A moratorium on all the grievances and resentments, and not only for the Dwyers and the Levovs but for everyone in America who is suspicious of everyone else. It is the American pastoral par excellence and it lasts twenty-four hours.”” [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Thanksgiving temporarily suspends cultural and religious divisions, creating a brief, shared national unity. **In simple terms:** A holiday unites people across differences. Key Takeaway Recognize moments of shared humanity. Themes unity culture religion conflict temporary peace Mood reflective critical observational Type sociological cultural literary When to use this quote - family gatherings - national holidays - interfaith dialogues - media commentary Key Concepts American identity social cohesion secularism Questions to Reflect On - How can we extend this temporary unity? - What underlying grievances persist after the holiday? A Different Perspective Such unity is fleeting and may mask deeper tensions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Thanksgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanksgiving/) ## Related quotes > [If you're in a position where you can help other people, there is nothing better in life than helping other people. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/if-you-re-in-a-position-where-you-can-help-other-people-there-is/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sandford-martin/thanksgiving-day-comes-by-statute-once-a-year-to-the-honest-man-it/) Edward Sandford Martin > [Homemade stuffing is my favorite thing about Thanksgiving. I wish people served it more than just once a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-gentile/homemade-stuffing-is-my-favorite-thing-about-thanksgiving-i-wish/) Troy Gentile > [So while it's true that Thanksgiving only comes but once a year, we should actually celebrate thanks each and every day. It's just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-while-it-s-true-that-thanksgiving-only-comes-but-once-a-year-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Thanksgiving comes but once a year, But when it comes it brings good cheer. For in my storehouse on this day, Are piles of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azgraybebly-joslan/thanksgiving-comes-but-once-a-year-but-when-it-comes-it-brings-good/) Azgraybebly Joslan > [Thanksgiving is so called because we are all so thankful that it only comes once a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/thanksgiving-is-so-called-because-we-are-all-so-thankful-that-it-only/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [“Although Thanksgiving comes but once a year, every day should be a day of Thanks. Among all the challenges that we face as people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-hammond/although-thanksgiving-comes-but-once-a-year-every-day-should-be-a-day/) Monique Hammond > [“Once a year Jobs took his most valuable employees on a retreat, which he called " The Top 100." They were picked based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/once-a-year-jobs-took-his-most-valuable-employees-on-a-retreat-which/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [George Clooney and Brad Pitt, with those 'Oceans' films they do, they get to work together, make a whole lot of money, and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-gossett-jr/george-clooney-and-brad-pitt-with-those-oceans-films-they-do-they-get/) [Louis Gossett, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-gossett-jr/) > [All of Japan once a year will get up on their rooftops, because that's the night that the shepherd boy from one side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bly/all-of-japan-once-a-year-will-get-up-on-their-rooftops-because-that-s/) [Robert Bly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bly/) > [“Shouting about gender equality once a year doesn't end the patriarchal and misogynistic stereotypes. We must live every day as women's day, only then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/shouting-about-gender-equality-once-a-year-doesn-t-end-the/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“That's the beauty of the summer holidays. It's as if life is just a big Etch-a-Sketch, and once a year you get to shake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-smale/that-s-the-beauty-of-the-summer-holidays-it-s-as-if-life-is-just-a/) [Holly Smale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-smale/) > [In certain savage tribes in New Guinea, they put the old people up in the trees and shake them once a year in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dos-passos/in-certain-savage-tribes-in-new-guinea-they-put-the-old-people-up-in/) [John Dos Passos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dos-passos/) > [We have a family holiday once a year, usually abroad, but that's it. I feel I should have holidays for my family's sake, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-webb/we-have-a-family-holiday-once-a-year-usually-abroad-but-that-s-it-i/) [Robert Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-webb/) > [“Just before six, Bee pulled three wineglasses out of the cabinet and uncorked the bottle of white that Greg had selected for us. "Light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-jio/just-before-six-bee-pulled-three-wineglasses-out-of-the-cabinet-and/) [Sarah Jio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-jio/) ## More by Philip Roth > [“The old intergenerational give-and-take of the country-that-used-to-be, when everyone knew his role and took the rules dead seriously, the acculturating back-and-forth that all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/the-old-intergenerational-give-and-take-of-the-country-that-used-to/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [You be greater than your feelings. I don't demand this of you - life does. Otherwise you'll be washed away by feelings. You'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/you-be-greater-than-your-feelings-i-don-t-demand-this-of-you-life/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Nothing bad can happen to a writer. Everything is material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/nothing-bad-can-happen-to-a-writer-everything-is-material/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [The only way to have a funeral is to invite everyone who ever knew the person and just wait for the accident to happen-somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/the-only-way-to-have-a-funeral-is-to-invite-everyone-who-ever-knew/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [To become a celebrity is to become a brand name. There is Ivory Soap, Rice Krispies, and Philip Roth. Ivory is the soap that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/to-become-a-celebrity-is-to-become-a-brand-name-there-is-ivory-soap/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [“There are no reasons. She is obliged to be as she is. We all are. Reasons are in books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/there-are-no-reasons-she-is-obliged-to-be-as-she-is-we-all-are/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [“As far as I can see there is no conquering or exorcising the past with words - words born either of imagination or forthrightness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/as-far-as-i-can-see-there-is-no-conquering-or-exorcising-the-past/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [The book really comes to life in the rewriting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/the-book-really-comes-to-life-in-the-rewriting/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [“What is astonishing is that we, who had no idea how anything was going to turn out, now know exactly what happened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/what-is-astonishing-is-that-we-who-had-no-idea-how-anything-was-going/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [“Good Christ, a Jewish man with parents alive is a fifteen-year-old boy, and will remain a fifteen-year-old boy till they die!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/good-christ-a-jewish-man-with-parents-alive-is-a-fifteen-year-old-boy/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [I am the Raskolnikov of jerking off – the sticky evidence is everywhere!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/i-am-the-raskolnikov-of-jerking-off-the-sticky-evidence-is-everywhere/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [“Better for real things to be uncontrollable, better for one's life to be undecipherable and intellectually impenetrable than to attempt to make casual sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/better-for-real-things-to-be-uncontrollable-better-for-one-s-life-to/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [“Doctor Spielvogel, it alleviates nothing fixing the blame - blaming is still ailing, of course, of course - but nonetheless, what was it with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/doctor-spielvogel-it-alleviates-nothing-fixing-the-blame-blaming-is/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [My God! The English language is a form of communication! Conversation isn't just crossfire where you shoot and get shot at! Where you've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/my-god-the-english-language-is-a-form-of-communication-conversation/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [You asked if I thought my fiction had changed anything in the culture and the answer is no. Sure, there's been some scandal, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/you-asked-if-i-thought-my-fiction-had-changed-anything-in-the-culture/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) [Explore all 388 Philip Roth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) ## More Once a year quotes > [“Just before six, Bee pulled three wineglasses out of the cabinet and uncorked the bottle of white that Greg had selected for us. "Light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-jio/just-before-six-bee-pulled-three-wineglasses-out-of-the-cabinet-and/) [Sarah Jio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-jio/) > [We have a family holiday once a year, usually abroad, but that's it. I feel I should have holidays for my family's sake, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-webb/we-have-a-family-holiday-once-a-year-usually-abroad-but-that-s-it-i/) [Robert Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-webb/) > [In certain savage tribes in New Guinea, they put the old people up in the trees and shake them once a year in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dos-passos/in-certain-savage-tribes-in-new-guinea-they-put-the-old-people-up-in/) [John Dos Passos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dos-passos/) > [“That's the beauty of the summer holidays. It's as if life is just a big Etch-a-Sketch, and once a year you get to shake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-smale/that-s-the-beauty-of-the-summer-holidays-it-s-as-if-life-is-just-a/) [Holly Smale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-smale/) > [“Shouting about gender equality once a year doesn't end the patriarchal and misogynistic stereotypes. We must live every day as women's day, only then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/shouting-about-gender-equality-once-a-year-doesn-t-end-the/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [All of Japan once a year will get up on their rooftops, because that's the night that the shepherd boy from one side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bly/all-of-japan-once-a-year-will-get-up-on-their-rooftops-because-that-s/) [Robert Bly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bly/) > [George Clooney and Brad Pitt, with those 'Oceans' films they do, they get to work together, make a whole lot of money, and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-gossett-jr/george-clooney-and-brad-pitt-with-those-oceans-films-they-do-they-get/) [Louis Gossett, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-gossett-jr/) > [“Once a year Jobs took his most valuable employees on a retreat, which he called " The Top 100." They were picked based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/once-a-year-jobs-took-his-most-valuable-employees-on-a-retreat-which/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“Although Thanksgiving comes but once a year, every day should be a day of Thanks. Among all the challenges that we face as people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-hammond/although-thanksgiving-comes-but-once-a-year-every-day-should-be-a-day/) Monique Hammond > [So if a Christian is touched only once a year, the touching is still worth it, and maybe on some given Christmas, some quiet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-reasoner/so-if-a-christian-is-touched-only-once-a-year-the-touching-is-still/) [Harry Reasoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-reasoner/) > [I do standup once a year, when I host the CMAs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-paisley/i-do-standup-once-a-year-when-i-host-the-cmas/) [Brad Paisley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-paisley/) > [So then man tortures and kills millions more animals to look for cures for these diseases. Elsewhere, millions of other human beings are being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-c-coates/so-then-man-tortures-and-kills-millions-more-animals-to-look-for/) David C. Coates > [Established in 2001, the Medal of Valor is our nation's highest public safety award. Officers across the nation are nominated by their peers, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barr/established-in-2001-the-medal-of-valor-is-our-nation-s-highest-public/) [William Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barr/) > [“In regard to propaganda the early advocates of universal literacy and a free press envisaged only two possibilities: the propaganda might be true, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/in-regard-to-propaganda-the-early-advocates-of-universal-literacy-and/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Thanksgiving is so called because we are all so thankful that it only comes once a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/thanksgiving-is-so-called-because-we-are-all-so-thankful-that-it-only/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) Browse all 284 Once a year quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“And it was never but once a year that they were brought together anyway, and that was on the neutral, dereligionized ground of Thanksgiving, when everybody gets to eat the same thing, nobody sneaking off to eat funny stuff--no kugel, no gefilte fish, no bitter herbs, just one colossal turkey for two hundred and fifty million people--one colossal turkey feeds all. A moratorium on the three-thousand-year-old nostalgia of the Jews, a moratorium on Christ and the cross and the crucifixion of the Christians, when everyone in New Jersey and elsewhere can be more passive about their irrationalities than they are the rest of the year. A moratorium on all the grievances and resentments, and not only for the Dwyers and the Levovs but for everyone in America who is suspicious of everyone else. 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