--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Great country, diminutive minds. America…" description: "\"Great country, diminutive minds. America is formless, has no terrible and no beautiful condensation.\" — Ralph Waldo Emerson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_america_great-country-diminutive-minds-america-i_392590.png" --- # Great country, diminutive minds. America is formless, has… ![“Great country, diminutive minds. America is formless, has no terrible and no beautiful condensation.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_america_great-country-diminutive-minds-america-i_392590.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_america_great-country-diminutive-minds-america-i_392590.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_america_great-country-diminutive-minds-america-i_392590.png) > “Great country, diminutive minds. America is formless, has no terrible and no beautiful condensation.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques America’s lack of cultural depth and imagination, suggesting its greatness is superficial. **In simple terms:** America lacks deep cultural substance. Key Takeaway Cultivate deeper cultural and intellectual engagement. Themes culture intellect national identity Mood critical reflective Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - education reform - media criticism - public discourse - artistic development Key Concepts philosophy critique identity Questions to Reflect On - How can societies foster deeper cultural reflection? - What role does imagination play in national identity? A Different Perspective It may overlook America’s diverse achievements and contributions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Condensation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/condensation/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) ## Related quotes > [“I like her explanation better than just being a diminutive of someone else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalia-chaltas/i-like-her-explanation-better-than-just-being-a-diminutive-of-someone/) [Thalia Chaltas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thalia-chaltas/) > [“For my nymphet I needed a diminutive with a lyrical lilt to it. One of the most limpid and luminous letters is "L". The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/for-my-nymphet-i-needed-a-diminutive-with-a-lyrical-lilt-to-it-one-of/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [Don't use a big word where a diminutive one will suffice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nateman/don-t-use-a-big-word-where-a-diminutive-one-will-suffice/) [Nateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nateman/) > [It is too little to call man a little world; Except God, man is a diminutive to nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/it-is-too-little-to-call-man-a-little-world-except-god-man-is-a/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [It behooves us to avoid archaisms. Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/it-behooves-us-to-avoid-archaisms-never-use-a-long-word-when-a/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [But I was frightfully fond of the universe and wanted to address it by a diminutive. I often did so; and it never seemed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-was-frightfully-fond-of-the-universe-and-wanted-to-address-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If diversity is a source of wonder, its opposite - the ubiquitous condensation to some blandly amorphous and singularly generic modern culture that takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wade-davis/if-diversity-is-a-source-of-wonder-its-opposite-the-ubiquitous/) [Wade Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wade-davis/) > [The Theatre of Cruelty has been created in order to restore to the theatre a passionate and convulsive conception of life, and it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-artaud/the-theatre-of-cruelty-has-been-created-in-order-to-restore-to-the/) [Antonin Artaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-artaud/) > [In the great glasshouses streaming with condensation, the children in mourning-dress beheld marvels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/in-the-great-glasshouses-streaming-with-condensation-the-children-in/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [Where we cannot invent, we may at least improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/where-we-cannot-invent-we-may-at-least-improve/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [There is nothing more mysterious than blood. Paracelsus considered it a condensation of light. I believe that the Aryan, Hyperborean blood is that —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-serrano/there-is-nothing-more-mysterious-than-blood-paracelsus-considered-it/) [Miguel Serrano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-serrano/) > [I want to be the condensation on the glass. I want to be that phenomenon that takes place between hot and cold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/i-want-to-be-the-condensation-on-the-glass-i-want-to-be-that/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) > [Where we cannot invent, we may at least improve; we may give somewhat of novelty to that which was old, condensation to that which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/where-we-cannot-invent-we-may-at-least-improve-we-may-give-somewhat/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [I want to reach that condensation of sensations that constitutes a picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-matisse/i-want-to-reach-that-condensation-of-sensations-that-constitutes-a/) [Henri Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-matisse/) > [My master's visualizations were so powerful their condensation into matter was mere signature. Donald Walters, formerly Kriyananda, author of The Path about his guru…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goswami-kriyananda/my-master-s-visualizations-were-so-powerful-their-condensation-into/) [Goswami Kriyananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goswami-kriyananda/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## 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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