---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Anything that's strange is no good to the…"
description: "\"“Anything that's strange is no good to the average American. If it doesn't have Chicago plumbing, it's nonsense.”\" — Ray Bradbury"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6c/ray-bradbury-75_americans_anything-that-s-strange-is-no-good-to-th_31890.jpg"
---

#  Anything that's strange is no good to the average…

![“Anything that's strange is no good to the average American. If it doesn't have Chicago plumbing, it's nonsense.” quote by Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6c/ray-bradbury-75_americans_anything-that-s-strange-is-no-good-to-th_31890.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6c/ray-bradbury-75_americans_anything-that-s-strange-is-no-good-to-th_31890.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6c/ray-bradbury-75_americans_anything-that-s-strange-is-no-good-to-th_31890.jpg)

> ““Anything that's strange is no good to the average American. If it doesn't have Chicago plumbing, it's nonsense.””

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

## About This Quote

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

A critique of conformity, suggesting that unfamiliar or unconventional ideas are dismissed by mainstream society unless they conform to familiar standards.

**In simple terms:** Conformity vs. novelty

Key Takeaway

Beware of dismissing the unfamiliar

Themes

conformity cultural standards innovation skepticism American identity

Mood

skeptical reflective

Type

observation social commentary

When to use this quote

- media criticism
- product design
- public policy
- education
- marketing

Key Concepts

social norms cultural bias

Practical Applications

- cultural analysis
- innovation strategy

Questions to Reflect On

- How does conformity shape our perception of value?
- What benefits arise from challenging the status quo?

A Different Perspective

Some argue that embracing the unfamiliar can drive progress and cultural richness.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans/) [Nonsense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonsense/)

## Related quotes

> [Being an American doesn't mean that you're guaranteed a high wage. You have to be productive, and we have to create a very low-cost,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/being-an-american-doesn-t-mean-that-you-re-guaranteed-a-high-wage-you/)

[Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/)

> [People are strange, but more than that, they're good. They're good first, then strange.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/people-are-strange-but-more-than-that-they-re-good-they-re-good-first/)

[Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/)

> [“His eyes drift to my lips. “You’re strange.” “So are you.” “Good.” He leans closer. “We can be strange together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krista-ritchie/his-eyes-drift-to-my-lips-you-re-strange-so-are-you-good-he-leans/)

[Krista Ritchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krista-ritchie/)

> [Life is strange. Every so often a good man wins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-dane/life-is-strange-every-so-often-a-good-man-wins/)

[Frank Dane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-dane/)

> [I don't know if I was a star. I was certainly working a lot and that was strange because there were good things about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-connelly/i-don-t-know-if-i-was-a-star-i-was-certainly-working-a-lot-and-that/)

[Jennifer Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-connelly/)

> [“Strange how something good can come from something horrible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/strange-how-something-good-can-come-from-something-horrible/)

[Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/)

> [They walked still farther and the girl said, "Is it true that long ago firemen put fires out instead of going to start them?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/they-walked-still-farther-and-the-girl-said-is-it-true-that-long-ago/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [When Americans, who have no idea who I am, laugh at my jokes, it's exactly the same if someone loves you even if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gad-elmaleh/when-americans-who-have-no-idea-who-i-am-laugh-at-my-jokes-it-s/)

[Gad Elmaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-elmaleh/)

> [My parents don't care what Americans think of us; we just care what the other Indian people in our community think of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himanshu-suri/my-parents-don-t-care-what-americans-think-of-us-we-just-care-what/)

[Himanshu Suri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himanshu-suri/)

> [Just because the Americans are so good at rattling out accessible and cheap junk food, nobody looks twice when it comes to their food.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-oliver/just-because-the-americans-are-so-good-at-rattling-out-accessible-and/)

[Jamie Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-oliver/)

> [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/)

[Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/)

> [Americans are very friendly and very suspicious, that is what Americans are and that is what always upsets the foreigner, who deals with them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/americans-are-very-friendly-and-very-suspicious-that-is-what/)

[Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

> [Music has an intrinsic value that touches Americans - they love their music, and want more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-rosen/music-has-an-intrinsic-value-that-touches-americans-they-love-their/)

[Hilary Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-rosen/)

> [“People – Americans, mostly – realise how attached they are to material comforts when they arrive in India.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-william-roberts/people-americans-mostly-realise-how-attached-they-are-to-material/)

Paul William Roberts

## More by Ray Bradbury

> [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [Do you ever read any of the books you burn?" He laughed. "That's against the law!" "Oh. Of course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/do-you-ever-read-any-of-the-books-you-burn-he-laughed-that-s-against/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [There's no reason to burn books if you don't read them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/there-s-no-reason-to-burn-books-if-you-don-t-read-them/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [We were put here as witnesses to the miracle of life. We see the stars, and we want them. We are beholden to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-were-put-here-as-witnesses-to-the-miracle-of-life-we-see-the-stars/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [Remember, with writing, what you’re looking for is just one person to come up and tell you, 'I love you for what you do.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/remember-with-writing-what-you-re-looking-for-is-just-one-person-to/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [As a result of reading science fiction when I was eight, I grew up with an interest in music, architecture, city planning, transportation, politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/as-a-result-of-reading-science-fiction-when-i-was-eight-i-grew-up/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [“You can’t learn to write in college. It’s a very bad place for writers because the teachers always think they know more than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-can-t-learn-to-write-in-college-it-s-a-very-bad-place-for-writers/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [We're going to become the martians when we land there. When we explore and build communities, we become the martians. That's a wonderful destiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-re-going-to-become-the-martians-when-we-land-there-when-we-explore/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [I wish you a wrestling match with your Creative Muse that will last a lifetime. ... I wish craziness and foolishness and madness upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-wish-you-a-wrestling-match-with-your-creative-muse-that-will-last-a/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [The library is the biggest cracker box factory in the world. The more you eat, the more you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/the-library-is-the-biggest-cracker-box-factory-in-the-world-the-more/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [We travel for romance, we travel for architecture, and we travel to be lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-travel-for-romance-we-travel-for-architecture-and-we-travel-to-be/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [I spent three days a week for 10 years educating myself in the public library, and it's better than college. People should educate themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-spent-three-days-a-week-for-10-years-educating-myself-in-the-public/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [If we try to deny the darkness in our souls then we'll become completely dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/if-we-try-to-deny-the-darkness-in-our-souls-then-we-ll-become/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [But remember that the Captain belongs to the most dangerous enemy to truth and freedom, the solid unmoving cattle of the majority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/but-remember-that-the-captain-belongs-to-the-most-dangerous-enemy-to/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

[Explore all 1,520 Ray Bradbury quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

## More Americans quotes

> [“People – Americans, mostly – realise how attached they are to material comforts when they arrive in India.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-william-roberts/people-americans-mostly-realise-how-attached-they-are-to-material/)

Paul William Roberts

> [Music has an intrinsic value that touches Americans - they love their music, and want more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-rosen/music-has-an-intrinsic-value-that-touches-americans-they-love-their/)

[Hilary Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-rosen/)

> [Americans are very friendly and very suspicious, that is what Americans are and that is what always upsets the foreigner, who deals with them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/americans-are-very-friendly-and-very-suspicious-that-is-what/)

[Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

> [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/)

[Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/)

> [Just because the Americans are so good at rattling out accessible and cheap junk food, nobody looks twice when it comes to their food.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-oliver/just-because-the-americans-are-so-good-at-rattling-out-accessible-and/)

[Jamie Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-oliver/)

> [My parents don't care what Americans think of us; we just care what the other Indian people in our community think of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himanshu-suri/my-parents-don-t-care-what-americans-think-of-us-we-just-care-what/)

[Himanshu Suri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himanshu-suri/)

> [When Americans, who have no idea who I am, laugh at my jokes, it's exactly the same if someone loves you even if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gad-elmaleh/when-americans-who-have-no-idea-who-i-am-laugh-at-my-jokes-it-s/)

[Gad Elmaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-elmaleh/)

> [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [We Americans tend to be a prodigal lot. We are as careless with our personal resources as we are with the resources of nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-crook-de-camp/we-americans-tend-to-be-a-prodigal-lot-we-are-as-careless-with-our/)

[Catherine Crook de Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-crook-de-camp/)

> [Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn't block traffic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/americans-will-put-up-with-anything-provided-it-doesn-t-block-traffic/)

[Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/)

> [Most Americans believe in fairness; we believe that people should work hard but there should be a safety net. We believe in saving the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-maclean/most-americans-believe-in-fairness-we-believe-that-people-should-work/)

[Nancy MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-maclean/)

> [“Using a wide variety of media, we could demonstrate for our fellow Americans their anxieties, desires, insufficiencies, and frustrations--and how to assuage them all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ferris/using-a-wide-variety-of-media-we-could-demonstrate-for-our-fellow/)

[Joshua Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ferris/)

> [The Americans say that we are ungrateful-but I ask them for heaven's sake, what should we be grateful to them for-for murdering our fathers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/the-americans-say-that-we-are-ungrateful-but-i-ask-them-for-heaven-s/)

[David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/)

> [So many Korean Americans like me came to this country with the hope of achieving their own American Dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-steel/so-many-korean-americans-like-me-came-to-this-country-with-the-hope/)

[Michelle Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-steel/)

> [You are Americans. You love this country. Together we are entrusted with the principles that represent mankind's greatest political and social achievement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tsongas/you-are-americans-you-love-this-country-together-we-are-entrusted/)

[Paul Tsongas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tsongas/)

[Browse all 1,536 Americans quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Anything that's strange is no good to the average American. If it doesn't have Chicago plumbing, it's nonsense.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ray Bradbury"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/anything-that-s-strange-is-no-good-to-the-average-american-if-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Americans"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/anything-that-s-strange-is-no-good-to-the-average-american-if-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6c/ray-bradbury-75_americans_anything-that-s-strange-is-no-good-to-th_31890.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6c/ray-bradbury-75_americans_anything-that-s-strange-is-no-good-to-th_31890.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6c/ray-bradbury-75_americans_anything-that-s-strange-is-no-good-to-th_31890.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Anything that's strange is no good to the average American. If it doesn't have Chicago plumbing, it's…” — Ray Bradbury",
                "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": "Ray Bradbury",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Anything that's strange is no good...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/anything-that-s-strange-is-no-good-to-the-average-american-if-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/anything-that-s-strange-is-no-good-to-the-average-american-if-it/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
