--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If it's by an American it's certain to be…" description: "\"“If it's by an American it's certain to be filth. That's all they write about.”\" — Roald Dahl" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/roald-dahl-899_american_if-it-s-by-an-american-it-s-certain-to-b_224452.jpg" --- # If it's by an American it's certain to be filth. That's… ![“If it's by an American it's certain to be filth. That's all they write about.” quote by Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/roald-dahl-899_american_if-it-s-by-an-american-it-s-certain-to-b_224452.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/roald-dahl-899_american_if-it-s-by-an-american-it-s-certain-to-b_224452.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/roald-dahl-899_american_if-it-s-by-an-american-it-s-certain-to-b_224452.jpg) > ““If it's by an American it's certain to be filth. That's all they write about.”” [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) ## 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 satirically portrays American media as sensationalist and negative. **In simple terms:** American media is portrayed as sensationalist. Key Takeaway Question media narratives critically. Themes media culture stereotype Mood skeptical humorous Type satirical critical When to use this quote - news consumption - media analysis - public discourse Key Concepts satire nationalism Questions to Reflect On - Do you recognize similar stereotypes? - How can we seek balanced reporting? A Different Perspective It generalizes a whole nation unfairly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Everything is reduced to what's physical in the end, because it's the filth inside people's minds that creates all the evil. What is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-davies/everything-is-reduced-to-what-s-physical-in-the-end-because-it-s-the/) [Ray Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-davies/) > [The justices have constitutionally protected obscenity in libraries, filth over cable television, and now unlimited internet pornography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-schlafly/the-justices-have-constitutionally-protected-obscenity-in-libraries/) [Phyllis Schlafly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-schlafly/) > [“Clouds shed the agony of the sky and rain concludes it by covering us in filth. What do you think about the puddles of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pushpa-rana/clouds-shed-the-agony-of-the-sky-and-rain-concludes-it-by-covering-us/) [Pushpa Rana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pushpa-rana/) > [Men are tied up to their families and possessions more helplessly than in a prison. There is an occasion for the prisoner to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/men-are-tied-up-to-their-families-and-possessions-more-helplessly/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [If you think I wear the cloak of filth, then let me tell you baby, I wear it real good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diamanda-galas/if-you-think-i-wear-the-cloak-of-filth-then-let-me-tell-you-baby-i/) [Diamanda Galas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diamanda-galas/) > [“It's not a fear that has a name, it's just a dark aura on the world, and it echoes back at Toni with all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-not-a-fear-that-has-a-name-it-s-just-a-dark-aura-on-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If there is a Nobel prize for dirt and filth, India will win it, no doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jairam-ramesh/if-there-is-a-nobel-prize-for-dirt-and-filth-india-will-win-it-no/) [Jairam Ramesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jairam-ramesh/) > [“that would have hidden the decades of filth that had left their stamp upon the wooden floor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-block/that-would-have-hidden-the-decades-of-filth-that-had-left-their-stamp/) [Lawrence Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-block/) > [Between urine and filth we are born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/between-urine-and-filth-we-are-born/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Now, it is very necessary that we should not flinch from seeing what is vile and debasing. There is filth on the floor, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/now-it-is-very-necessary-that-we-should-not-flinch-from-seeing-what/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I stopped making movies because I don't like taking my clothes off. Maybe it's realism, but in my opinion, it's utter filth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-reynolds/i-stopped-making-movies-because-i-don-t-like-taking-my-clothes-off/) [Debbie Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-reynolds/) > [If I created a new depravity I would be a priestess, while my imitators would founder, after my reign, in abominable filth...Don't you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachilde/if-i-created-a-new-depravity-i-would-be-a-priestess-while-my/) [Rachilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachilde/) > [ “You \[demagogues\] are like the fishers for eels; in still waters they catch nothing, but if they thoroughly stir up the slime, their fishing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristophanes/you-demagogues-are-like-the-fishers-for-eels-in-still-waters-they/) [Aristophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristophanes/) > [Television's Mr. Filth: that's me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-potter/television-s-mr-filth-that-s-me/) [Dennis Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-potter/) > [The dark Gods of pain are surfacing from the immemorial filth of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/the-dark-gods-of-pain-are-surfacing-from-the-immemorial-filth-of-time/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) ## More by Roald Dahl > [Nowadays you can go anywhere in the world in a few hours, and nothing is fabulous any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/nowadays-you-can-go-anywhere-in-the-world-in-a-few-hours-and-nothing/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [When I walked to school in the mornings I would start out alone but would pick up four other boys along the way. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/when-i-walked-to-school-in-the-mornings-i-would-start-out-alone-but/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [“There's no earthly way of knowing Which direction we are going There's no knowing where we're rowing Or which way the river's flowing Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/there-s-no-earthly-way-of-knowing-which-direction-we-are-going-there/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [“One of the vital things for a writer who’s writing a book, which is a lengthy project and is going to take about a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/one-of-the-vital-things-for-a-writer-who-s-writing-a-book-which-is-a/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [“When Bruce Bogtrotter had eaten his way through half of the entire enormous cake, he paused for just a couple of seconds and took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/when-bruce-bogtrotter-had-eaten-his-way-through-half-of-the-entire/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [Eschew all those beastly adjectives...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/eschew-all-those-beastly-adjectives/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [Bunkum and tummyrot! You'll never get anywhere if you go about what-iffing like that. Would Columbus have discovered America if he'd said 'What if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/bunkum-and-tummyrot-you-ll-never-get-anywhere-if-you-go-about-what/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [If the Good Lord intended for us to walk, he wouldn't have invented rollar skates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/if-the-good-lord-intended-for-us-to-walk-he-wouldn-t-have-invented/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [The witching hour, somebody had once whispered to her, was a special moment in the middle of the night when every child and every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/the-witching-hour-somebody-had-once-whispered-to-her-was-a-special/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/those-who-don-t-believe-in-magic-will-never-find-it/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [But there was one other thing that the grown-ups also knew, and it was this: that however small the chance might be of striking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/but-there-was-one-other-thing-that-the-grown-ups-also-knew-and-it-was/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [When writing about oneself, one must strive to be truthful. Truth is more important than modesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/when-writing-about-oneself-one-must-strive-to-be-truthful-truth-is/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [“the world is a scary place for such a small child”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/the-world-is-a-scary-place-for-such-a-small-child/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [And above all, watch with glittering eyes the world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/and-above-all-watch-with-glittering-eyes-the-world-around-you-because/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [“We must hurry!’ said Mr. Wonka. ‘We have so much time and so little to do! No! Wait! Strike that! Reverse it!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/we-must-hurry-said-mr-wonka-we-have-so-much-time-and-so-little-to-do/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) [Explore all 318 Roald Dahl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) ## More American quotes > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in a tremendous investment to support millions of workers without a paycheck and behind on bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/congress-passed-the-american-rescue-plan-act-in-a-tremendous/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and employ almost half of the working population. Yet because of their size, they rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/small-businesses-are-the-backbone-of-the-american-economy-and-employ/) [Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/) > [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [New York and San Francisco are distinctly different. San Francisco is driving the American media, not New York. You have young, microwaved millionaires and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/new-york-and-san-francisco-are-distinctly-different-san-francisco-is/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) Browse all 7,717 American quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If it's by an American it's certain to be filth. 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