--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you don't know how great this country…" description: "\"If you don't know how great this country is, I know someone who does; Russia.\" — Robert Frost" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d97/robert-frost-371_country_if-you-don-t-know-how-great-this-country_1471742.png" --- # If you don't know how great this country is, I know… ![“If you don't know how great this country is, I know someone who does; Russia.” quote by Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d97/robert-frost-371_country_if-you-don-t-know-how-great-this-country_1471742.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d97/robert-frost-371_country_if-you-don-t-know-how-great-this-country_1471742.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d97/robert-frost-371_country_if-you-don-t-know-how-great-this-country_1471742.png) > “If you don't know how great this country is, I know someone who does; Russia.” [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Contrasting perceived greatness of one nation with another, using irony. **In simple terms:** Country greatness compared with irony. Key Takeaway Question national narratives. Themes politics irony nationhood comparison identity Mood thoughtful critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - debates on patriotism - educational curricula - media analysis - cross‑cultural dialogues - policy discussions Key Concepts nationalism critical thinking geopolitics Questions to Reflect On - What does greatness truly mean? - How do stereotypes shape perception? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex geopolitics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia/) ## Related quotes > [I often heard the same question: What place does Russia reserve for itself in the world; how does it see itself; what is its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/i-often-heard-the-same-question-what-place-does-russia-reserve-for/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [You know this is a great, great country that we live in to be able to play this great game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-woodson/you-know-this-is-a-great-great-country-that-we-live-in-to-be-able-to/) [Charles Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-woodson/) > [Okay, you can die for your country, but know what you're doing while you're doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/okay-you-can-die-for-your-country-but-know-what-you-re-doing-while/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [Culture is the way for a country to know itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-carey/culture-is-the-way-for-a-country-to-know-itself/) [Peter Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-carey/) > [New Zealand is the only country I know well enough to write about. It can sometimes lead to complications.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/new-zealand-is-the-only-country-i-know-well-enough-to-write-about-it/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [The City is, in terms of its basic functioning, a far-off country of which we know little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lanchester/the-city-is-in-terms-of-its-basic-functioning-a-far-off-country-of/) [John Lanchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lanchester/) > [I want to show to those who deprive people the right to love of country, that when we know how to sacrifice ourselves for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-rizal/i-want-to-show-to-those-who-deprive-people-the-right-to-love-of/) [Jose Rizal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-rizal/) > [It is good to come to a country you know practically nothing about. Your thoughts grow still, useless. Everything must be rebuilt. In a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-stasiuk/it-is-good-to-come-to-a-country-you-know-practically-nothing-about/) [Andrzej Stasiuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-stasiuk/) > [ The people know more about \[Jazz\] in other countries than in America. America is the last country to know about anything, because we're too… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-blakey/the-people-know-more-about-jazz-in-other-countries-than-in-america/) [Art Blakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-blakey/) > [When you are in a new country, and you are alone and know that your family don't stay here, it is not simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-conte/when-you-are-in-a-new-country-and-you-are-alone-and-know-that-your/) [Antonio Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-conte/) > [It is only in the country that we can get to know a person or a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-connolly/it-is-only-in-the-country-that-we-can-get-to-know-a-person-or-a-book/) [Cyril Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-connolly/) > [I can tell you, all the intelligence services in the world were running my name through their databases to see did anyone by this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/i-can-tell-you-all-the-intelligence-services-in-the-world-were/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [You lock your windows before you leave. You put on an alarm if you live in the country because you know that there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/you-lock-your-windows-before-you-leave-you-put-on-an-alarm-if-you/) [Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/) > [All I can say is God loves this country. We all know it. We wouldn't be where we are without him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/all-i-can-say-is-god-loves-this-country-we-all-know-it-we-wouldn-t-be/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [“If you would know this country, you must know its stories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-marshall-stoneking/if-you-would-know-this-country-you-must-know-its-stories/) [Billy Marshall Stoneking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-marshall-stoneking/) ## More by Robert Frost > [The brain is a wonderful organ. It starts working when you get up in the morning, and doesn't stop until you get to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/the-brain-is-a-wonderful-organ-it-starts-working-when-you-get-up-in/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [When I see birches bend to left and right... I like to think some boy's been swinging them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/when-i-see-birches-bend-to-left-and-right-i-like-to-think-some-boy-s/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [“The promising young poets, the hopefuls? I'd name Richard Wilbur, Peter Viereck, Karl Shapiro, Elizabeth Bishop, Robert Lowell, John Ciardi...Leonard Bacon...but it is still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/the-promising-young-poets-the-hopefuls-i-d-name-richard-wilbur-peter/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [Lord, I have loved Your sky, Be it said against or for me, Have loved it clear and high, Or low and stormy...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/lord-i-have-loved-your-sky-be-it-said-against-or-for-me-have-loved-it/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [Let him that is without stone among you cast the first thing he can lay his hands on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/let-him-that-is-without-stone-among-you-cast-the-first-thing-he-can/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [It is only a moment here and a moment there that the greatest writer has. Some cognizance of the fact must be taken in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/it-is-only-a-moment-here-and-a-moment-there-that-the-greatest-writer/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [And of course there must be something wrong In wanting to silence any song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/and-of-course-there-must-be-something-wrong-in-wanting-to-silence-any/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [There are two kinds of teachers: the kind that fill you with so much quail shot that you can't move, and the kind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/there-are-two-kinds-of-teachers-the-kind-that-fill-you-with-so-much/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [The rose is a rose, And was always a rose. But now the theory goes That the apple's a rose, And the pear is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/the-rose-is-a-rose-and-was-always-a-rose-but-now-the-theory-goes-that/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [Forgive, O Lord, my little jokes on Thee, and I'll forgive Thy great big joke on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/forgive-o-lord-my-little-jokes-on-thee-and-i-ll-forgive-thy-great-big/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [What an exciting age it is we live in With all this talk about the hope of youth And nothing made of youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/what-an-exciting-age-it-is-we-live-in-with-all-this-talk-about-the/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [The footpath down to the well is healed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/the-footpath-down-to-the-well-is-healed/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [There is the fear that we shan't prove worthy in the eyes of someone who knows us at least as well as we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/there-is-the-fear-that-we-shan-t-prove-worthy-in-the-eyes-of-someone/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [It's God - I recognised him from Blake's picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/it-s-god-i-recognised-him-from-blake-s-picture/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [Create and stir other people to create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/create-and-stir-other-people-to-create/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) [Explore all 624 Robert Frost quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) ## More Country quotes > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [For the Scottish government, the practice of having meetings in different parts of the country is well established, but for the U.K. government, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/for-the-scottish-government-the-practice-of-having-meetings-in/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [There's no reason someone who has fought for their country should be homeless of jobless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/there-s-no-reason-someone-who-has-fought-for-their-country-should-be/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [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/) > [It's very nice to be a rebel saying, 'I stand on my principles,' but if in fact that's not going to have any impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-grieve/it-s-very-nice-to-be-a-rebel-saying-i-stand-on-my-principles-but-if/) [Dominic Grieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-grieve/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [That's what this country is. It's made up of immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bria-vinaite/that-s-what-this-country-is-it-s-made-up-of-immigrants/) [Bria Vinaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bria-vinaite/) > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [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/) > ['Lovecraft Country' is reclaiming all these pulp genres for people of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/lovecraft-country-is-reclaiming-all-these-pulp-genres-for-people-of/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [No judge can stop us from praying for our country and I pray that on May 6, millions of Americans will join me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/no-judge-can-stop-us-from-praying-for-our-country-and-i-pray-that-on/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) [Browse all 29,881 Country quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you don't know how great this country is, I know someone who does; Russia.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Frost" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/if-you-don-t-know-how-great-this-country-is-i-know-someone-who-does/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Country" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/if-you-don-t-know-how-great-this-country-is-i-know-someone-who-does/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d97/robert-frost-371_country_if-you-don-t-know-how-great-this-country_1471742.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d97/robert-frost-371_country_if-you-don-t-know-how-great-this-country_1471742.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d97/robert-frost-371_country_if-you-don-t-know-how-great-this-country_1471742.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you don't know how great this country is, I know someone who does; Russia.” — Robert Frost", "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": "Robert Frost", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you don't know how great...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/if-you-don-t-know-how-great-this-country-is-i-know-someone-who-does/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/if-you-don-t-know-how-great-this-country-is-i-know-someone-who-does/#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 } } ] } ```