--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The American intelligentsia has been…" description: "\"The American intelligentsia has been pretty secular for a long time. There have always been figures like Oprah Winfrey, let's put it that way.\" — Ross ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/ross-douthat-2949_american_the-american-intelligentsia-has-been-pre_54432.png" --- # The American intelligentsia has been pretty secular for a… ![“The American intelligentsia has been pretty secular for a long time. There have always been figures like Oprah Winfrey, let's put it that way.” quote by Ross Douthat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/ross-douthat-2949_american_the-american-intelligentsia-has-been-pre_54432.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/ross-douthat-2949_american_the-american-intelligentsia-has-been-pre_54432.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/ross-douthat-2949_american_the-american-intelligentsia-has-been-pre_54432.png) > “The American intelligentsia has been pretty secular for a long time. There have always been figures like Oprah Winfrey, let's put it that way.” [Ross Douthat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-douthat/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Observes that American intellectual circles are largely secular, yet still feature prominent public figures who embody cultural influence, using Oprah Winfrey as an example. **In simple terms:** Secular elite with cultural icons Key Takeaway Secularism coexists with celebrity influence Themes Secularism Cultural influence Media American elite Public intellectuals Mood Analytical Observational Type Observation Cultural commentary When to use this quote - Academic discussions - Media analysis - Cultural criticism - Public discourse Key Concepts Secularism Celebrity culture Practical Applications - Sociology research - Media studies curricula Questions to Reflect On - How does celebrity shape secular discourse? - What defines 'intelligentsia' today? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Secular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secular/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [When you're true to yourself - not the audience that reads about me in the newspaper or sees a clip someplace, but the audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/when-you-re-true-to-yourself-not-the-audience-that-reads-about-me-in/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [“A man kept his secrets secret, didn’t act like he was on Oprah and blab them to the whole world. “They say every man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simpson/a-man-kept-his-secrets-secret-didn-t-act-like-he-was-on-oprah-and/) [David Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simpson/) > [My kids are really dope. 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