--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In his Letters from an American Farmer…" description: "\"“In his Letters from an American Farmer, first published in 1782 in English and translated soon after into French, Crevecoeur described his adoptive co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00a/simon-anholt-47942_patriotism_in-his-letters-from-an-american-farmer-f_3007537.jpg" --- # In his Letters from an American Farmer, first published in… ![“In his Letters from an American Farmer, first published in 1782 in English and translated soon after into French, Crevecoeur described his adoptive country and his countrymen in the most flattering terms: We are the most perfect society now existing in the world... Here individuals of all nations…” quote by Simon Anholt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00a/simon-anholt-47942_patriotism_in-his-letters-from-an-american-farmer-f_3007537.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00a/simon-anholt-47942_patriotism_in-his-letters-from-an-american-farmer-f_3007537.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00a/simon-anholt-47942_patriotism_in-his-letters-from-an-american-farmer-f_3007537.jpg) > ““In his Letters from an American Farmer, first published in 1782 in English and translated soon after into French, Crevecoeur described his adoptive country and his countrymen in the most flattering terms: We are the most perfect society now existing in the world... Here individuals of all nations are melted into a new race of men, whose labours and posterity will one day cause great changes in the world... Here a man is free as he ought to be... An American is a new man, who acts upon new principles; he must therefore entertain new ideas, and form new opinions. From involuntary idleness, servile dependence, penury, and useless labour, he has passed to toils of a very different nature, rewarded by ample subsistence – this is an American.”” [Simon Anholt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-anholt/) ## 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 celebrates America as a uniquely free, industrious society where diverse peoples merge into a new, progressive identity. **In simple terms:** America is seen as a new, free, productive nation. Key Takeaway Embrace new ideas and work for collective progress. Themes freedom innovation identity progress diversity Mood optimistic proud reflective Type historical philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - immigration policy - education reform - community development - entrepreneurship - civic engagement Key Concepts American exceptionalism social contract nation building Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance idealism with confronting past wrongs? - What responsibilities arise from claiming exceptionalism? A Different Perspective The idealized view overlooks historical injustices and inequalities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-new-1192291/) [Crevecoeur Described](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crevecoeur-described-4805725/) [Letters American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letters-american-4805724/) [Ought American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought-american-4805723/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Perfect society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-society/) [Society Existing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society-existing-1778161/) ## Related quotes > [But we don't have an example of a democratic society existing in a socialist economy - which is the only real alternative to capitalism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-l-berger/but-we-don-t-have-an-example-of-a-democratic-society-existing-in-a/) [Peter L. Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-l-berger/) > [I don't see myself as either Irish or American, I'm a New Yorker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/i-don-t-see-myself-as-either-irish-or-american-i-m-a-new-yorker/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [The American new music scene is remarkably vibrant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hersch/the-american-new-music-scene-is-remarkably-vibrant/) [Michael Hersch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hersch/) > [“One of those settlers was Normandy-born and ornately named J. Hector St John de Crevecoeur, who embarked for America in 1754, purchased an estate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-anholt/one-of-those-settlers-was-normandy-born-and-ornately-named-j-hector/) [Simon Anholt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-anholt/) > [Our notion of the perfect society embraces the family as its center and ornament, and this paradise is not secure until children appear to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-bronson-alcott/our-notion-of-the-perfect-society-embraces-the-family-as-its-center/) [Amos Bronson Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-bronson-alcott/) > [Perfection is impossible in an imperfect society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peixin-sammy-zhong/perfection-is-impossible-in-an-imperfect-society/) [Peixin Sammy Zhong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peixin-sammy-zhong/) > [I have no notions of a perfect society, I don’t know what that means. I know we can do much better than what we’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/i-have-no-notions-of-a-perfect-society-i-don-t-know-what-that-means-i/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [“It is my argument that American liberalism is a totalitarian political religion, but not necessarily an Orwellian one. It is nice, not brutal. Nannying,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-goldberg/it-is-my-argument-that-american-liberalism-is-a-totalitarian/) [Jonah Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-goldberg/) > [When such a perfect society will be created or if it will ever be created is a question as difficult to answer as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/when-such-a-perfect-society-will-be-created-or-if-it-will-ever-be/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [“The perfect society to which we aspire in theory may become a powerful enemy of the good society we can become in fact.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-sagoff/the-perfect-society-to-which-we-aspire-in-theory-may-become-a/) [Mark Sagoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-sagoff/) > [A perfect society is built upon mutual trust. Character is the source of that trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/a-perfect-society-is-built-upon-mutual-trust-character-is-the-source/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [“A brick could be used to create a new society, a perfect society, where there is no inequality, there are no laws, and most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-brick-could-be-used-to-create-a-new-society-a-perfect-society-where/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I sense that man lives life in the eyes that the world revolves around him.if man were to change that perspective that all revolve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-shaylitsa/i-sense-that-man-lives-life-in-the-eyes-that-the-world-revolves/) [Edward Shaylitsa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-shaylitsa/) > [Utopian fiction is really boring. I had to read a lot of it, and it's not that much fun. But they're fascinating to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-jennings/utopian-fiction-is-really-boring-i-had-to-read-a-lot-of-it-and-it-s/) [Christine Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-jennings/) > [As we grew to love South Australia, we felt that we were in an expanding society, still feeling the bond to the motherland, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-helen-spence/as-we-grew-to-love-south-australia-we-felt-that-we-were-in-an/) [Catherine Helen Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-helen-spence/) ## More by Simon Anholt > [The only remaining superpower is international public opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-anholt/the-only-remaining-superpower-is-international-public-opinion/) [Simon Anholt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-anholt/) > [Brands are the rock stars of commerce, and create many fans, both at home and abroad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-anholt/brands-are-the-rock-stars-of-commerce-and-create-many-fans-both-at/) [Simon Anholt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-anholt/) > [The real success story of branding in recent decades has been the way in which companies have used their brands to turn the satisfaction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-anholt/the-real-success-story-of-branding-in-recent-decades-has-been-the-way/) [Simon Anholt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-anholt/) > [“A brand is as much an open invitation to complain as it is a promise to deliver”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-anholt/a-brand-is-as-much-an-open-invitation-to-complain-as-it-is-a-promise/) [Simon Anholt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-anholt/) > [“America is basically about freedom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-anholt/america-is-basically-about-freedom/) [Simon Anholt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-anholt/) > [“One of those settlers was Normandy-born and ornately named J. Hector St John de Crevecoeur, who embarked for America in 1754, purchased an estate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-anholt/one-of-those-settlers-was-normandy-born-and-ornately-named-j-hector/) [Simon Anholt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-anholt/) > [The strengths of America's international standing continue to be innovation, opportunities and vibrancy,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-anholt/the-strengths-of-america-s-international-standing-continue-to-be/) [Simon Anholt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-anholt/) [Explore all 8 Simon Anholt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-anholt/) ## More Patriotism quotes > [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 have expressive nationalism, I mean very identity driven, which shaped each other a lot of that in the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/you-have-expressive-nationalism-i-mean-very-identity-driven-which/) [Subrahmanyam Jaishankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [I am not a nationalist in any way, and I hate flag waving, and I don't think much good has come out of nationalism.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/i-am-not-a-nationalist-in-any-way-and-i-hate-flag-waving-and-i-don-t/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [She might be without country, without nation, but inside her there was still a being that could exist and be free, that could simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-maas/she-might-be-without-country-without-nation-but-inside-her-there-was/) [Sharon Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-maas/) > [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Patriotism is a fierce love for the nation’s soul - its land, its people, its core, coupled with a burning contempt for a government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/njau-kihia/patriotism-is-a-fierce-love-for-the-nation-s-soul-its-land-its-people/) [Njau Kihia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/njau-kihia/) > [There is no patriotic art and no patriotic science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/there-is-no-patriotic-art-and-no-patriotic-science/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Cricket, politics, and cinema is what a majority in our country are most passionate about. They have the power to divide the best of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-deverakonda/cricket-politics-and-cinema-is-what-a-majority-in-our-country-are/) [Vijay Deverakonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-deverakonda/) > [“A man full of warm, speculative benevolence may wish his society otherwise constituted than he finds it; but a good patriot, and a true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-man-full-of-warm-speculative-benevolence-may-wish-his-society/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [The Patriot Act is certainly a concern; all of those things are dangerous. I think more important than me preaching is that we as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-patriot-act-is-certainly-a-concern-all-of-those-things-are/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [Anybody can be good in the country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/anybody-can-be-good-in-the-country/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I will do everything I can always for my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-massa/i-will-do-everything-i-can-always-for-my-country/) [Felipe Massa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-massa/) > [All the people in Korea are cheering me like I'm a gold medalist or something, so I have a responsibility to my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/psy/all-the-people-in-korea-are-cheering-me-like-i-m-a-gold-medalist-or/) [PSY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/psy/) [Browse all 5,882 Patriotism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In his Letters from an American Farmer, first published in 1782 in English and translated soon after into French, Crevecoeur described his adoptive country and his countrymen in the most flattering terms: We are the most perfect society now existing in the world... Here individuals of all nations are melted into a new race of men, whose labours and posterity will one day cause great changes in the world... Here a man is free as he ought to be... An American is a new man, who acts upon new principles; he must therefore entertain new ideas, and form new opinions. From involuntary idleness, servile dependence, penury, and useless labour, he has passed to toils of a very different nature, rewarded by ample subsistence – this is an American.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Simon Anholt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-anholt/in-his-letters-from-an-american-farmer-first-published-in-1782-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Patriotism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-anholt/in-his-letters-from-an-american-farmer-first-published-in-1782-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00a/simon-anholt-47942_patriotism_in-his-letters-from-an-american-farmer-f_3007537.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00a/simon-anholt-47942_patriotism_in-his-letters-from-an-american-farmer-f_3007537.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00a/simon-anholt-47942_patriotism_in-his-letters-from-an-american-farmer-f_3007537.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In his Letters from an American Farmer, first published in 1782 in English and translated soon after into…” — Simon Anholt", "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": "Simon Anholt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-anholt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“In his Letters from an American...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-anholt/in-his-letters-from-an-american-farmer-first-published-in-1782-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-anholt/in-his-letters-from-an-american-farmer-first-published-in-1782-in/#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 } } ] } ```