--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: America had shifted from what the…" description: "\"“America had shifted from what the influential cultural historian Warren Susman called a Culture of Character to a Culture of Personality—and opened up..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad8/susan-cain-647_history_america-had-shifted-from-what-the-influe_1856031.jpg" --- # America had shifted from what the influential cultural… ![“America had shifted from what the influential cultural historian Warren Susman called a Culture of Character to a Culture of Personality—and opened up a Pandora’s Box of personal anxieties from which we would never quite recover.” quote by Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad8/susan-cain-647_history_america-had-shifted-from-what-the-influe_1856031.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad8/susan-cain-647_history_america-had-shifted-from-what-the-influe_1856031.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad8/susan-cain-647_history_america-had-shifted-from-what-the-influe_1856031.jpg) > ““America had shifted from what the influential cultural historian Warren Susman called a Culture of Character to a Culture of Personality—and opened up a Pandora’s Box of personal anxieties from which we would never quite recover.”” [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society moved from valuing character to emphasizing personality, creating pervasive anxieties. **In simple terms:** Shift to personality culture fuels anxiety. Key Takeaway Cultivate character over image. Themes culture anxiety identity social norms Mood thoughtful critical Type analytical observational When to use this quote - workplace dynamics - social media use - education - personal relationships Key Concepts Sociology psychology media influence Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of character do you cherish? - How can we reduce anxiety from personality focus? A Different Perspective Personality can still be positive when balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) ## Related quotes > [“America had shifted from what the influential cultural historian Warren Susman called a Culture of Character to a Culture of Personality”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/america-had-shifted-from-what-the-influential-cultural-historian/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [America had shifted from what influential cultural historian Warren Susman called a culture of character to a culture of personality, and opened up a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/america-had-shifted-from-what-influential-cultural-historian-warren/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“At the onset of the Culture of Personality, we were urged to develop an extroverted personality for frankly selfish reasons—as a way of outshining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/at-the-onset-of-the-culture-of-personality-we-were-urged-to-develop/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [What does it say about our culture that personality is now considered a technology, a tool of the trade, not only in politics but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-gore/what-does-it-say-about-our-culture-that-personality-is-now-considered/) Albert Gore > [It seems reasonable to expect that beauty will emerge from a fusion of the individual character and culture of the potter,with the nature of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-leach/it-seems-reasonable-to-expect-that-beauty-will-emerge-from-a-fusion/) Bernard Leach > [The cool thing about doing a voice-over into a different language is that you get to bring the character of your own culture into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridgit-mendler/the-cool-thing-about-doing-a-voice-over-into-a-different-language-is/) [Bridgit Mendler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridgit-mendler/) > [“My kinfolks thought more about character than about culture. 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