--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Americans do not want to think that there…" description: "\"Americans do not want to think that there is an alternative to what we have. Therefore, as soon as you say 'fascism' or whatever it might be, then the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/timothy-d-snyder-12961_american_americans-do-not-want-to-think-that-ther_2229513.jpg" --- # Americans do not want to think that there is an… ![“Americans do not want to think that there is an alternative to what we have. Therefore, as soon as you say 'fascism' or whatever it might be, then the American response is to say 'no' because we lack the categories that allow us to think outside of the box that we are no longer in.” quote by Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/timothy-d-snyder-12961_american_americans-do-not-want-to-think-that-ther_2229513.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/timothy-d-snyder-12961_american_americans-do-not-want-to-think-that-ther_2229513.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/timothy-d-snyder-12961_american_americans-do-not-want-to-think-that-ther_2229513.jpg) > “Americans do not want to think that there is an alternative to what we have. Therefore, as soon as you say 'fascism' or whatever it might be, then the American response is to say 'no' because we lack the categories that allow us to think outside of the box that we are no longer in.” [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that Americans resist acknowledging alternatives, labeling them as extremist, which blocks critical thinking and progress. **In simple terms:** Fear of new ideas limits societal growth. Key Takeaway Question assumptions and seek diverse perspectives. Themes politics cognition freedom media society Mood critical concerned reflective Type political philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - public discourse - education - policy making - media consumption - civic engagement Key Concepts groupthink ideology critical thinking cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - What categories limit our political imagination? - How can societies foster open‑minded debate? A Different Perspective Changing entrenched narratives can be socially costly and meet resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fascism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fascism/) ## Related quotes > [“Dutt effectively concluded with a quote from an editor of the highly respected Current History Magazine: The new America \[the editor had written in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-n-rothbard/dutt-effectively-concluded-with-a-quote-from-an-editor-of-the-highly/) [Murray N. Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-n-rothbard/) > [When we're talking about the "American response" to any disaster, it's not just a government response, an official response, it's a popular response.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-norton-smith/when-we-re-talking-about-the-american-response-to-any-disaster-it-s/) Richard Norton Smith > [Fishnet makes me think of everything alternative and sexy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-spice/fishnet-makes-me-think-of-everything-alternative-and-sexy/) [Ice Spice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-spice/) > [And I think that we're more of an alternative act in that sense, and that flavor comes across to the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juice-newton/and-i-think-that-we-re-more-of-an-alternative-act-in-that-sense-and/) [Juice Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juice-newton/) > [“I think that the alternative views that have been presented in the literature are substantially worse—including the default view, or “null hypothesis,” according to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-bostrom/i-think-that-the-alternative-views-that-have-been-presented-in-the/) [Nick Bostrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-bostrom/) > [“How can you think that? How can you believe God would let us go through this hell?” “Because you have to think of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-naughton/how-can-you-think-that-how-can-you-believe-god-would-let-us-go/) [Elisabeth Naughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-naughton/) > [Fascism says what you and I experience as facts or what reporters experience as facts are irrelevant. All that matters are impressions and emotions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/fascism-says-what-you-and-i-experience-as-facts-or-what-reporters/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [ I think I knew how frightened people were \[when Donald Trump was elected\], and I think I knew that people were worried about their… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/i-think-i-knew-how-frightened-people-were-when-donald-trump-was/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [“Americans do not want to endure the necessary pain to resolve their fiscal problems; so they will continue to print and spend more money.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-skarica/americans-do-not-want-to-endure-the-necessary-pain-to-resolve-their/) [David Skarica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-skarica/) > [Americans might not want to intervene in the outside world, but the outside world will still want to intervene in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/americans-might-not-want-to-intervene-in-the-outside-world-but-the/) [Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/) > [If the Americans do not want to support us anymore, let them go, get out! Let them forget their humanitarian promises!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nguyen-van-thieu/if-the-americans-do-not-want-to-support-us-anymore-let-them-go-get/) [Nguyen Van Thieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nguyen-van-thieu/) > [Now, look, it's true, Americans do want leaders that will come to Washington, D.C. and work together to get things done, but that comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/now-look-it-s-true-americans-do-want-leaders-that-will-come-to/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Americans want a strong military but one that is extremely cautious about getting involved in war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-hemingway/americans-want-a-strong-military-but-one-that-is-extremely-cautious/) [Mollie Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-hemingway/) > [As Americans, we want peace - we work and sacrifice for peace. But there can be no peace if our security depends on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/as-americans-we-want-peace-we-work-and-sacrifice-for-peace-but-there/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Most Americans believe in fairness; we believe that people should work hard but there should be a safety net. We believe in saving the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-maclean/most-americans-believe-in-fairness-we-believe-that-people-should-work/) [Nancy MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-maclean/) ## More by Timothy D. Snyder > [It is aspiring tyrants who say that 'civil liberties end when an attack on our safety begins.' Conversely, leaders who wish to preserve the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/it-is-aspiring-tyrants-who-say-that-civil-liberties-end-when-an/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [Americans can accept that the American Dream will not work out for them; what has been heartbreaking for so many is the sense that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/americans-can-accept-that-the-american-dream-will-not-work-out-for/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [Defend an institution. Follow the courts or the media, or a court or a newspaper. Do not speak of 'our institutions' unless you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/defend-an-institution-follow-the-courts-or-the-media-or-a-court-or-a/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [Courage does not mean not fearing or not grieving. It does mean recognizing and resisting terror management right away, from the moment of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/courage-does-not-mean-not-fearing-or-not-grieving-it-does-mean/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [In rhetoric and action, the Trump administration has aggrandized 'radical Islamic terror,' thus making what Madison called a 'favorable emergency' more likely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/in-rhetoric-and-action-the-trump-administration-has-aggrandized/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [I thought I was going to grow up and become a diplomat and negotiate nuclear arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/i-thought-i-was-going-to-grow-up-and-become-a-diplomat-and-negotiate/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [Mr. Trump is primarily a television personality. As such, he is judged by that standard. This means that a scandal does not call forth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/mr-trump-is-primarily-a-television-personality-as-such-he-is-judged/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [We think about democracy, and that's the word that Americans love to use, 'democracy,' and that's how we characterize our system. But if democracy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/we-think-about-democracy-and-that-s-the-word-that-americans-love-to/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [Most Americans are exceptionalists; we think we live outside of history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/most-americans-are-exceptionalists-we-think-we-live-outside-of-history/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [Every day you don't do something, it makes it less likely that you will ever do something. So you've got to get started right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/every-day-you-don-t-do-something-it-makes-it-less-likely-that-you/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [Anticipatory obedience teaches authorities what is possible and accelerates unfreedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/anticipatory-obedience-teaches-authorities-what-is-possible-and/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [To abandon facts is to abandon freedom. If nothing is true, then all is spectacle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/to-abandon-facts-is-to-abandon-freedom-if-nothing-is-true-then-all-is/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [In the descent from a world of factual discourse into a world of emotions and alternative realities, the first step you take, whether you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/in-the-descent-from-a-world-of-factual-discourse-into-a-world-of/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [Maybe I am naive, but I don't think talking about the Holocaust with total and complete cynicism is possible for Israeli politicians. It's inevitable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/maybe-i-am-naive-but-i-don-t-think-talking-about-the-holocaust-with/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [There's a basic problem with the history of the Holocaust. The people who do it don't know the necessary languages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/there-s-a-basic-problem-with-the-history-of-the-holocaust-the-people/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) [Explore all 52 Timothy D. Snyder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) ## 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": "Americans do not want to think that there is an alternative to what we have. Therefore, as soon as you say 'fascism' or whatever it might be, then the American response is to say 'no' because we lack the categories that allow us to think outside of the box that we are no longer in.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Timothy D. 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