America Quote by W. Somerset Maugham
![“The Americans, who are the most efficient people on the earth, have carried [phrase-making] to such a height of perfection and have invented so wide a range of pithy and hackneyed phrases that they can carry on an amusing and animated conversation without giving a moment’s reflection to what they…” quote by W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c6a/w-somerset-maugham-237_amusing_the-americans-who-are-the-most-efficient_1902021.jpg)
“The Americans, who are the most efficient people on the earth, have carried [phrase-making] to such a height of perfection and have invented so wide a range of pithy and hackneyed phrases that they can carry on an amusing and animated conversation without giving a moment’s reflection to what they are saying and so leave their minds free to consider the more important matters of big business and fornication.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Razor's Edge, 1944
Americans excel at creating catchy phrases, freeing mental space for bigger topics.
In simple terms: Pithy sayings free mental bandwidth.
Key Takeaway
Use concise language to focus on important matters.
Themes
language
culture
efficiency
Mood
witty
observational
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- marketing copy
- public speaking
- writing
- teaching
- media
Key Concepts
idioms
communication
cognitive load
Questions to Reflect On
- How do phrases shape your thoughts?
- When do idioms hinder clarity?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on clichés can dull critical thinking.
![“I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. [salutes]” quote by Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3d2/bill-hicks-970_america_i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumor_655.jpg)
