--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I could not become an American citizen. I…" description: "\"I could not become an American citizen. I would not like to become a citizen of a country that has capital punishment.\" — Werner Herzog" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/106/werner-herzog-964_american_i-could-not-become-an-american-citizen-i_2438390.jpg" --- # I could not become an American citizen. I would not like… ![“I could not become an American citizen. I would not like to become a citizen of a country that has capital punishment.” quote by Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/106/werner-herzog-964_american_i-could-not-become-an-american-citizen-i_2438390.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/106/werner-herzog-964_american_i-could-not-become-an-american-citizen-i_2438390.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/106/werner-herzog-964_american_i-could-not-become-an-american-citizen-i_2438390.jpg) > “I could not become an American citizen. I would not like to become a citizen of a country that has capital punishment.” [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He refuses to accept citizenship in a nation that practices capital punishment, prioritizing moral principles over legal status. **In simple terms:** He won citizenship because the country executes people. Key Takeaway Choose ethics over convenience. Themes morality politics human rights Mood conflicted determined Type political ethical When to use this quote - immigration decisions - political activism - ethical consumerism Key Concepts capital punishment citizenship personal integrity Questions to Reflect On - Would you renounce benefits for moral reasons? - How do laws shape personal identity? A Different Perspective Legal status may limit rights but does not change personal ethics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [American citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-citizen/) [Capital punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capital-punishment/) [Citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen/) [Citizen Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen-country-404152/) [Citizen Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen-like-464471/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/could/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment/) ## Related quotes > [I'm just an American citizen like everyone else and I'm not sitting at the power table in the room where it all happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/i-m-just-an-american-citizen-like-everyone-else-and-i-m-not-sitting/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) > [As long as you're a citizen of our country. As long as you're an American citizen, you're part of this populist, economic nationalist movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bannon/as-long-as-you-re-a-citizen-of-our-country-as-long-as-you-re-an/) [Steve Bannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bannon/) > [“I will be the first. As of tonight, I renounce my citizenship in the United Nations, and my allegiance to the Shelter state. From…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-blish/i-will-be-the-first-as-of-tonight-i-renounce-my-citizenship-in-the/) [James Blish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-blish/) > [I think it's a part of being a citizen in a country, to know what is going on and to have a say in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridgit-mendler/i-think-it-s-a-part-of-being-a-citizen-in-a-country-to-know-what-is/) [Bridgit Mendler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridgit-mendler/) > [Every person is created in the image of God and has value. Every person. Every person is to be treated with respect. Every person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lankford/every-person-is-created-in-the-image-of-god-and-has-value-every/) [James Lankford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lankford/) > [I am raising my voice as a citizen of the country. I don?t want to enter politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aamir-khan/i-am-raising-my-voice-as-a-citizen-of-the-country-i-don-t-want-to/) [Aamir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aamir-khan/) > [I have set and always will set my face like flint against making any difference between one citizen of this country and another on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enoch-powell/i-have-set-and-always-will-set-my-face-like-flint-against-making-any/) [Enoch Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enoch-powell/) > [I want to make one thing clear: I am proud to be a citizen of a country in which a prime minister can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-olmert/i-want-to-make-one-thing-clear-i-am-proud-to-be-a-citizen-of-a/) [Ehud Olmert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-olmert/) > [If you are going to vote in this country, you should be a citizen. To be a citizen in this country, you should know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-tancredo/if-you-are-going-to-vote-in-this-country-you-should-be-a-citizen-to/) [Tom Tancredo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-tancredo/) > [As a citizen of this country, I've got to be honest to the people of South Africa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/as-a-citizen-of-this-country-i-ve-got-to-be-honest-to-the-people-of/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [I don't consider myself a subject, I think I'm a citizen of this country and I think the vast majority of people consider themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/i-don-t-consider-myself-a-subject-i-think-i-m-a-citizen-of-this/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [I am here, a citizen of this country, and I'm saying, 'Hey, the system failed me. I am a good citizen. I contribute to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-am-here-a-citizen-of-this-country-and-i-m-saying-hey-the-system/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [I'm a writer. In Latin America, they say I'm a Latin-American writer because I also write in Spanish and my books are translated, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-m-a-writer-in-latin-america-they-say-i-m-a-latin-american-writer/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [It was a really big deal to become an American citizen the right way. You have to work really hard, and it is such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camila-alves/it-was-a-really-big-deal-to-become-an-american-citizen-the-right-way/) [Camila Alves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camila-alves/) > [The typical American citizen is the business man. The typical business man is a bad citizen; he is busy. If he is a 'big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/the-typical-american-citizen-is-the-business-man-the-typical-business/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) ## More by Werner Herzog > [If your project has real substance, ultimately the money will follow you like a common cur in the street with its tail between its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/if-your-project-has-real-substance-ultimately-the-money-will-follow/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [Every man should pull a boat over a mountain once in his life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/every-man-should-pull-a-boat-over-a-mountain-once-in-his-life/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [I know whenever it comes to be really dysfunctional and vile and base and hostile on screen, I'm good at that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/i-know-whenever-it-comes-to-be-really-dysfunctional-and-vile-and-base/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [When we speak about trespassing, we speak about artistic trespassing. You have to be prudent and have common sense and a sense of responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/when-we-speak-about-trespassing-we-speak-about-artistic-trespassing/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [If you want to propose marriage to your girlfriend and you live in England and she is in Sicily, do the decent thing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/if-you-want-to-propose-marriage-to-your-girlfriend-and-you-live-in/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [I'm a very circumspect and prudent person, and I eliminate danger as far as it can be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/i-m-a-very-circumspect-and-prudent-person-and-i-eliminate-danger-as/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [It is not only my dreams, my belief is that all these dreams are yours as well. The only distinction between me and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/it-is-not-only-my-dreams-my-belief-is-that-all-these-dreams-are-yours/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [My non-fiction films are pretty much fiction, or at least close... It's all "movies" for me. I never have searched for a subject. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/my-non-fiction-films-are-pretty-much-fiction-or-at-least-close-it-s/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [If an actor knows how to milk a cow, I always know it will not be difficult to be in business with him,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/if-an-actor-knows-how-to-milk-a-cow-i-always-know-it-will-not-be/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [ِِِِِِِِِِArt house theaters are vanishing. They have almost disappeared completely, and that means there's a shift in what audiences want to see. And they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/art-house-theaters-are-vanishing-they-have-almost-disappeared/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [I always had a feeling, for example, that there should be something from Verdi's "Requiem" in the film. You hear it when you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/i-always-had-a-feeling-for-example-that-there-should-be-something/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [Along with this rapid growth of forms of communication at our disposal - be it fax, phone, email, Internet or whatever - human solitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/along-with-this-rapid-growth-of-forms-of-communication-at-our/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [ I had complete freedom. They \[Netflix\] knew roughly what I was doing. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/i-had-complete-freedom-they-netflix-knew-roughly-what-i-was-doing/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [For example, the face of Nicole Kidman in Queen of the Desert and she is the most beautiful goddess on screen that you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/for-example-the-face-of-nicole-kidman-in-queen-of-the-desert-and-she/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [I have always postulated that we have to find a new way to deal with reality. It's not so much facts that interest me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/i-have-always-postulated-that-we-have-to-find-a-new-way-to-deal-with/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) [Explore all 318 Werner Herzog quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) ## 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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I could not become an American citizen. 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