--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think I shall return to America even a…" description: "\"I think I shall return to America even a better patriot than when I left it. A citizen of the United States, travelling on the continent of Europe, fin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a4/william-cullen-bryant-31565_america_i-think-i-shall-return-to-america-even-a_1220711.jpg" --- # I think I shall return to America even a better patriot… ![“I think I shall return to America even a better patriot than when I left it. A citizen of the United States, travelling on the continent of Europe, finds the contrast between a government of power and a government of opinion forced upon him at every step.” quote by William Cullen Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a4/william-cullen-bryant-31565_america_i-think-i-shall-return-to-america-even-a_1220711.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a4/william-cullen-bryant-31565_america_i-think-i-shall-return-to-america-even-a_1220711.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a4/william-cullen-bryant-31565_america_i-think-i-shall-return-to-america-even-a_1220711.jpg) > “I think I shall return to America even a better patriot than when I left it. A citizen of the United States, travelling on the continent of Europe, finds the contrast between a government of power and a government of opinion forced upon him at every step.” [William Cullen Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cullen-bryant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Travel reveals how governance based on power differs from one based on opinion, prompting personal growth. **In simple terms:** Power vs. opinion in government. Key Takeaway Value thoughtful governance. Themes politics travel identity Mood contemplative inquisitive Type literary reflective When to use this quote - touring Europe - reading local news - engaging in debates - writing letters home Key Concepts comparative politics personal development Questions to Reflect On - How does travel shape political views? - Can power and opinion coexist? A Different Perspective The author's view may be limited by his own cultural bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen/) [Continent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continent/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Patriot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriot/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) ## Related quotes > [“He was a great man. But even a better patriot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-was-a-great-man-but-even-a-better-patriot/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Afterwards they would return to America to fight on the Internet over their mythologies of home, because home was now a blurred place between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/afterwards-they-would-return-to-america-to-fight-on-the-internet-over/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [“I remained abroad ten months, which was much longer than I had anticipated. During all that time, I never saw the slightest symptom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-ann-jacobs/i-remained-abroad-ten-months-which-was-much-longer-than-i-had/) [Harriet Ann Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-ann-jacobs/) > [The selfless actions of these heroes have removed them from their families, businesses and homeland to fight, so that others may experience the liberty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-walsh/the-selfless-actions-of-these-heroes-have-removed-them-from-their/) [Jim Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-walsh/) > [We really have no choice but to pray and encourage a return to an America steeped in Judeo-Christian values. It is either that or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lapin/we-really-have-no-choice-but-to-pray-and-encourage-a-return-to-an/) [Daniel Lapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lapin/) > [Since my return to America my Master, has at the desire of my friends in England given me my freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillis-wheatley/since-my-return-to-america-my-master-has-at-the-desire-of-my-friends/) [Phillis Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillis-wheatley/) > [We want manufacturing to return to America. We want jobs. Economic growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-want-manufacturing-to-return-to-america-we-want-jobs-economic/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [“Will it matter In 100 years who was right and who was wrong in our political arguments in our great nation? 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And America has not better friend than Israel. We stand together to defend democracy. We stand together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-netanyahu/israel-has-no-better-friend-that-america-and-america-has-not-better/) [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-netanyahu/) > [The majority of people who come to America come to America for a better life for their family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-walsh/the-majority-of-people-who-come-to-america-come-to-america-for-a/) [Marty Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-walsh/) > [We are a nation of immigrants. We are the children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the ones who wanted a better life, the driven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/we-are-a-nation-of-immigrants-we-are-the-children-and-grandchildren/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [In war and in peace, in prosperity and times of economic hardship, America has no better friend or more dependable ally than the United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-susman/in-war-and-in-peace-in-prosperity-and-times-of-economic-hardship/) [Louis Susman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-susman/) ## More by William Cullen Bryant > [Childhood, with all its mirth, Youth, Manhood, Age that draws us to the ground, And last, Man's Life on earth, Glide to thy dim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cullen-bryant/childhood-with-all-its-mirth-youth-manhood-age-that-draws-us-to-the/) [William Cullen Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cullen-bryant/) > [Loveliest of lovely things are they, On earth, that soonest pass away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cullen-bryant/loveliest-of-lovely-things-are-they-on-earth-that-soonest-pass-away/) [William Cullen Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cullen-bryant/) > [“The groves were God's first temple”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cullen-bryant/the-groves-were-god-s-first-temple/) [William Cullen Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cullen-bryant/) > [“All at once A fresher wind sweeps by, and breaks my dream, And I am in the wilderness alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cullen-bryant/all-at-once-a-fresher-wind-sweeps-by-and-breaks-my-dream-and-i-am-in/) [William Cullen Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cullen-bryant/) > [The words of fire that from his pen Were flung upon the fervid page, Still move, still shake the hearts of men, Amid a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cullen-bryant/the-words-of-fire-that-from-his-pen-were-flung-upon-the-fervid-page/) [William Cullen Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cullen-bryant/) > [Nothing can be more striking to one who is accustomed to the little inclosures called public parks in our American cities, than the spacious,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cullen-bryant/nothing-can-be-more-striking-to-one-who-is-accustomed-to-the-little/) [William Cullen Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cullen-bryant/) > [A beautiful city is Richmond, seated on the hills that overlook the James River. The dwellings have a pleasant appearance, often standing by themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cullen-bryant/a-beautiful-city-is-richmond-seated-on-the-hills-that-overlook-the/) [William Cullen Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cullen-bryant/) > [That rolls to its appointed end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cullen-bryant/that-rolls-to-its-appointed-end/) [William Cullen Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cullen-bryant/) > [“The sounds I had heard seemed worthy to mingle with this bright and perfumed atmosphere, and to thrill the beautiful scenery around me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cullen-bryant/the-sounds-i-had-heard-seemed-worthy-to-mingle-with-this-bright-and/) [William Cullen Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cullen-bryant/) > [Love and cowardice are really the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cullen-bryant/love-and-cowardice-are-really-the-same-thing/) [William Cullen Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cullen-bryant/) > [“Weep not that the world changes -did it keep a stable changeless state, 'twere cause indeed to weep. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cullen-bryant/weep-not-that-the-world-changes-did-it-keep-a-stable-changeless-state-2/) [William Cullen Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cullen-bryant/) > [The Parisian has his amusements as regularly as his meals, the theatre, music, the dance, a walk in the Tuilleries, a refection in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cullen-bryant/the-parisian-has-his-amusements-as-regularly-as-his-meals-the-theatre/) [William Cullen Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cullen-bryant/) > [“Thou shalt lie down With patriarchs of the infant world,—with kings, The powerful of the earth,—the wise, the good, 35 Fair forms, and hoary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cullen-bryant/thou-shalt-lie-down-with-patriarchs-of-the-infant-world-with-kings/) [William Cullen Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cullen-bryant/) > [“To him who in the love of Nature holds Communion with her visible forms, she speaks A various language; for his gayer hours She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cullen-bryant/to-him-who-in-the-love-of-nature-holds-communion-with-her-visible-2/) [William Cullen Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cullen-bryant/) > [“And the yellow sunflower by the brook, in autumn beauty stood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cullen-bryant/and-the-yellow-sunflower-by-the-brook-in-autumn-beauty-stood/) [William Cullen Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cullen-bryant/) [Explore all 16 William Cullen Bryant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cullen-bryant/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. 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