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Quotes about America

379 quotes from 149 people

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Although she feeds me bread of bitterness,
And sinks into my throat her tiger’s tooth,
Stealing my breath of life, I will confess
I love this cultured hell that tests my youth!
Claude McKay1889–1948America (1921)In context
- Race
I have spent most of my life studying the lives of other peoples — faraway peoples — so that Americans might better understand themselves.
Margaret Mead1901–1978Blackberry Winter, 1972
No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.
H. L. Mencken1880–1956‘Notes On Journalism’ in the Chicago Tribune (19 September 1926)
A Galileo could no more be elected president of the United States than he could be elected Pope of Rome. Both high posts are reserved for men favored by God with an extraordinary genius for swathing the bitter facts of life in bandages of self-illusion.
H. L. Mencken1880–1956
- Politics
In the United States, doing good has come to be, like patriotism, a favorite device of persons with something to sell.
H. L. Mencken1880–1956
America is a nation with many flaws, but hopes so vast that only the cowardly would refuse to acknowledge them.
James A. Michener1907–1997
The American continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European power.
James Monroe1758–1831Seventh Annual Message to Congress (2 December 1823)
In this country American means white. Everybody else has to hyphenate.
Toni Morrison1931–2019The Guardian (29 January 1992)
- Race
The blood, sweat, tears, and suffering of Black people are the foundations of the wealth and power of the United States of America. We were forced to build America, and if forced to, we will tear it down.
Huey P. Newton1942–1989“In Defense of Self-defense” I (June 20, 1967)
- Race
When the president does it that means that it is not illegal.
Richard Nixon1913–1994Interview with David Frost (May 19, 1977); printed in The New York Times (May 20, 1977), p. A16
- Laws
- Presidency
Under the doctrine of the separation of powers, the manner in which the president personally exercises his assigned executive powers is not subject to questioning by another branch of government.
Richard Nixon1913–1994
- Presidency
Wherever there’s injustice, oppression, and suffering, America will show up six months late and bomb the country next to where it’s happening.
POP. J. O'Rourke1947–2022Peace Kills: America’s Fun New Imperialism (2004)
- War & Peace
If Selma taught us anything, it’s that our work is never done. The American experiment in self-government gives work and purpose to each generation.
Barack Obamaborn 1961Selma 50th Anniversary Address (2015)
- Democracy
Whatever we once were, we are no longer a Christian nation — at least, not just; we are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers.
Barack Obamaborn 1961Keynote speech: Call to Renewal’s Building a Covenant for a New America conference—Washington, D.C., June 2006.
- Religion
In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people. Let’s resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.
Barack Obamaborn 1961Election victory speech (November 2008)
- Politics