American consumers have no problem with carcinogens, but they will not purchase any product, including floor wax, that has fat in it.
—Dave Barry (b.1947) American Humorist, Columnist
Americans can eat garbage, provided you sprinkle it liberally with ketchup, mustard, chili sauce, Tabasco sauce, cayenne pepper, or any other condiment which destroys the original flavor of the dish
—Henry Miller (1891–1980) American Novelist
Americans are like a rich father who wishes he knew how to give his sons the hardships that made him rich.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
That is the true genius of America, a faith in the simple dreams of its people, the insistence on small miracles. That we can say what we think, write what we think, without hearing a sudden knock on the door. That we can have an idea and start our own business without paying a bribe or hiring somebody’s son. That we can participate in the political process without fear of retribution, and that our votes will be counted—or at least, most of the time.
—Barack Obama (b.1961) American Head of State, Academic, Politician, Author
The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender, or submission.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
Whatever else an American believes or disbelieves about himself, he is absolutely sure he has a sense of humor
—E. B. White (1985–99) American Essayist, Humorist
Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal feeling
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
While I take inspiration from the past, like most Americans, I live for the future.
—Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American Head of State
I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
The American arrives in Paris with a few French phrases he has culled from a conversational guide or picked up from a friend who owns a beret.
—Fred Allen (1894–1956) American Humorist, Radio Personality
You can always count on Americans to do the right thing — after they’ve tried everything else.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
A citizen of America will cross the ocean to fight for democracy, but won’t cross the street to vote in a national election.
—Burton Hillis (William E. Vaughan) (1915–77) American Columnist, Author
Americans are so enamored of equality that they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom.
—Alexis de Tocqueville (1805–59) French Historian, Political Scientist
And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
It is in the American tradition to stand up for one’s rights – even if the new way to stand up for one’s rights is to sit down
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
American women expect to find in their husbands a perfection that English women only hope to find in their butlers.
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
There is nothing the matter with Americans except their ideals. The real American is all right; it is the ideal American who is all wrong.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
Americans play to win at all times. I wouldn’t give a hoot and hell for a man who lost and laughed. That’s why Americans have never lost nor ever lose a war.
—George S. Patton (1885–1945) American Military Leader
The impulse of the American woman to geld her husband and castrate her sons is very strong.
—John Steinbeck (1902–68) American Novelist, Short Story Writer, Journalist
We can have no “50-50” allegiance in this country. Either a man is an American and nothing else, or he is not an American at all.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
When good Americans die they go to Paris.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Americans … still believe in an America where anything’s possible—they just don’t think their leaders do.
—Barack Obama (b.1961) American Head of State, Academic, Politician, Author
When there are starving people in the world, it seems wrong that so many of us Americans eat as much for entertainment as for nourishment.
—Andy Rooney (b.1919) American Writer, Humorist, TV Personality
We Americans have so much potential. We just need to cultivate an environment that allows us to let go of our Cro-Magnon nationalism and start living like citizens of earth.
—Steve Pavlina (b.1971) American Motivational Speaker
The American spirit wears no political label. In service to others and yes, in sacrifice for our country, there are no Republicans; there are no Democrats; there are only Americans.
—John Kerry (b.1943) American Politician, Diplomat
You know that being an American is more than a matter of where your parents came from. It is a belief that all men are created free and equal and that everyone deserves an even break.
—Harry S. Truman (1884–1972) American Head of State
Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn’t block traffic.
—Dan Rather (b.1931) American Newscaster, Author
I think we Americans tend to put too high a price on unanimity, as if there were something dangerous and illegitimate about honest differences of opinion honestly expressed by honest men.
—J. William Fulbright (1905–95) American Politician
Any American who is prepared to run for president should automatically, by definition, be disqualified from ever doing so.
—Gore Vidal (1925–48) American Novelist, Essayist, Journalist, Playwright
America is a land of big dreamers and big hopes. It is this hope that has sustained us through revolution and civil war, depression and world war, a struggle for civil and social rights and the brink of nuclear crisis. And it is because our dreamers dreamed that we have emerged from each challenge more united, more prosperous, and more admired than before.
—Barack Obama (b.1961) American Head of State, Academic, Politician, Author
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