Americans are benevolently ignorant about Canada, while Canadians are malevolently well informed about the United States. -- J. Bartlett Brebner

The people of the United States, perhaps more than any other nation in history, love to abase themselves and proclaim their unworthiness, and seem to find refreshment in doing so ... That is a dark frivolity, but still frivolity. -- Robertson Davies

Too many of us look upon Americans as dollar chasers. This is a cruel libel, even if it is reiterated thoughtlessly by the Americans themselves. -- Albert Einstein

In every American there is an air of incorrigible innocence, which seems to conceal a diabolical cunning. -- A. E. Housman

It is, I think, an indisputable fact that Americans are, as Americans, the most self- conscious people in the world, and the most addicted to the belief that the other nations are in a conspiracy to under-value them. -- Henry James

The American, by nature, is optimistic. He is experimental, an inventor and a builder who builds best when called upon to build greatly. -- John F. Kennedy

Americans never quit. -- General Douglas Macarthur

George Washington had a vision for this country. Was it three days of uninterrupted shopping? -- Jeff Melvoin

Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public. -- H. L. Mencken

Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn't block traffic. -- Dan Rather

I sometimes think that the saving grace of America lies in the fact that the overwhelming majority of Americans are possessed of two great qualities- a sense of humor and a sense of proportion. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt

Americans adore me and will go on adoring me until I say something nice about them. -- George Bernard Shaw

The character inherent in the American people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would have done somewhat more, if the government had not sometimes got in its way. -- Henry David Thoreau

Ninety-eight percent of the adults in this country are decent, hard-working, honest Americans. It's the other lousy two percent that get all the publicity. But then--we elected them. -- Lily Tomlin

An Englishman is a person who does things because they have been done before. An American is a person who does things because they haven't been done before. -- Mark Twain

Half of the American people have never read a newspaper. Half never voted for President. One hopes it is the same half. -- Gore Vidal

I was born an American; I will live an American; I shall die an American. -- Daniel Webster

Americans are overreachers; overreaching is the most admirable of the many American excesses. -- George F. Will

Sitting at the table doesn't make you a diner, unless you eat some of what's on that plate. Being here in America doesn't make you an American. Being born here in America doesn't make you an American. -- Malcolm X

Next Subject : Angels | Previous Subject : American | Quotes Index : Quotatio Topics