America is the greatest of opportunities and the worst of influences.

The making of an American begins at that point where he himself rejects all other ties, any other history, and himself adopts the vesture of his adopted land.

I think I was lucky to be exposed to American life when both the United States and I were young and full of stupendous illusions.

Americans (as seen from a distance) were known to get things done, ruthlessly, meticulously, quickly, against all obstacles.

In those years the adjective "American," added to any noun, indicated something naturally excellent, a drastic improved version of a dreary Old World article, or a diabolically new invention.

Many Americans preferred to live in a consoling world of their own creation, just as many of them preferred the synthetic, the make-believe, the man-made products, to those of God, in other words the imitation chemical vanilla.

American muse, whose strong and diverse heart So many men have tried to understand But only made it smaller with their art, Because you are as various as your land.

This nation's impulse is toward the future, and tradition seems more of a shackle to it than an inspiration.

Never have people been more the masters of their environment. Yet never has a people felt more deceived and disappointed. For never has a people expected so much more than the world could offer.

Americans expect to eat and stay thin, to be constantly on the move and ever more neighborly ... to revere God and be God.