Quote#Self
American life is a powerful solvent. As it stamps the immigrant,…
Quote byGeorge Santayana · 1863–1952
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Character and Opinion in the United States (1920), "The Academic Environment" p. 47 (Hathi Trust).
English (original)
American life is a powerful solvent. As it stamps the immigrant, almost before he can speak English, with an unmistakable muscular tension, cheery self-confidence and habitual challenge in the voice and eyes, so it seems to neutralize every intellectual element, however tough and alien it may be, and to fuse it in the native good-will, complacency, thoughtlessness, and optimism.
— George Santayana
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