To be an American (unlike being English or French or whatever) is precisely to imagine a destiny rather than to inherit one; since we have always been, insofar as we are Americans at all, inhabitants of myth rather than history.

Summary

This quote suggests that being American is different from being English or French because Americans have always had the notion of shaping their own destiny rather than simply inheriting it. The essence of being American lies in the imagination of a future, rather than being bound by the constraints of historical legacies. It implies that Americans are more connected to the realm of myths and aspirations, which have guided and influenced their identity, rather than relying solely on their historical roots.

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