No people require maxims so much as the American. The reason is obvious: the country is so vast, the people always going somewhere, from Oregon apple valley to boreal New England, that we do not know whether to be temperate orchards or sterile climate.

Summary

This quote suggests that Americans need guiding principles more than any other people. The vastness of the country and the constant movement of its people, from one region to another, creates uncertainty about the ideal way of life. Should Americans strive to be productive like orchards or adapt to the harsh environment? The quote implies that Americans require clear maxims or rules to navigate this ambiguity and create a coherent national identity amidst their diverse geographical and cultural landscape.

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