All men are lonely. But sometimes it seems to me that we Americans are the loneliest of all. Our hunger for foreign places and new ways has been with us almost like a national disease. Our literature is stamped with a quality of longing and unrest, and our writers have been great wanderers.

Summary

This quote suggests that loneliness is a common experience for everyone, but it particularly highlights Americans as the loneliest due to their strong desire for new experiences and foreign cultures. It implies that this longing and restlessness can be seen in American literature, as it often reflects the yearning and displacement felt by American writers. The quote emphasizes the American tendency to search for something beyond their own boundaries, both geographically and culturally, hinting at a sense of dissatisfaction and the perpetual quest for fulfillment.

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