"I tossed my shoulders and swaggered away, whistling with pleasure. In the gutter I saw a long cigaret butt. I picked it up without shame, lit it as I stood with one foot in the gutter, puffed it and exhaled toward the stars. I was an American, and goddamn proud of it. This great city, these mighty pavements and proud buildings, they were the voice of my America. From sand and cactus we Americans had carved an empire. Camilla's people had had their chance. They had failed. We Americans had turned the trick. Thank God for my country. Thank God I had been born an American!"
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Novelists from the United StatesShort story writers from the United StatesScreenwriters from the United StatesBlind peoplePeople from Denver
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Chapter Five
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Fante
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
John Fante
John Fante (April 8, 1909 – May 8, 1983) was an American novelist, short-story and screenwriter of Italian descent. Author Dan Fante was one of his sons.
117 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by John Fante →
Related Quotes
"Dear Sammy: That little whore was here tonight; you know Sammy, the little Greaser dame with a wonderful figure and a…"
"You try so hard to be an American," I said. "why do you do that? Take a look at yourself"..."And all that paint on yo…"
"Mean?" I said. "My dear girl, I am equally fond of man and beast alike. There is not the slightest drop of enmity in …"
"I turned around and saw the crease on the bed where Camilla had been seated, the sensuous contour where her thighs an…"
"The desert was always there, a patient white animal, waiting for men to die, for civilizations to flicker and pass in…"
"You don't understand Mexican women. They don't like to be treated like human beings. If you're nice to them, they wal…"
"Every move she made, the soft turn of her neck, the large breasts swelling under the smock, her fine hands upon the b…"
"All at once I loathed her, because she had hurt me. This girl! She had torn up my sonnet by Dowson, she had shown my …"
"The trouble with trouble was that trouble was looking for Coldwater Gatling. They don't like Texas Rangers down in Ar…"
"She was forcing it with her scorn, the kiss she gave me, the hard curl of her lips, the mockery of her eyes, until I …"