"America may be unique in being a country which has leapt from barbarism to decadence without touching civilization"

This quote by John O'Hara recommends that America is a remarkable nation in its rapid change from a primitive state to a state of decadence without ever experiencing a duration of civilization. O'Hara implies that America has bypassed the traditional phases of advancement, such as the facility of a strong government, the advancement of a culture, and the growth of an economy, that other nations have actually gone through. He suggests that America has gone from a state of barbarism to a state of decadence without ever experiencing a period of civilization. This could be analyzed as a criticism of America's absence of cultural and political advancement, or as a compliment to its capability to quickly advance. Ultimately, O'Hara's quote suggests that America is an unique nation in its rapid improvement from a primitive state to a state of decadence without ever experiencing a period of civilization.