&gt;&gt;I absolutely hate this quote; it gets parroted all the time as a smug and flippant criticism of the American Dream.<p>Which is totally fine, because the American Dream has been dead for a long time.<p><a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.alternet.org&#x2F;economy&#x2F;7-facts-show-american-dream-dead" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.alternet.org&#x2F;economy&#x2F;7-facts-show-american-dream-...</a><p>&gt;&gt;Is it such a bad thing that we&#x27;re a nation of dreamers?<p>Insofar as those dreams actually help you achieve your goals, no. The problem with the American Dream is the narrative: that <i>anything</i> is achievable if you work hard for it. This could not be further from the truth, and continuing to believe it is actively harmful.