So I was thinking I go to America. I think that would work

Hear the witty yet piercing words of Diane Morgan, who once mused: “So I was thinking I go to America. I think that would work, conquering America. Because they're so upbeat and positive and polite.” At first, these words seem humorous, even casual, the jest of a comic reflecting on cultural differences. Yet beneath the jest lies a deeper meditation: that nations and peoples carry distinct spirits, and that these spirits can be approached, engaged, and even "conquered"—not with swords or empires, but with charm, performance, and presence.

The origin of this thought springs from Morgan’s own life as a performer, a comedian known for her dry wit and subtle irony. To “conquer America” is not a literal conquest, but a metaphor for winning the hearts of an audience in a land famed for its optimism. Where her British humor often leans on understatement and sharp irony, she imagines the Americans, with their upbeat energy, their positivity, and their surface politeness, as a people perhaps eager to be won over by her different style. Thus, her words are not only about America but about the universal dream of artists: to find a stage where their voice will be heard and embraced.

History offers us echoes of such cultural conquests. Consider the arrival of The Beatles in America during the 1960s. Four young men from Liverpool crossed the ocean, and in mere days ignited a frenzy that swept across the United States. They did not conquer with armies but with guitars and voices, with haircuts and smiles. America, with its upbeat openness to novelty and change, welcomed them with fervor. What Diane Morgan frames humorously, the Beatles achieved in reality: they conquered a nation through spirit and art.

The heart of Morgan’s remark also speaks to the power of positivity and politeness. Where some see these traits as superficial, she frames them as opportunities. A polite people are easier to approach, an upbeat culture easier to charm. Her words imply that openness and courtesy are not weaknesses, but gateways; they create a soil where new seeds—ideas, talents, even foreign humor—may take root. In a world where cynicism often builds walls, such a spirit becomes fertile ground for those who dare to venture.

Yet, hidden in her irony is a question: does being upbeat and positive make a people easier to be conquered, swayed, or influenced? History shows us both sides. A welcoming spirit allows brilliance to flourish, as with America’s embrace of immigrants who built its culture and power. But it also leaves a people vulnerable to deception, manipulation, or shallow fads. Thus, Morgan’s jest is also a warning: the very qualities that make a nation generous may also render it susceptible.

The lesson for us is twofold. First, if we possess positivity and politeness, let us wield them wisely, not as naïve surrender but as conscious hospitality. To be welcoming is noble, but to remain discerning is essential. Second, if we aspire, like Morgan, to bring our gifts to new places, we must remember that openness in others is an invitation to bring our best, not our shallowest. True conquest of hearts and minds is not by flattery or novelty alone, but by authenticity and substance.

Practically, this means cultivating sincerity in both giving and receiving. When we enter new spaces, we should bring not masks but truth, not empty charm but genuine talent. And when we meet others with politeness and positivity, we should remain attentive, testing what is offered so that our generosity does not turn into gullibility. Thus, we keep the gates of culture open, yet guarded by wisdom.

So let us hear Diane Morgan’s words not only as a jest, but as a reflection of an ancient truth: that peoples may be “conquered” not with steel, but with spirit, and that the strength of any nation or soul lies in balancing openness with discernment. To be upbeat, positive, and polite is a light to the world—but only when joined with wisdom does that light shine without being consumed.