I suppose there is no place in the world where snobbery is…
“I suppose there is no place in the world where snobbery is quite so ever-present or where it is cultivated in such refined and subtle forms as in an English public school. Here at least one cannot say that English ‘education’ fails to do its job. You forget your Latin and Greek within a few months of leaving school — I studied Greek for eight or ten years, and now, at thirty-three, I cannot even repeat the Greek alphabet — but your snobbishness, unless you persistently root it out like the bindweed it is, sticks by you till your grave.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
English public schools foster subtle snobbery, persisting despite academic decline, shaping lifelong attitudes.
In simple terms: English schools nurture refined snobbery that lasts a lifetime.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge ingrained elitism.
Themes
education
class
elitism
culture
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- school curricula
- career networking
- social clubs
- family upbringing
Key Concepts
social conditioning
cultural critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How does elite schooling affect your worldview?
- Can snobbery be unlearned?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep‑rooted attitudes is difficult.