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He used the word savages with affection, as if he liked…

“He used the word savages with affection, as if he liked them a little for it. In his nature was a respect for wildness. He saw it as a personal challenge, something that could be put right with an idea or a machine. He felt he had the answer to most problems, if anyone cared to listen.” quote by Paul Theroux
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““He used the word savages with affection, as if he liked them a little for it. In his nature was a respect for wildness. He saw it as a personal challenge, something that could be put right with an idea or a machine. He felt he had the answer to most problems, if anyone cared to listen.””

Paul Theroux

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The narrator admires "savages" for their wildness, seeing them as a challenge to be understood or mastered through ideas or technology.

In simple terms: He respects wildness and seeks to solve it with intellect.

Key Takeaway

Respect wildness, apply creative solutions.

Themes

culture wildness respect challenge technology

Mood

curious critical

Type

observational philosophical

When to use this quote

  • travel
  • cross‑cultural encounters
  • technology development
  • environmental management

Key Concepts

anthropology philosophy innovation

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does "wildness" mean to you?
  • How can we honor other cultures without imposing our ideas?
A Different Perspective

Romanticizing "savages" can overlook their agency and dignity.

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