Colonialism Quote by Albert Memmi
““Nothing could better justify the colonizer's privileged position than industry, and nothing could better justify tge colonised 's destitution than his laziness. The mythical potrait of the colonized therefore includes an unbelievable laziness, and that of the colonizer suggests that employing the colonized is not very profitable, thereby authorizing his reasonable wages.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Colonizer and the Colonized by Albert Memmi, 1957
Industry is presented as the moral justification for the colonizer’s dominance, while the colonized are blamed for poverty due to alleged laziness, reinforcing exploitative hierarchies.
In simple terms: Industry justifies colonizer power; laziness blamed for colonized poverty.
Key Takeaway
Question systemic narratives that blame victims.
Themes
colonialism
economics
power
race
inequality
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- historical analysis
- education reform
- policy critique
- activist organizing
Key Concepts
exploitation
justification
economic determinism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does economic rhetoric sustain domination?
- What alternatives challenge this narrative?
A Different Perspective
The claim ignores structural oppression and agency of the colonized.
