Bananas Quote by Edith Wharton
“What a shame it is for a nation to be developing without a sense of beauty, and eating bananas for breakfast.”
About This Quote
The quote criticizes a nation’s focus on material progress while neglecting aesthetic appreciation, using a vivid metaphor of eating bananas for breakfast.
In simple terms: Progress without beauty is hollow.
Key Takeaway
Balance development with cultural and artistic values.
Themes
progress
beauty
culture
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- education curricula
- public policy
- media criticism
Key Concepts
aesthetic neglect
materialism
national identity
Questions to Reflect On
- What role should beauty play in national development?
- How can societies foster aesthetic appreciation?
A Different Perspective
Beauty can be subjective and hard to quantify in policy.
![“[She] may be an acquired taste with some folks; but I didn't keep on eating bananas because I was told I'd learn to like them if I did.” quote by L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c7a/l-m-montgomery-567_acquired-taste_she-may-be-an-acquired-taste-with-some-f_932667.jpg)
