--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An Englishman does everything on…" description: "\"An Englishman does everything on principle: he fights you on patriotic principles; he robs you on business principles; he enslaves you on imperial prin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/802/george-bernard-shaw-68_business_an-englishman-does-everything-on-princip_927290.png" --- # An Englishman does everything on principle: he fights you… ![“An Englishman does everything on principle: he fights you on patriotic principles; he robs you on business principles; he enslaves you on imperial principles.” quote by George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/802/george-bernard-shaw-68_business_an-englishman-does-everything-on-princip_927290.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/802/george-bernard-shaw-68_business_an-englishman-does-everything-on-princip_927290.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/802/george-bernard-shaw-68_business_an-englishman-does-everything-on-princip_927290.png) > “An Englishman does everything on principle: he fights you on patriotic principles; he robs you on business principles; he enslaves you on imperial principles.” [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He acts according to different principles depending on context, often exploiting them for personal gain. **In simple terms:** People use principles to justify actions. Key Takeaway Question motives behind stated principles. Themes hypocrisy principle exploitation Mood skeptical critical Type satirical observational When to use this quote - business negotiations - political debates - personal relationships - legal disputes Key Concepts Ethics social critique Questions to Reflect On - Do you act consistently across contexts? - How can you detect hidden motives? A Different Perspective Principles can be manipulated for self‑interest. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Patriotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotic/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) ## Related quotes > [German and Spanish are accessible to foreigners: English is not accessible even to Englishmen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/german-and-spanish-are-accessible-to-foreigners-english-is-not/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Englishmen never will be slaves; they are free to do whatever the government and public opinion allow them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/englishmen-never-will-be-slaves-they-are-free-to-do-whatever-the/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Nationalism must now be added to the refuse pile of superstitions. 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They spell it so abominably that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-english-have-no-respect-for-their-language-and-will-not-teach/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [It is impossible for an Englishman to open his mouth without making some other Englishman hate or despise him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/it-is-impossible-for-an-englishman-to-open-his-mouth-without-making/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [The poor silly-clever Irishman takes off his hat to God's Englishman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-poor-silly-clever-irishman-takes-off-his-hat-to-god-s-englishman/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [How can what an Englishman believes be hearsay? 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Satisfaction is death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/as-long-as-i-have-a-want-i-have-a-reason-for-living-satisfaction-is/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [The camera can represent flesh so superbly that, if I dared, I would never photograph a figure without asking that figure to take its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-camera-can-represent-flesh-so-superbly-that-if-i-dared-i-would/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [A man who is not a communist at the age of twenty is a fool. 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