Another life Quote by Graham Greene
““They don't believe in anything either. You and your like are trying to make a war with the help of people who just aren't interested." "They don't want communism." "They want enough rice," I said. "They don't want to be shot at. They want one day to be much the same as another. They don't want our white skins around telling them what they want." "If Indochina goes--" "I know that record. Siam goes. Malaya goes. Indonesia goes. What does 'go' mean? If I believed in your God and another life, I'd bet my future harp against your golden crown that in five hundred years there may be no New York or London, but they'll be growing paddy in these fields, they'll be carrying their produce to market on long poles, wearing their pointed hats. The small boys will be sitting on the buffaloes. I like the buffaloes, they don't like our smell, the smell of Europeans.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Quiet American by Graham Greene, 1955
The speaker critiques foreign intervention, noting locals' desire for simple, stable lives over imposed ideologies or violence.
In simple terms: People want peace, not war or foreign control.
Key Takeaway
Respect local wishes and avoid imposing external agendas.
Themes
colonialism
culture
intervention
misunderstanding
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- development aid
- foreign policy
- community engagement
- cultural exchange
- peacebuilding
Key Concepts
imperialism
nationalism
human dignity
economic needs
Questions to Reflect On
- What would genuine respect for local cultures look like?
- How can aid avoid becoming another form of control?
A Different Perspective
Local desires may be overlooked by well‑meaning outsiders.
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