---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When he adopted Western methods, it was…"
description: "\"“When he adopted Western methods, it was in a purely utilitarian spirit. He gave no thought to the principles on which our civilisation is based. It wa..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/homer-b-hulbert-71507_finished-product_when-he-adopted-western-methods-it-was-i_989303.jpg"
---

#  When he adopted Western methods, it was in a purely…

![“When he adopted Western methods, it was in a purely utilitarian spirit. He gave no thought to the principles on which our civilisation is based. It was the finished product he was after and not the process.” quote by Homer B. Hulbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/homer-b-hulbert-71507_finished-product_when-he-adopted-western-methods-it-was-i_989303.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/homer-b-hulbert-71507_finished-product_when-he-adopted-western-methods-it-was-i_989303.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/homer-b-hulbert-71507_finished-product_when-he-adopted-western-methods-it-was-i_989303.jpg)

> ““When he adopted Western methods, it was in a purely utilitarian spirit. He gave no thought to the principles on which our civilisation is based. It was the finished product he was after and not the process.””

[Homer B. Hulbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-b-hulbert/)

## About This Quote

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

Adopting foreign methods without considering underlying values reduces culture to a mere product, ignoring the importance of process.

**In simple terms:** Using Western ways without values loses cultural depth.

Key Takeaway

Value process over product.

Themes

culture values methodology

Mood

reflective critical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- education reform
- policy making
- business strategy
- personal development

Key Concepts

utilitarianism cultural integrity

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we balance efficiency with cultural values?
- What principles should guide adoption of new methods?

A Different Perspective

Ignoring principles can erode identity over time.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Adopted Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adopted-western-2015246/) [Finished product](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finished-product/) [Japan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/japan/) [Principles Civilisation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles-civilisation-1939983/) [Thought Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-principles-1659916/) [Utilitarian Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/utilitarian-spirit-2015245/) [Western Methods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western-methods-2015244/)

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