--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The townspeople outside the reservations…" description: "\"The townspeople outside the reservations had a very superior attitude toward Indians, which was kind of funny, because they weren't very wealthy; they ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/james-welch-30649_attitude_the-townspeople-outside-the-reservations_539164.jpg" --- # The townspeople outside the reservations had a very… ![“The townspeople outside the reservations had a very superior attitude toward Indians, which was kind of funny, because they weren't very wealthy; they were on the fringes of society themselves.” quote by James Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/james-welch-30649_attitude_the-townspeople-outside-the-reservations_539164.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/james-welch-30649_attitude_the-townspeople-outside-the-reservations_539164.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/james-welch-30649_attitude_the-townspeople-outside-the-reservations_539164.jpg) > “The townspeople outside the reservations had a very superior attitude toward Indians, which was kind of funny, because they weren't very wealthy; they were on the fringes of society themselves.” [James Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-welch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Non‑Indians view Indians as superior yet remain poor, highlighting hypocrisy and marginalization. **In simple terms:** Prejudice coexists with poverty. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge hidden biases. Themes prejudice social hierarchy hypocrisy Mood reflective critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - social work - education - policy making Key Concepts colonialism identity economic disparity Questions to Reflect On - Why do stereotypes persist despite evidence? - How can we address marginalization? A Different Perspective May overlook systemic causes of inequality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Attitude Indians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude-indians-4512169/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Indians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indians/) [Indians Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indians-kind-2430367/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Superior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superior/) [Townspeople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/townspeople-3053606/) [Townspeople Outside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/townspeople-outside-4512170/) ## Related quotes > [A few scattered accounts, collected and combined together, may lead us to two certain conclusions: 1. That all the American Indians are one kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-stiles/a-few-scattered-accounts-collected-and-combined-together-may-lead-us/) [Ezra Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-stiles/) > [“I know that I am setting low standards for human behavior here, but it is astonishing that the townspeople agreed they should try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-wright/i-know-that-i-am-setting-low-standards-for-human-behavior-here-but-it/) [Jennifer Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-wright/) > [“Townspeople themselves were eager for change and experiment. From their point of view, Catholicism was tied in with customs and festivals that made sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullett/townspeople-themselves-were-eager-for-change-and-experiment-from/) [Michael Mullett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullett/) > [“Steffy risked a glance at her fellow neighbors and townspeople. She often looked for kindred spirits in the crowd. None were ever found. Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-allison-parker/steffy-risked-a-glance-at-her-fellow-neighbors-and-townspeople-she/) [Jaime Allison Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-allison-parker/) > [Farmers only worry during the growing season, but townspeople worry all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/farmers-only-worry-during-the-growing-season-but-townspeople-worry/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [“If only her problems were as simple as dealing with a handful of townspeople with pitchforks...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wen-spencer/if-only-her-problems-were-as-simple-as-dealing-with-a-handful-of/) [Wen Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wen-spencer/) > [The economic piece is still missing, since it's so hard to attract industry to reservations, but spiritually and educationally, they're doing just fine. Each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-welch/the-economic-piece-is-still-missing-since-it-s-so-hard-to-attract/) [James Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-welch/) > [The superior man does not, even for the space of a single meal, act contrary to virtue. In moments of haste, he cleaves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-does-not-even-for-the-space-of-a-single-meal-act/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [“Don’t call humans rats—rats are superior.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-stead/don-t-call-humans-rats-rats-are-superior/) [Christina Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-stead/) > [Every man is my superior in that I may learn from him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/every-man-is-my-superior-in-that-i-may-learn-from-him/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [“When we suffer for a greater cause, we are transformed into a superior human being.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/awdhesh-singh/when-we-suffer-for-a-greater-cause-we-are-transformed-into-a-superior/) [Awdhesh Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/awdhesh-singh/) > [I think the first villain that I ever played was on 'Stargate'. I was this superior being that would take over a human host…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durand/i-think-the-first-villain-that-i-ever-played-was-on-stargate-i-was/) [Kevin Durand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durand/) > [I have huge regard for women because I find them a far superior species than men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arshad-warsi/i-have-huge-regard-for-women-because-i-find-them-a-far-superior/) [Arshad Warsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arshad-warsi/) > [“You are not superior to anyone, yet no one surpasses you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michella-augusta/you-are-not-superior-to-anyone-yet-no-one-surpasses-you/) [Michella Augusta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michella-augusta/) > [Defense is superior to opulence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/defense-is-superior-to-opulence/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) ## More by James Welch > [“There is no dishonor in wisdom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-welch/there-is-no-dishonor-in-wisdom/) [James Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-welch/) > [I wander around, get the lay of the land and try to imagine what kind of people would have lived there in that historical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-welch/i-wander-around-get-the-lay-of-the-land-and-try-to-imagine-what-kind/) [James Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-welch/) > [The economic piece is still missing, since it's so hard to attract industry to reservations, but spiritually and educationally, they're doing just fine. Each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-welch/the-economic-piece-is-still-missing-since-it-s-so-hard-to-attract/) [James Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-welch/) > [The title of the poems was The Only Bar in Dixon. We sent it out to The New Yorker on a fluke, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-welch/the-title-of-the-poems-was-the-only-bar-in-dixon-we-sent-it-out-to/) [James Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-welch/) > [I am definitely a storyteller, but probably not a traditional Storyteller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-welch/i-am-definitely-a-storyteller-but-probably-not-a-traditional/) [James Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-welch/) > [Nobody would take checks from Indians, nobody would give them any credit, and nobody would let them drink in the bars. There was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-welch/nobody-would-take-checks-from-indians-nobody-would-give-them-any/) [James Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-welch/) > [My poems were just kind of all over the place. They had no focus, no location, nothing. Kind of a series of images that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-welch/my-poems-were-just-kind-of-all-over-the-place-they-had-no-focus-no/) [James Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-welch/) > [I think ethnic and regional labels are insulting to writers and really put restrictions on them. People don't think your work is quite as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-welch/i-think-ethnic-and-regional-labels-are-insulting-to-writers-and/) [James Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-welch/) > [To receive this award from an organization I admire so much makes me totally happy and grateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-welch/to-receive-this-award-from-an-organization-i-admire-so-much-makes-me/) [James Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-welch/) > [I wrote a lot in study hall to while away the hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-welch/i-wrote-a-lot-in-study-hall-to-while-away-the-hours/) [James Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-welch/) > [Richard Hugo taught me that anyone with a desire to write, an ear for language and a bit of imagination could become a writer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-welch/richard-hugo-taught-me-that-anyone-with-a-desire-to-write-an-ear-for/) [James Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-welch/) > [Our literature is in great shape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-welch/our-literature-is-in-great-shape/) [James Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-welch/) > [Before, Indian people had been so defeated, they were always looking for outsiders, for the government, to somehow come in and fix things. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-welch/before-indian-people-had-been-so-defeated-they-were-always-looking/) [James Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-welch/) > [I do believe in the viability of Indian spiritualism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-welch/i-do-believe-in-the-viability-of-indian-spiritualism/) [James Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-welch/) > [I used to object to being called an Indian writer, and would always say I was a writer who happened to be an Indian,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-welch/i-used-to-object-to-being-called-an-indian-writer-and-would-always/) [James Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-welch/) [Explore all 17 James Welch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-welch/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) [Isaiah Harden (Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-harden-me/) > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) [Sheye Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheye-hassan/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The townspeople outside the reservations had a very superior attitude toward Indians, which was kind of funny, because they weren't very wealthy; they were on the fringes of society themselves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Welch" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-welch/the-townspeople-outside-the-reservations-had-a-very-superior-attitude/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-welch/the-townspeople-outside-the-reservations-had-a-very-superior-attitude/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/james-welch-30649_attitude_the-townspeople-outside-the-reservations_539164.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/james-welch-30649_attitude_the-townspeople-outside-the-reservations_539164.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/james-welch-30649_attitude_the-townspeople-outside-the-reservations_539164.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The townspeople outside the reservations had a very superior attitude toward Indians, which was kind of…” — James Welch", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "James Welch", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-welch/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The townspeople outside the reservations had...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-welch/the-townspeople-outside-the-reservations-had-a-very-superior-attitude/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-welch/the-townspeople-outside-the-reservations-had-a-very-superior-attitude/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```