--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A country under foreign domination seeks…" description: "\"“A country under foreign domination seeks escape from the present in dreams of a vanished age, and finds consolation in visions of past greatness. That..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/jawaharlal-nehru-2391_dreams_a-country-under-foreign-domination-seeks_619105.jpg" --- # A country under foreign domination seeks escape from the… ![“A country under foreign domination seeks escape from the present in dreams of a vanished age, and finds consolation in visions of past greatness. That is a foolish and dangerous pastime in which many of us indulge. An equally questionable practice for us in India is to imagine that we are still…” quote by Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/jawaharlal-nehru-2391_dreams_a-country-under-foreign-domination-seeks_619105.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/jawaharlal-nehru-2391_dreams_a-country-under-foreign-domination-seeks_619105.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/jawaharlal-nehru-2391_dreams_a-country-under-foreign-domination-seeks_619105.jpg) > ““A country under foreign domination seeks escape from the present in dreams of a vanished age, and finds consolation in visions of past greatness. That is a foolish and dangerous pastime in which many of us indulge. An equally questionable practice for us in India is to imagine that we are still spiritually great though we have come down in the world in other respects. Spiritual or any other greatness cannot be founded on lack of freedom and opportunity, or on starvation and misery.”” [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns against romanticizing past glory or spiritual superiority while ignoring present hardships and lack of freedom. **In simple terms:** Don’t hide in nostalgia or false pride when reality is harsh. Key Takeaway Focus on real freedom and opportunity. Themes history spirituality freedom poverty nationalism Mood reflective critical determined Type political philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - political activism - education reform - economic development - human rights advocacy Key Concepts colonialism identity social justice Questions to Reflect On - How can we honor heritage without idealizing it? - What concrete steps ensure freedom and opportunity for all? A Different Perspective Nostalgia can distract from urgent reforms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) ## Related quotes > [“Spiritual greatness has nothing to do with being greater than others. It has everything to do with being as great as each of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/spiritual-greatness-has-nothing-to-do-with-being-greater-than-others/) [Henri J.M. 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I live in 1924, and the Christian venture is done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-know-the-greatness-of-christianity-it-is-a-past-greatness-i-live-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is no patriotic art and no patriotic science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/there-is-no-patriotic-art-and-no-patriotic-science/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“Patriotism is a fierce love for the nation’s soul - its land, its people, its core, coupled with a burning contempt for a government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/njau-kihia/patriotism-is-a-fierce-love-for-the-nation-s-soul-its-land-its-people/) Njau Kihia > [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [She might be without country, without nation, but inside her there was still a being that could exist and be free, that could simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-maas/she-might-be-without-country-without-nation-but-inside-her-there-was/) [Sharon Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-maas/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I am not a nationalist in any way, and I hate flag waving, and I don't think much good has come out of nationalism.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/i-am-not-a-nationalist-in-any-way-and-i-hate-flag-waving-and-i-don-t/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [You have expressive nationalism, I mean very identity driven, which shaped each other a lot of that in the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/you-have-expressive-nationalism-i-mean-very-identity-driven-which/) [Subrahmanyam Jaishankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/) > [That's what this country is. It's made up of immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bria-vinaite/that-s-what-this-country-is-it-s-made-up-of-immigrants/) [Bria Vinaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bria-vinaite/) ## More by Jawaharlal Nehru > [“Without that passion and urge, there is a gradual oozing out of hope and vitality, a settling down on lower levels of existence, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/without-that-passion-and-urge-there-is-a-gradual-oozing-out-of-hope/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [By education I am an Englishman, by views an internationalist, by culture a Muslim and a Hindu only by accident of birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/by-education-i-am-an-englishman-by-views-an-internationalist-by/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [What we really are matters more than what other people think of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/what-we-really-are-matters-more-than-what-other-people-think-of-us/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [If the world suffers from mental deterioration or from moral degradation, then something goes wrong at the very root of civilization or culture. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/if-the-world-suffers-from-mental-deterioration-or-from-moral/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [Great causes and little men go ill together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/great-causes-and-little-men-go-ill-together/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [It is now clear that science is incapable of ordering life. A life is ordered by values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/it-is-now-clear-that-science-is-incapable-of-ordering-life-a-life-is/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [Success comes to those who dare and act; it seldom goes to the timid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/success-comes-to-those-who-dare-and-act-it-seldom-goes-to-the-timid/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [There is nothing more horrifying than stupidity in action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/there-is-nothing-more-horrifying-than-stupidity-in-action/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [I do not attach much importance to America's bombs. I attach importance to her great vitality and integrity. The strength of America is deeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/i-do-not-attach-much-importance-to-america-s-bombs-i-attach/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [Ignorance is always afraid of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/ignorance-is-always-afraid-of-change/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [At the dawn of history India started on her unending quest, and trackless centuries are filled with her striving and the grandeur of her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/at-the-dawn-of-history-india-started-on-her-unending-quest-and/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [It is far better to know our own weaknesses and failures than to point out those of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/it-is-far-better-to-know-our-own-weaknesses-and-failures-than-to/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [“Time is not measured by the passing of yaers but by what one does, what one feels, and what one achieves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/time-is-not-measured-by-the-passing-of-yaers-but-by-what-one-does/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [The light has gone out of our lives and there is darkness everywhere following Gandhi's assassination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/the-light-has-gone-out-of-our-lives-and-there-is-darkness-everywhere/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [Democracy and socialism are means to an end, not the end itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/democracy-and-socialism-are-means-to-an-end-not-the-end-itself/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) [Explore all 169 Jawaharlal Nehru quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) ## More Dreams quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/) [Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/) > [“Now you’re wet. You’re so wet you’re leaking down your ass. You’re soaking my pillow. I don’t think I’m ever washing it. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-stoker/now-you-re-wet-you-re-so-wet-you-re-leaking-down-your-ass-you-re/) [Susan Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-stoker/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [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/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/) [Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 40,599 Dreams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A country under foreign domination seeks escape from the present in dreams of a vanished age, and finds consolation in visions of past greatness. That is a foolish and dangerous pastime in which many of us indulge. An equally questionable practice for us in India is to imagine that we are still spiritually great though we have come down in the world in other respects. 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