--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Classic nineteenth century European…" description: "\"Classic nineteenth century European imperialists believed they were literally on a mission. I don't believe that the imperialists these days have that ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebf/john-pilger-10261_around-the-world_classic-nineteenth-century-european-impe_2859691.jpg" --- # Classic nineteenth century European imperialists believed… ![“Classic nineteenth century European imperialists believed they were literally on a mission. I don't believe that the imperialists these days have that same sense of public service. They are simply pirates. Yes, there are fundamentalists, Christian fundamentalists, who appear to be in charge of the…” quote by John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebf/john-pilger-10261_around-the-world_classic-nineteenth-century-european-impe_2859691.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebf/john-pilger-10261_around-the-world_classic-nineteenth-century-european-impe_2859691.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebf/john-pilger-10261_around-the-world_classic-nineteenth-century-european-impe_2859691.jpg) > “Classic nineteenth century European imperialists believed they were literally on a mission. I don't believe that the imperialists these days have that same sense of public service. They are simply pirates. Yes, there are fundamentalists, Christian fundamentalists, who appear to be in charge of the White House at the moment, but they are very different from the Christian gentlemen who ran the British Empire and believed they were doing good works around the world. These days it's about naked power.” [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Modern imperialism is framed as power‑driven piracy, contrasting historic imperialists who claimed moral missions. **In simple terms:** Modern power seeks profit, not service. Key Takeaway Recognize power’s true motives. Themes politics imperialism power Mood critical analytical Type documentary commentary When to use this quote - foreign policy - media analysis - activism - education Key Concepts history ethics Questions to Reflect On - What evidence shows power motives? - How can citizens hold leaders accountable? A Different Perspective Complex geopolitics may blur motives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Around the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/) [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [British empire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british-empire/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Doing good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-good/) [Empires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empires/) [Fundamentalists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentalists/) [Gentleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Missions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missions/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Nineteenth century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nineteenth-century/) [Pirate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pirate/) [Public service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-service/) [White house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-house/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Classic nineteenth century European imperialists believed they were literally on a mission. I don't believe that the imperialists these days have that same sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/classic-nineteenth-century-european-imperialists-believed-they-were/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [“European imperialism was entirely unlike all other imperial projects in history. Previous seekers of empire tended to assume that they already understood the world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/european-imperialism-was-entirely-unlike-all-other-imperial-projects/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [One's teachers all belonged to that generation who were imperialists, and the whole narrative throughout my adolescence was of countries leaving the empire. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-paxman/one-s-teachers-all-belonged-to-that-generation-who-were-imperialists/) [Jeremy Paxman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-paxman/) > [Nothing could be more jolting and discordant with the vision of today's intellectuals than the fact that it was businessmen, devout religious leaders and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/nothing-could-be-more-jolting-and-discordant-with-the-vision-of-today/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [The imperialists see extremists everywhere. It's not that we are extremists. It's that the world is waking up. It's waking up all over, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-chavez/the-imperialists-see-extremists-everywhere-it-s-not-that-we-are/) [Hugo Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-chavez/) > [We are not imperialists. We don't even try to take over Canada. It would be easy, although it might take a rear guard action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-sayet/we-are-not-imperialists-we-don-t-even-try-to-take-over-canada-it/) [Evan Sayet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-sayet/) > [There are two kinds of imperialists - imperialists and bloody imperialists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/there-are-two-kinds-of-imperialists-imperialists-and-bloody/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [Force is the only language the imperialists can hear, and no country became free without some sort of violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/force-is-the-only-language-the-imperialists-can-hear-and-no-country/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [The untouchability of Hinduism is probably worse than that of the modern imperialists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-untouchability-of-hinduism-is-probably-worse-than-that-of-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [For all the casual slurs about 'cultural imperialism', British imperialists were more interested in other cultures than anybody before or since, and, if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/for-all-the-casual-slurs-about-cultural-imperialism-british/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [This national argument is usually interpreted as a battle between imperialists led by Roosevelt and Lodge and anti-imperialists led by William Jennings Bryan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-appleman-williams/this-national-argument-is-usually-interpreted-as-a-battle-between/) William Appleman Williams > [Africa must revert to what it was before the imperialists divided it. These are artificial divisions which we, in our pan-African concept will seek…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/africa-must-revert-to-what-it-was-before-the-imperialists-divided-it/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [USA is suffering between imperialists and anti-imperialists. That is the situation. The most powerful country in the world is on its way back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/usa-is-suffering-between-imperialists-and-anti-imperialists-that-is/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Otherwise, we will not be able to defeat the U.S. imperialists who boast of their technological superiority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-il-sung/otherwise-we-will-not-be-able-to-defeat-the-u-s-imperialists-who/) [Kim Il-sung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-il-sung/) > [“What imperialists actually wanted was expansion of political power without the foundation of the body politic. Imperialist expansion had been touched off by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/what-imperialists-actually-wanted-was-expansion-of-political-power/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) ## More by John Pilger > [“Many journalists now are no more than channelers and echoers of what George Orwell called the 'official truth'. They simply cipher and transmit lies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/many-journalists-now-are-no-more-than-channelers-and-echoers-of-what/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Israel is the American watchdog in the Middle East, and that's why the Palestinians remain victims of one of the longest military occupations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/israel-is-the-american-watchdog-in-the-middle-east-and-that-s-why-the/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [In the sublime days before 11 September 2001, when the powerful were routinely attacking and terrorising the weak, and those dying were black or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/in-the-sublime-days-before-11-september-2001-when-the-powerful-were/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Vietnam was as much a laboratory experiment as a war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/vietnam-was-as-much-a-laboratory-experiment-as-a-war/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Certainly, until there is justice for the Palestinians, there will never be any kind of stability in the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/certainly-until-there-is-justice-for-the-palestinians-there-will/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Bill Clinton persuaded some people that he was really a civilized character and his Administration had the best interests of humanity at heart. These…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/bill-clinton-persuaded-some-people-that-he-was-really-a-civilized/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Israel is the American watchdog in the Middle East, and that's why the Palestinians remain victims of one of the longest military occupations. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/israel-is-the-american-watchdog-in-the-middle-east-and-that-s-why-the-2/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [The censorship is such on television in the U.S. that films like mine don't stand a chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/the-censorship-is-such-on-television-in-the-u-s-that-films-like-mine/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Since September 11, the Mirror has reached back to its roots, and decided, it seems, to be something of its old self again. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/since-september-11-the-mirror-has-reached-back-to-its-roots-and/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Private Manning is the world's pre-eminent prisoner of conscience, having remained true to the Nuremberg principle that every soldier has the right to 'a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/private-manning-is-the-world-s-pre-eminent-prisoner-of-conscience/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [The Mirror has become an important antidote to a media that is, most of it, supportive of the establishment, some of it quite rabidly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/the-mirror-has-become-an-important-antidote-to-a-media-that-is-most/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [In Western Australia, minerals are being dug up from Aboriginal land and shipped to China for a profit of a billion dollars a week.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/in-western-australia-minerals-are-being-dug-up-from-aboriginal-land/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Two increasing themes which appear to dominate our listening, reading and watching lives are propaganda and 'national security', or manufactured war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/two-increasing-themes-which-appear-to-dominate-our-listening-reading/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [In these surreal days, there is one truth. Nothing justified the killing of innocent people in America last week and nothing justifies the killing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/in-these-surreal-days-there-is-one-truth-nothing-justified-the/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Orwell is almost our litmus test. Some of his satirical writing looks like reality these days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/orwell-is-almost-our-litmus-test-some-of-his-satirical-writing-looks/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) [Explore all 67 John Pilger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) ## More Around the world quotes > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [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/) > [Look at music for what it's worth around the world and not just America. In other countries, people are still buying CDs and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/look-at-music-for-what-it-s-worth-around-the-world-and-not-just/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/throughout-our-history-the-words-of-the-declaration-have-inspired/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [It's difficult to believe in yourself because the idea of self is an artificial construction. You are, in fact, part of the glorious oneness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/it-s-difficult-to-believe-in-yourself-because-the-idea-of-self-is-an/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [We know the candidate Barack Obama, what he was like - the anti-war government nig... America was a source for division around the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/we-know-the-candidate-barack-obama-what-he-was-like-the-anti-war/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [Since 'coming out,' I've marched in gay pride parades all around the world, I've filled my home full of rainbow tat and I've become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carr/since-coming-out-i-ve-marched-in-gay-pride-parades-all-around-the/) [Liz Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carr/) > [Once, as an experiment, I travelled around the world with a single suit. Before I left, I went to a tailor in Savile Row…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hamilton/once-as-an-experiment-i-travelled-around-the-world-with-a-single-suit/) [George Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hamilton/) > [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) > [I look at what's happening around the world and I see Iran four years closer to a bomb. I see the Middle East with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-look-at-what-s-happening-around-the-world-and-i-see-iran-four-years/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [“The low point occurred in July, during Romney’s junior week abroad, in which the press became increasingly frustrated over Romney’s refusal to talk to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/the-low-point-occurred-in-july-during-romney-s-junior-week-abroad-in/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [I believe there definitely are good things about social networking. It's a way for people to connect all around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzie-velasquez/i-believe-there-definitely-are-good-things-about-social-networking-it/) [Lizzie Velasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzie-velasquez/) > [“Isn’t everyone on the planet or at least everyone on the planet called me stuck between the two impulses of wanting to walk away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-lacey/isn-t-everyone-on-the-planet-or-at-least-everyone-on-the-planet/) [Catherine Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-lacey/) > [You always can improve and I think that's the beauty of international cricket, particularly test cricket, is playing all around the world against different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane-williamson/you-always-can-improve-and-i-think-that-s-the-beauty-of-international/) [Kane Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane-williamson/) > [Trump is reviled around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-reid/trump-is-reviled-around-the-world/) [Joy Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-reid/) [Browse all 3,349 Around the world quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Classic nineteenth century European imperialists believed they were literally on a mission. I don't believe that the imperialists these days have that same sense of public service. They are simply pirates. Yes, there are fundamentalists, Christian fundamentalists, who appear to be in charge of the White House at the moment, but they are very different from the Christian gentlemen who ran the British Empire and believed they were doing good works around the world. 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