--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know you have not thought about it…" description: "\"I know you have not thought about it. Italians always act without thinking, it's the glory and the downfall of your civilisation. A German plans a mont..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/louis-de-bernieres-5492_bowel-movements_i-know-you-have-not-thought-about-it-ita_666549.jpg" --- # I know you have not thought about it. Italians always act… ![“I know you have not thought about it. Italians always act without thinking, it's the glory and the downfall of your civilisation. A German plans a month in advance what his bowel movements will be at Easter, and the British plan everything in retrospect, so it always looks as though everything…” quote by Louis de Bernieres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/louis-de-bernieres-5492_bowel-movements_i-know-you-have-not-thought-about-it-ita_666549.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/louis-de-bernieres-5492_bowel-movements_i-know-you-have-not-thought-about-it-ita_666549.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/louis-de-bernieres-5492_bowel-movements_i-know-you-have-not-thought-about-it-ita_666549.jpg) > “I know you have not thought about it. Italians always act without thinking, it's the glory and the downfall of your civilisation. A German plans a month in advance what his bowel movements will be at Easter, and the British plan everything in retrospect, so it always looks as though everything occurred as they intended. The French plan everything whilst appearing to be having a party, and the Spanish...well, God knows. Anyway, Pelagia is Greek, that's my point.” [Louis de Bernieres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-de-bernieres/) ## 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 contrasts stereotypical national habits, suggesting cultural traits shape behavior and identity. **In simple terms:** Different cultures are portrayed with exaggerated habits. Key Takeaway Recognize cultural stereotypes and their impact. Themes culture stereotypes identity behavior humor Mood wry observational light‑hearted Type anecdotal humorous social commentary When to use this quote - travel - cross‑cultural communication - team building - conflict resolution - personal reflection Key Concepts national character social commentary humor generalization Questions to Reflect On - How do cultural stereotypes affect our judgments? - Can we appreciate diversity beyond clichés? A Different Perspective Stereotypes can oversimplify and misrepresent individuals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bowel movements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bowel-movements/) [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [Civilisation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilisation/) [Downfall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/downfall/) [Easter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easter/) [Easter British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easter-british-5301058/) [Glory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glory/) [God knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-knows/) [Greek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greek/) [Italians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/italians/) [Knows Pelagia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows-pelagia-5301060/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Months](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/months/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [Movements Easter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movements-easter-5301059/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Plans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plans/) [Retrospect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retrospect/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thought Italians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-italians-5301057/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [How much reverence can you have for a Supreme Being who finds it necessary to include such phenomena as phlegm and tooth decay in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/how-much-reverence-can-you-have-for-a-supreme-being-who-finds-it/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“In retrospect I can only call it a party in passing. If I can be completely frank, I’ve had crazier bowel movements.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/in-retrospect-i-can-only-call-it-a-party-in-passing-if-i-can-be/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [I who was a house full of bowel movement, I who was a defaced altar, I who wanted to crawl toward God could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/i-who-was-a-house-full-of-bowel-movement-i-who-was-a-defaced-altar-i/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [First coffee, then a bowel movement. Then the Muse joins me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/first-coffee-then-a-bowel-movement-then-the-muse-joins-me/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [I think that the government has an obligation to monitor communications that could reveal a plot to murder millions of Americans. Monitoring bowel movements?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-gannon/i-think-that-the-government-has-an-obligation-to-monitor/) [Jeff Gannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-gannon/) > [“The government wants to be aware of all your movements—probably including your bowel movements. Ain’t that some shit?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/the-government-wants-to-be-aware-of-all-your-movements-probably/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [When people start talking about their bowel movements, they are inexorable as the processes of which they speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/when-people-start-talking-about-their-bowel-movements-they-are/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [“Frequent bowel movements were associated with an increased risk of rectal cancer in men, and constipation was associated with a decreased risk.” Mike Jones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/frequent-bowel-movements-were-associated-with-an-increased-risk-of/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [When I wrote the opera, I made a deal with myself that for at least an hour a day I would work on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/when-i-wrote-the-opera-i-made-a-deal-with-myself-that-for-at-least-an/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [You're gonna die. You're gonna die. And nobody's gonna care which version of the iPhone you used to make something on Twitter, or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merlin-mann/you-re-gonna-die-you-re-gonna-die-and-nobody-s-gonna-care-which/) [Merlin Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merlin-mann/) > [There's three things in this world that you need: Respect for all kinds of life, a nice bowel movement on a regular basis, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/there-s-three-things-in-this-world-that-you-need-respect-for-all/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [I'd like to have two armies: one for display with lovely guns, tanks, little soldiers, staffs, distinguished and doddering generals, and dear little regimental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-larteguy/i-d-like-to-have-two-armies-one-for-display-with-lovely-guns-tanks/) [Jean Larteguy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-larteguy/) > [The recipe for great art has always been misery and a good bowel movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-roff/the-recipe-for-great-art-has-always-been-misery-and-a-good-bowel/) [Don Roff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-roff/) > [Most people would never admit it, but they'd been bitching since they were born. As soon as their head popped out into that bright…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/most-people-would-never-admit-it-but-they-d-been-bitching-since-they/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Some women marry houses. It's another kind of skin; it has a heart, a mouth, a liver and bowel movements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/some-women-marry-houses-it-s-another-kind-of-skin-it-has-a-heart-a/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) ## More by Louis de Bernieres > [Family law is institutionally anti-male. I've been lobbying MPs, and I'm not going to give up campaigning for equality until I get equality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-de-bernieres/family-law-is-institutionally-anti-male-i-ve-been-lobbying-mps-and-i/) [Louis de Bernieres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-de-bernieres/) > [“The dead can read tears.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-de-bernieres/the-dead-can-read-tears/) [Louis de Bernières](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-de-bernieres/) > [...but then the general trouble with ignorance is always that the ignorant person has no idea that that's what they are. You can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-de-bernieres/but-then-the-general-trouble-with-ignorance-is-always-that-the/) [Louis de Bernieres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-de-bernieres/) > [Love delayed is lust augmented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-de-bernieres/love-delayed-is-lust-augmented/) [Louis de Bernieres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-de-bernieres/) > [No man is a man until he has been a soldier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-de-bernieres/no-man-is-a-man-until-he-has-been-a-soldier/) [Louis de Bernieres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-de-bernieres/) > [Did you know that childhood is the only time in our lives when insanity is not only permitted to us, but expected?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-de-bernieres/did-you-know-that-childhood-is-the-only-time-in-our-lives-when/) [Louis de Bernieres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-de-bernieres/) > [God is an oppressor, He is incapable of human sympathy; behind a smiling face He hides an evil heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-de-bernieres/god-is-an-oppressor-he-is-incapable-of-human-sympathy-behind-a/) [Louis de Bernieres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-de-bernieres/) > [Your lips are like sugar And your cheeks an apple Your breasts are paradise And your body a lily. O, to kiss the sugar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-de-bernieres/your-lips-are-like-sugar-and-your-cheeks-an-apple-your-breasts-are/) [Louis de Bernieres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-de-bernieres/) > [When you fall in love, it is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake, and then it subsides. And when it subsides, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-de-bernieres/when-you-fall-in-love-it-is-a-temporary-madness-it-erupts-like-an/) [Louis de Bernieres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-de-bernieres/) > [The De Bernieres were very military. I broke the military tradition but I was terribly proud of my father being a soldier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-de-bernieres/the-de-bernieres-were-very-military-i-broke-the-military-tradition/) [Louis de Bernieres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-de-bernieres/) > [We should care for each other more than we care for ideas, or else we will end up killing each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-de-bernieres/we-should-care-for-each-other-more-than-we-care-for-ideas-or-else-we/) [Louis de Bernieres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-de-bernieres/) > [“Pelagia put her hands on her hips, taking advantage of the superiority implicit in the fact that she was standing and he lying down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-de-bernieres/pelagia-put-her-hands-on-her-hips-taking-advantage-of-the-superiority/) [Louis de Bernières](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-de-bernieres/) > [“There comes a point in life where each one of us who survives begins to feel like a ghost that has forgotten to die…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-de-bernieres/there-comes-a-point-in-life-where-each-one-of-us-who-survives-begins/) [Louis de Bernières](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-de-bernieres/) > [“Men are sometimes driven by things that to a women make no sense, but she did know that Corelli had to be with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-de-bernieres/men-are-sometimes-driven-by-things-that-to-a-women-make-no-sense-but/) [Louis de Bernières](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-de-bernieres/) > [“All their lovers' talk began with the phrase "After the war". After the war, when we're married, shall we live in Italy? There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-de-bernieres/all-their-lovers-talk-began-with-the-phrase-after-the-war-after-the/) [Louis de Bernières](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-de-bernieres/) [Explore all 99 Louis de Bernieres quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-de-bernieres/) ## More Bowel movements quotes > [How much reverence can you have for a Supreme Being who finds it necessary to include such phenomena as phlegm and tooth decay in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/how-much-reverence-can-you-have-for-a-supreme-being-who-finds-it/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [Most people would never admit it, but they'd been bitching since they were born. As soon as their head popped out into that bright…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/most-people-would-never-admit-it-but-they-d-been-bitching-since-they/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [The recipe for great art has always been misery and a good bowel movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-roff/the-recipe-for-great-art-has-always-been-misery-and-a-good-bowel/) [Don Roff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-roff/) > [I'd like to have two armies: one for display with lovely guns, tanks, little soldiers, staffs, distinguished and doddering generals, and dear little regimental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-larteguy/i-d-like-to-have-two-armies-one-for-display-with-lovely-guns-tanks/) [Jean Larteguy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-larteguy/) > [There's three things in this world that you need: Respect for all kinds of life, a nice bowel movement on a regular basis, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/there-s-three-things-in-this-world-that-you-need-respect-for-all/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [You're gonna die. You're gonna die. And nobody's gonna care which version of the iPhone you used to make something on Twitter, or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merlin-mann/you-re-gonna-die-you-re-gonna-die-and-nobody-s-gonna-care-which/) [Merlin Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merlin-mann/) > [When I wrote the opera, I made a deal with myself that for at least an hour a day I would work on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/when-i-wrote-the-opera-i-made-a-deal-with-myself-that-for-at-least-an/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [“Frequent bowel movements were associated with an increased risk of rectal cancer in men, and constipation was associated with a decreased risk.” Mike Jones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/frequent-bowel-movements-were-associated-with-an-increased-risk-of/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [When people start talking about their bowel movements, they are inexorable as the processes of which they speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/when-people-start-talking-about-their-bowel-movements-they-are/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [“The government wants to be aware of all your movements—probably including your bowel movements. Ain’t that some shit?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/the-government-wants-to-be-aware-of-all-your-movements-probably/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I think that the government has an obligation to monitor communications that could reveal a plot to murder millions of Americans. Monitoring bowel movements?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-gannon/i-think-that-the-government-has-an-obligation-to-monitor/) [Jeff Gannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-gannon/) > [First coffee, then a bowel movement. Then the Muse joins me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/first-coffee-then-a-bowel-movement-then-the-muse-joins-me/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [I who was a house full of bowel movement, I who was a defaced altar, I who wanted to crawl toward God could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/i-who-was-a-house-full-of-bowel-movement-i-who-was-a-defaced-altar-i/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [“In retrospect I can only call it a party in passing. If I can be completely frank, I’ve had crazier bowel movements.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/in-retrospect-i-can-only-call-it-a-party-in-passing-if-i-can-be/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [Some women marry houses. It's another kind of skin; it has a heart, a mouth, a liver and bowel movements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/some-women-marry-houses-it-s-another-kind-of-skin-it-has-a-heart-a/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) [Browse all 21 Bowel movements quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bowel-movements/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know you have not thought about it. Italians always act without thinking, it's the glory and the downfall of your civilisation. A German plans a month in advance what his bowel movements will be at Easter, and the British plan everything in retrospect, so it always looks as though everything occurred as they intended. The French plan everything whilst appearing to be having a party, and the Spanish...well, God knows. 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