America Quote by Michel de Montaigne
“I am much afraid that we shall have very greatly hastened the decline and ruin of the New World by our contagion, and that we willhave sold it our opinions and our arts very dear.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Essays, Book I, 1580
He fears that European influence is corrupting the New World, eroding its culture and values through imposed opinions and arts.
In simple terms: Worried that foreign ideas ruin native culture.
Guard cultural integrity.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- colonial encounters
- cultural exchange
- policy making
- education reform
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies protect heritage while embracing beneficial ideas?
- What responsibilities do colonizers have toward indigenous cultures?
He overlooks potential benefits of cultural exchange and adaptation.