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Free speech Quote by P.G. Wodehouse

“There you see two typical members of the class which has down-trodden the poor for centuries. Idlers! Non-producers! Look at the tall thin one with the face like a motor-mascot. Has he ever done an honest day's work in his life? No! A prowler, a trifler, and a blood-sucker! And I bet he still owes…” quote by P.G. Wodehouse
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““There you see two typical members of the class which has down-trodden the poor for centuries. Idlers! Non-producers! Look at the tall thin one with the face like a motor-mascot. Has he ever done an honest day's work in his life? No! A prowler, a trifler, and a blood-sucker! And I bet he still owes his tailor for those trousers!" He seemed to me to be verging on the personal, and I didn't think a lot of it. Old Bittlesham, on the other hand, was pleased and amused. "A great gift of expression these fellows have," he chuckled. "Very trenchant." "And the fat one!" proceeded the chappie. "Don't miss him. Do you know who that is? That's Lord Bittlesham! One of the worst. What has he ever done except eat four square meals a day? His god is his belly, and he sacrifices burnt-offerings to it. If you opened that man now you would find enough lunch to support ten working-class families for a week." "You know, that's rather well put," I said, but the old boy didn't seem to see it. He had turned a brightish magenta and was bubbling like a kettle on the boil. "Come away, Mr Wooster," he said. "I am the last man to oppose the right of free speech, but I refuse to listen to this vulgar abuse any longer." We legged it with quiet dignity, the chappie pursuing us with his foul innuendoes to the last. Dashed embarrassing.””

P.G. Wodehouse

About This Quote

Source Novel: The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse, 1938

The narrator critiques class hypocrisy, using exaggerated caricatures to expose greed and pretension among the aristocracy.

In simple terms: Criticizes aristocratic greed and hypocrisy.

Key Takeaway

Question social pretensions.

Themes

class greed hypocrisy satire

Mood

humorous critical

Type

satirical literary

When to use this quote

  • social gatherings
  • political commentary
  • literary analysis
  • dialogue

Key Concepts

social critique character satire class conflict

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does this reveal about class attitudes?
  • How does humor reveal truth?
A Different Perspective

Satire may oversimplify complex social issues.

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