Expatriates Quote by Paul Theroux
““The sad engineer would never go back to England; he would become one of these elderly expatriates who hide out in remote countries, with odd sympathies, a weakness for the local religion, an unreasonable anger, and the kind of total recall that drives curious strangers away. ””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux, 1975
An engineer, disillusioned with his homeland, becomes an isolated expatriate, adopting odd sympathies and a volatile temperament, alienating others.
In simple terms: Disillusioned engineer becomes isolated expatriate with strange habits and anger.
Key Takeaway
Recognize when alienation harms relationships.
Themes
exile
identity
alienation
Mood
lonely
reflective
Type
narrative
philosophical
When to use this quote
- travel
- career change
- personal crisis
- cross‑cultural work
Key Concepts
cultural adaptation
psychology
self‑reflection
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives you to seek distant refuge?
- How can you balance cultural curiosity with self‑care?
A Different Perspective
Such isolation can prevent meaningful connections and growth.
![“[The director's idea for the film was:] A young American or English girl goes to Tuscany to visit English expatriates. She is on a mission to lose her virginity. That's a mission easily accomplished, if that's the only mission. The story had to be more complicated than that. Because there is so…” quote by Susan Minot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a83/susan-minot-11041_accomplished_the-director-s-idea-for-the-film-was-a-y_1514054.jpg)