---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Arnold Wilson complained he had to spend…"
description: "\"“Arnold Wilson complained he had to spend time bridging the cultural gap between the British “who cannot say what they mean and Persians who do not alw..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/046/peter-frankopan-27375_end-time_arnold-wilson-complained-he-had-to-spend_1729601.jpg"
---

#  Arnold Wilson complained he had to spend time bridging the…

![“Arnold Wilson complained he had to spend time bridging the cultural gap between the British “who cannot say what they mean and Persians who do not always mean what they say.” The British, he declared, saw a contract as an agreement that would stand up in court; the Persians simply saw it as an…” quote by Peter Frankopan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/046/peter-frankopan-27375_end-time_arnold-wilson-complained-he-had-to-spend_1729601.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/046/peter-frankopan-27375_end-time_arnold-wilson-complained-he-had-to-spend_1729601.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/046/peter-frankopan-27375_end-time_arnold-wilson-complained-he-had-to-spend_1729601.jpg)

> ““Arnold Wilson complained he had to spend time bridging the cultural gap between the British “who cannot say what they mean and Persians who do not always mean what they say.” The British, he declared, saw a contract as an agreement that would stand up in court; the Persians simply saw it as an expression of intentions.””

[Peter Frankopan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frankopan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Cultural misunderstandings arise when parties interpret contracts differently—legalistic versus intent‑based—leading to conflict.

**In simple terms:** Different cultures see contracts in different ways, causing problems.

Key Takeaway

Clarify expectations across cultures.

Themes

culture communication contracts

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- business negotiations
- international law
- diplomacy
- team projects

Key Concepts

misinterpretation legal vs intent cross‑cultural

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you ensure mutual understanding?
- What steps can bridge cultural gaps?

A Different Perspective

Assuming one view is universal can cause breakdowns.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [We British say "to put the world to rights." I've discovered that that's not the way Americans say it and people scratch their heads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/we-british-say-to-put-the-world-to-rights-i-ve-discovered-that-that-s/)

[N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/)

> [The United States can tell you all about what's wrong with the British, to say nothing of the Russians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-hays-sulzberger/the-united-states-can-tell-you-all-about-what-s-wrong-with-the/)

[Arthur Hays Sulzberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-hays-sulzberger/)

> [When Pakistan beat England at cricket, my Pakistani cousins remind me how English and British I am. When they say, 'You're one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/when-pakistan-beat-england-at-cricket-my-pakistani-cousins-remind-me/)

[Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/)

> [I've ultimately decided that I will not play this NBA season. I'm going to take the remainder of this season, as well as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-allen/i-ve-ultimately-decided-that-i-will-not-play-this-nba-season-i-m/)

[Ray Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-allen/)

> [“She was one of those exceptional children who do still spend time outside, in solitude. In her case nature represented beauty - and refuge.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-louv/she-was-one-of-those-exceptional-children-who-do-still-spend-time/)

[Richard Louv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-louv/)

> [I spend time in the classroom. I think more of them aren't political science than are political science. I particularly like talking to journalism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-edgar/i-spend-time-in-the-classroom-i-think-more-of-them-aren-t-political/)

[Jim Edgar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-edgar/)

> [“Law 5: Upgrade your systems for living. Extraordinary minds consistently spend time discovering, upgrading, and measuring new systems for living applied to life, work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishen-lakhiani/law-5-upgrade-your-systems-for-living-extraordinary-minds/)

[Vishen Lakhiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishen-lakhiani/)

> [Ireland's always going to be my home, but so much is filmed in L.A., so you have to spend time out here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bolger/ireland-s-always-going-to-be-my-home-but-so-much-is-filmed-in-l-a-so/)

[Sarah Bolger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bolger/)

> [There should be a period of time during each practice session when you perform. Invite some friends in to your practice room and play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-jacobs/there-should-be-a-period-of-time-during-each-practice-session-when/)

Arnold Jacobs

> [“Spend time with people who enrich your mind, nourish your heart, and illuminate your soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/spend-time-with-people-who-enrich-your-mind-nourish-your-heart-and/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [It's very important for me to spend time with my family and my friends and disconnect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cooper/it-s-very-important-for-me-to-spend-time-with-my-family-and-my/)

[Alex Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cooper/)

> [When I am not playing or practising, I like to spend time with the family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lewis/when-i-am-not-playing-or-practising-i-like-to-spend-time-with-the/)

[Adrian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lewis/)

> [I think that if I'm being brutally honest, I fill my cup up by isolating myself and having solitude. Time to just meditate and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doechii/i-think-that-if-i-m-being-brutally-honest-i-fill-my-cup-up-by/)

[Doechii](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doechii/)

> [When somebody comes across as authentic and genuine and sweet, people just want to spend time with that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/when-somebody-comes-across-as-authentic-and-genuine-and-sweet-people/)

[Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/)

> [To me, the beauty of a quilt or a dress lies within the stitches and the thought of the person who made them. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie/to-me-the-beauty-of-a-quilt-or-a-dress-lies-within-the-stitches-and/)

[Natalie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie/)

## More by Peter Frankopan

> [“The faithful had previously been told to face Jerusalem when they prayed. In 628, however, following further revelation, it was apparently announced that this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frankopan/the-faithful-had-previously-been-told-to-face-jerusalem-when-they/)

[Peter Frankopan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frankopan/)

> [“There is more going on, then, than the clumsy interventions of the west in Iraq and Afghanistan and the use of pressure in Ukraine,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frankopan/there-is-more-going-on-then-than-the-clumsy-interventions-of-the-west/)

[Peter Frankopan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frankopan/)

> [“The stunning corpus of poetry produced during the war likewise paints a very different picture of how the conflict was viewed at the time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frankopan/the-stunning-corpus-of-poetry-produced-during-the-war-likewise-paints/)

[Peter Frankopan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frankopan/)

> [“Farming also increasingly became an important part of the steppe economy, with crops being planted across the Lower Volga region, which included ‘many tilled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frankopan/farming-also-increasingly-became-an-important-part-of-the-steppe/)

[Peter Frankopan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frankopan/)

> [“An English visitor to Amsterdam in 1640 could not hide how impressed he was by what he saw. In the Low Countries, wrote Peter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frankopan/an-english-visitor-to-amsterdam-in-1640-could-not-hide-how-impressed/)

[Peter Frankopan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frankopan/)

> [“In truth, France. Germany, Austria, Spain, Portugal and England had nothing to do with Athens and the history of Rome from its earliest days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frankopan/in-truth-france-germany-austria-spain-portugal-and-england-had/)

[Peter Frankopan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frankopan/)

> [“The age of empire and the rise of the west were built on the capacity to inflict violence on a major scale. The Enlightenment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frankopan/the-age-of-empire-and-the-rise-of-the-west-were-built-on-the-capacity/)

[Peter Frankopan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frankopan/)

> [“The first port of call was the Americans. In 1974, an initial agreement was reached by which the US agreed to sell two reactors,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frankopan/the-first-port-of-call-was-the-americans-in-1974-an-initial-agreement/)

[Peter Frankopan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frankopan/)

> [“In the nineteenth century, it was to the west and to the United States that such individuals looked for fame and fortune; a millennium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frankopan/in-the-nineteenth-century-it-was-to-the-west-and-to-the-united-states/)

[Peter Frankopan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frankopan/)

> [ “Contemporaries struggled to make sense of what, to them, was the complete collapse of the world order. “Why does \[God\] allow us to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frankopan/contemporaries-struggled-to-make-sense-of-what-to-them-was-the/)

[Peter Frankopan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frankopan/)

> [“Albrecht Dürer was stunned by the quality of the craftsmanship of Aztec treasures he saw exhibited in 1520. “Nothing I have seen in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frankopan/albrecht-d-rer-was-stunned-by-the-quality-of-the-craftsmanship-of/)

[Peter Frankopan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frankopan/)

> [“As the two bullets left the chamber of Princip’s Browning revolver, Europe was a continent of empires. Italy, France, Austro-Hungary, Germany, Russia, Ottoman Turkey,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frankopan/as-the-two-bullets-left-the-chamber-of-princip-s-browning-revolver/)

[Peter Frankopan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frankopan/)

> [“Here, we learn that the ruler’s son reportedly owns a portfolio of villas and apartments in Dubai worth a cool $45 million – or 10,000 years of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frankopan/here-we-learn-that-the-ruler-s-son-reportedly-owns-a-portfolio-of/)

[Peter Frankopan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frankopan/)

> [“Europeans had thought only of enriching themselves as the local population starved to death.58”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frankopan/europeans-had-thought-only-of-enriching-themselves-as-the-local/)

[Peter Frankopan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frankopan/)

> [“One caliph in the eighth century went so far as to conduct a series of experiments to freeze a range of different furs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frankopan/one-caliph-in-the-eighth-century-went-so-far-as-to-conduct-a-series/)

[Peter Frankopan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frankopan/)

[Explore all 20 Peter Frankopan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frankopan/)

## More End time quotes

> [To me, the beauty of a quilt or a dress lies within the stitches and the thought of the person who made them. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie/to-me-the-beauty-of-a-quilt-or-a-dress-lies-within-the-stitches-and/)

[Natalie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie/)

> [When somebody comes across as authentic and genuine and sweet, people just want to spend time with that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-holmes/when-somebody-comes-across-as-authentic-and-genuine-and-sweet-people/)

[Pete Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-holmes/)

> [I think that if I'm being brutally honest, I fill my cup up by isolating myself and having solitude. Time to just meditate and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doechii/i-think-that-if-i-m-being-brutally-honest-i-fill-my-cup-up-by/)

[Doechii](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doechii/)

> [When I am not playing or practising, I like to spend time with the family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lewis/when-i-am-not-playing-or-practising-i-like-to-spend-time-with-the/)

[Adrian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lewis/)

> [It's very important for me to spend time with my family and my friends and disconnect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cooper/it-s-very-important-for-me-to-spend-time-with-my-family-and-my/)

[Alex Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cooper/)

> [“Spend time with people who enrich your mind, nourish your heart, and illuminate your soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/spend-time-with-people-who-enrich-your-mind-nourish-your-heart-and/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [There should be a period of time during each practice session when you perform. Invite some friends in to your practice room and play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-jacobs/there-should-be-a-period-of-time-during-each-practice-session-when/)

Arnold Jacobs

> [Ireland's always going to be my home, but so much is filmed in L.A., so you have to spend time out here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bolger/ireland-s-always-going-to-be-my-home-but-so-much-is-filmed-in-l-a-so/)

[Sarah Bolger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bolger/)

> [“Law 5: Upgrade your systems for living. Extraordinary minds consistently spend time discovering, upgrading, and measuring new systems for living applied to life, work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishen-lakhiani/law-5-upgrade-your-systems-for-living-extraordinary-minds/)

[Vishen Lakhiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishen-lakhiani/)

> [I spend time in the classroom. I think more of them aren't political science than are political science. I particularly like talking to journalism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-edgar/i-spend-time-in-the-classroom-i-think-more-of-them-aren-t-political/)

[Jim Edgar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-edgar/)

> [“She was one of those exceptional children who do still spend time outside, in solitude. In her case nature represented beauty - and refuge.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-louv/she-was-one-of-those-exceptional-children-who-do-still-spend-time/)

[Richard Louv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-louv/)

> [I've ultimately decided that I will not play this NBA season. I'm going to take the remainder of this season, as well as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-allen/i-ve-ultimately-decided-that-i-will-not-play-this-nba-season-i-m/)

[Ray Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-allen/)

> [“The very best memories of my life happened when I was broke, had nothing, was nobody. We came to the city and all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-gardner/the-very-best-memories-of-my-life-happened-when-i-was-broke-had/)

[M.L. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-gardner/)

> [“Short-termism also dominates in the marketplace. The market uses a discount rate of 10% per year (or more) when comparing costs now with benefits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-rgen-randers/short-termism-also-dominates-in-the-marketplace-the-market-uses-a/)

Jørgen Randers

> [Spend time reflecting on your emotional and physical existence and how that applies to the voice. You have to apply that wisdom and experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-d-lang/spend-time-reflecting-on-your-emotional-and-physical-existence-and/)

[K. D. Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-d-lang/)

Browse all 1,363 End time quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Arnold Wilson complained he had to spend time bridging the cultural gap between the British “who cannot say what they mean and Persians who do not always mean what they say.” The British, he declared, saw a contract as an agreement that would stand up in court; the Persians simply saw it as an expression of intentions.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Peter Frankopan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frankopan/arnold-wilson-complained-he-had-to-spend-time-bridging-the-cultural/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "End time"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frankopan/arnold-wilson-complained-he-had-to-spend-time-bridging-the-cultural/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/046/peter-frankopan-27375_end-time_arnold-wilson-complained-he-had-to-spend_1729601.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/046/peter-frankopan-27375_end-time_arnold-wilson-complained-he-had-to-spend_1729601.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/046/peter-frankopan-27375_end-time_arnold-wilson-complained-he-had-to-spend_1729601.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Arnold Wilson complained he had to spend time bridging the cultural gap between the British “who cannot say…” — Peter Frankopan",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Peter Frankopan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frankopan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Arnold Wilson complained he had to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frankopan/arnold-wilson-complained-he-had-to-spend-time-bridging-the-cultural/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frankopan/arnold-wilson-complained-he-had-to-spend-time-bridging-the-cultural/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
