Battle Quote by Robertson Davies
“Canada, having few indigenous prejudices, has been compelled to import them from elsewhere, duty-free, and it is the rare Canadian who is not shaken, at some time in the year, by "old, unhappy, far-off things / And battles long ago", like Wordsworth's solitary reaper. We are a nation of immigrants, and not happy in our minds.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Fifth Business, 1970, Canada
Canada imports external prejudices, feeling unsettled by distant historical conflicts, reflecting immigrant identity and collective melancholy.
In simple terms: Canada adopts foreign biases, causing unease.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and address inherited biases.
Themes
identity
history
immigration
collective memory
Mood
thoughtful
somber
Type
literary
analytical
When to use this quote
- education
- policy making
- community dialogue
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
post‑colonial theory
national narrative
Questions to Reflect On
- How do imported prejudices affect national identity?
- What steps can heal collective melancholy?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep‑rooted biases is complex and slow.
![“He [Wordsworth] invited his readers to abandon their usual perspective and to consider for a time how the world might look through other eyes, to shuttle between the human and the natural perspective. Why might this be interesting, or even inspiring? Perhaps because unhappiness can stem from only…” quote by Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b54/alain-de-botton-221_books_he-wordsworth-invited-his-readers-to-aba_616994.jpg)
