Englishmen Quote by Susanna Clarke
““They were excessively pleased with the Campo Santa Maria Formosa. They thought the façades of the houses very magnificent – they could not praise them highly enough. But the sad decay, which buildings, bridges and church all displayed, seemed to charm them even more. They were Englishmen and, to them, the decline of other nations was the most natural thing in the world. They belonged to a race blessed with so sensitive an appreciation of its own talents (and so doubtful an opinion of any body else's) that they would not have been at all surprized to learn that the Venetians themselves had been entirely ignorant of the merits of their own city – until Englishmen had come to tell them it was delightful.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, 2004
English observers admire foreign decay, revealing a bias that values novelty over authenticity and a tendency to romanticize decline.
In simple terms: English pride leads to romanticizing other cultures' decline.
Key Takeaway
Question cultural biases, seek authentic appreciation.
Themes
cultural critique
colonialism
romanticism
bias
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
literary
analytical
When to use this quote
- travel writing
- historical analysis
- art criticism
- education curriculum
Key Concepts
imperialism
aesthetic judgment
historical perspective
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we avoid projecting our values onto other cultures?
- What responsibilities come with appreciating another's heritage?
A Different Perspective
It may oversimplify complex histories and ignore local agency.
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