Australians Quote by Ted Simon
““The enigma that had bothered me in Sydney was beginning to resolve itself. If Australians allowed themselves to be represented worldwide as a nation of beer-sodden boors and hysterical Amazons, it must be through sheer lack of imagination. Like most people everywhere they spent most of their time just getting by, but there was no collective dream or mythology that told them what it was they were supposed to be doing. In that respect they were far behind the Aborigines they had decimated and despised. Yet many signs indicated that the time might not be too far away, when Australians would agree on a better reason for living than to eat a pound of beef a day. When that day came, I thought this would become one of the world’s best places to be. The faces of the old men told me there had been something once that was lost and could be found again.””
About This Quote
Source Travelogue: The River Stops Here by Ted Simon, 1995
Australia lacks a unifying myth, leading to a stagnant national identity; a new collective purpose could revitalize the culture.
In simple terms: Australia needs a shared dream.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate a national vision.
Themes
identity
mythology
culture
national purpose
Mood
hopeful
critical
Type
inspirational
analytical
When to use this quote
- education reform
- media narratives
- community projects
- policy making
Key Concepts
Sociology
collective imagination
post‑colonial studies
Questions to Reflect On
- What story could unite Australians?
- How can imagination reshape national identity?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep‑seated narratives is difficult.
