Country Quote by Yoshida Shoin
![“It seems hopeless, hopeless. Those who eat meat [at public expense] are a mean, selfish lot, and so the country is doomed. Our only hope lies in the grass-roots folk who eat our traditional food.” quote by Yoshida Shoin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/122/yoshida-shoin-39986_country_it-seems-hopeless-hopeless-those-who-eat_97094.jpg)
“It seems hopeless, hopeless. Those who eat meat [at public expense] are a mean, selfish lot, and so the country is doomed. Our only hope lies in the grass-roots folk who eat our traditional food.”
About This Quote
The speaker condemns meat consumption as selfish, fearing national decline, and places hope in those preserving traditional plant‑based diets.
In simple terms: Meat eaters are selfish; traditional foods save the nation.
Key Takeaway
Dietary choices reflect moral and cultural health.
Themes
food ethics
national identity
tradition
environment
Mood
critical
passionate
Type
political
cultural
When to use this quote
- public health policy
- cultural festivals
Key Concepts
sustainability
cultural preservation
Practical Applications
- promote local agriculture
- educate about plant‑based nutrition
Questions to Reflect On
- How do food habits shape cultural identity?
- Can traditional diets coexist with modern nutrition needs?
A Different Perspective
The link between meat consumption and national doom is overstated; socioeconomic factors matter more.
![“That country [Carthage] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws; and every step of intestine discord was marked by some deplorable victory of savage man over civilized society.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70c/edward-gibbon-710_barbarism_that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinkin_393.jpg)
