'We, Seth, Emperor of Azania, Chief of Chiefs of Sakuyu, Lord of Wanda and Tyrant of the Seas, Bachelor of the Arts of Oxford University, being in this the twenty-fourth year of our life, summoned by the wisdom of Almighty God and the unanimous voice of our people to the throne of our ancestors, do hereby proclaim. . .' Seth paused in his dictation and gazed out across the harbour where in the fresh breeze of early morning the last dhow was setting sail for the open sea. 'Rats,' he said; 'stinking curs. They are all running away.'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- A self-proclaimed emperor of a fictional country pauses his proclamation to complain about rats and sailors.
- In plain terms
- An emperor stops his speech to complain about rats and sailors running away.
- What can you take from it?
- Grand proclamations can be interrupted by petty realities.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Have you tried to sound important while ignoring basics?
- What holds leaders back?
Another view
The satire relies on a specific historical context.
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