It is impossible for an Englishman to open his mouth without making some other Englishman hate or despise him.
SocietyCultureCommunicationSpeechNationalityEnglishResentment
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Shaw notes that Englishmen often unintentionally cause dislike among their peers by speaking.
- In plain terms
- Englishmen make each other dislike them just by talking.
- What can you take from it?
- Speech often breeds resentment.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does speech divide?
- Why do we dislike peers?
Another view
It stereotypes an entire nationality.
More from George Bernard Shaw
Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh.
Permalink to quote #163 The English have no respect for their language, and will not teach their children to speak it.
Permalink to quote #165 I don't believe in morality. I'm a disciple of Bernard Shaw.
Permalink to quote #162
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