An Englishman, even if he is alone, forms an orderly queue of one.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Mikes highlights the English obsession with order by noting that even a solitary individual mentally organizes themselves into a queue.
- In plain terms
- An Englishman follows rules even when no one is watching.
- What can you take from it?
- Internalized order persists even in isolation.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Do you follow rules when alone?
- What habits define your culture?
Another view
It attributes a specific behavioral trait to an entire nationality.
More from George Mikes
Continental people have sex lives; the English have hot-water bottles.
Permalink to quote #2 The trouble with tea is that originally it was quite a good drink. So a group of the most eminent British scientists put their heads together, and made complic…
Permalink to quote #4 On the Continent people have good food; in England people have good table manners.
Permalink to quote #1
Related quotes
On the Continent people have good food; in England people have good table manners.
George MikesGeorge Mikes quote #1 Jung Ritter lere / got lip haben frawen io ere / So wechst dein ere Uebe ritterschaft und lere / kunst dy dich zyret und in krigen sere hofiret Ringens gut fes…
Johannes LichtenauerJohannes Lichtenauer quote #1 A soldier's first duty is to obey, otherwise you might as well do away with soldiering.
Albert KesselringAlbert Kesselring quote #1