That man always made it a point to speak German, although he spoke English well enough. That was because he imitated Hitler to the last degree. He would say that his reason for speaking German instead of English during conferences with English-speaking representatives was that he wanted to concentrate on the subject in hand, and not on the language. Ribbentrop was a complete imitator of Hitler - even to the design of his cap. Originally he had a nice cap, but then he imitated the stationmaster type of cap preferred by Hitler.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker details how Ribbentrop mimicked Hitler in speech and dress to gain favor.
- In plain terms
- Ribbentrop copied Hitler's speech and clothes to show loyalty.
- What can you take from it?
- Imitation can signal loyalty or insecurity.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why do subordinates mimic leaders?
- What does this say about power?
Another view
Mimicking others can stem from genuine admiration.
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