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About this quote

What does it mean?
A Scotsman with a grievance is as hard to find as a ray of sunshine, implying both are rare or difficult to distinguish.
In plain terms
It is easy to spot a Scotsman who is unhappy because they are common.
What can you take from it?
Grievances are common among Scotsmen according to this stereotype.

Where it applies

  • joke telling
  • cultural observation

Putting it to work

  • use in comedy
  • cultural reference

Questions to consider

  • How do stereotypes shape our humor?

Another view

This relies on a potentially offensive national stereotype.

More from P. G. Wodehouse

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  3. I charged into something which might have been a tree, but was not--being, in point of fact, Jeeves.

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