But Lord! to see the absurd nature of Englishmen, that cannot forbear laughing and jeering at every thing that looks strange.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Pepys criticizes Englishmen for laughing at anything that seems strange or different.
- In plain terms
- He says English people mock things they find odd.
- What can you take from it?
- Humor often targets what is unfamiliar or foreign.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why mock the strange?
- How do we react to difference?
Another view
The generalization about Englishmen may be stereotypical itself.
More from Samuel Pepys
Then to the King's Theatre, where we saw Midsummer's Night's Dream, which I had never seen before, nor shall ever again, for it is the most insipid ridiculous …
Permalink to quote #6 Pretty witty Nell.
Permalink to quote #8 Methought it lessened my esteem of a king, that he should not be able to command the rain.
Permalink to quote #5
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