Their coarseness is the sinew of some kind of brute confidence which is the reason England is home to every shade of political exile. They don't give asylum out of respect for asylum-seekers, but out of respect for themselves. They invented personal liberty, and they know it, and they did it without having any theories about it. They value liberty because it's liberty.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- England accepts exiles not out of moral duty but because its own cultural identity values personal liberty above theory.
- In plain terms
- England protects freedom because it values itself, not others.
- What can you take from it?
- Self-interest can sometimes align with liberal values.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is freedom better protected by self-interest or altruism?
- How do nations define their core values?
Another view
The quote assumes a specific cultural view of England that may not be universal.
More from Tom Stoppard
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