What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.
George Bernard ShawRead
Englishmen hate Liberty and Equality too much to understand them. But every Englishman loves a pedigree.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques Englishmen's superficial values and their disconnect from the true meaning of liberty and equality.
George Bernard Shaw's quote highlights a perceived contradiction in English society, suggesting that while individuals may profess to value liberty and equality, they are more enthusiastic about social status and lineage ('pedigree'). It critiques the idea that people's love for tradition and social hierarchy often overshadows their understanding and embrace of fundamental democratic principles.
Themes
LibertyEqualitySocietyStatusTradition
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate on social status versus equality, this quote can be used to emphasize inconsistencies in societal values.
More from George Bernard Shaw
All quotes βMarriage is good enough for the lower classes: they have facilities for desertion that are denied to us.
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Forgive him, for he believes that the customs of his tribe are the laws of nature!
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Those who talk most about the blessings of marriage and the constancy of its vows are the very people who declare that if the chain were broken and the prisoners left free to choose, the whole social fabric would fly asunder. You cannot have the argument both ways. If the prisoner is happy, why lock him in? If he is not, why pretend that he is?
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Treat a friend as a person who may someday become your enemy; an enemy as a person who may someday become your friend.
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The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.
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