"Remember that you are an Englishman, and have consequently won first prize in the lottery of life." Cecil Rhodes 1902, bearing in mind it applies to all Anglo-Celts in a modern-day interpretation.
2007-03-09 03:10:00 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
It is a quote that all Englishmen should learn and be proud to know, should inspire them to make England great again, as indeed it once was, leading the world with innovations and setting precedences
2007-03-09 03:24:59 · answer #1 · answered by SunnyDays 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Interesting that so many answered seeing it in today's society.
That is just a little ignorant and also by the look of it xenophobic!
At the time Rhodes said that a vast portion of the world was within the British empire. America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand were basically controlled and ruled by English born people. Much of the African continent was controlled by Britain as was India and many smaller countries and islands around the world.
At the time the standard of living of an Englishman would have been significantly better than most other people in the world.
So at the time it was said - it was probably be very true.
It still has value today though - look at the xenophobia and false pride type answers it engendered!!
The sad thing about quotes though is that the vast majority of the time they get used it is in the wrong context and for the wrong reasons.
2007-03-09 11:42:17 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cecil Rhodes had an overblown opinion of Englishmen who
were collectively no better nor no worse than people from any
other country.
2007-03-09 11:16:54 · answer #3 · answered by ha_mer 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Being an English women I think England is great - but it's a bit zenophobic to believe you are the best in life......
Although I would say that applies to being from Yorkshire!
2007-03-09 11:16:17 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
I'm Scottish so by your reasoning should be included in that quote but to me its terribly 'English' ie pompus and full of itself.
2007-03-09 12:53:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds arrogant but then again can't say that the class to whom he's referring didn't have it made, comparatively speaking.
2007-03-09 11:41:33 · answer #6 · answered by ♫Silvi♪ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Outdated, I don't think he would have made the same remark had he been born 80 years later
2007-03-09 11:18:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
absolute rubbish.more than half of us wish we came from another country.this ones got nothing to offer but a big tax burden.
2007-03-09 14:40:38 · answer #8 · answered by earl 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because of equal opportunity's should it read Englishman/women?
2007-03-09 11:16:27 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
A bit fascist? Is that the word?
2007-03-09 11:13:59 · answer #10 · answered by Dogsbody 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋