George Bernard Shaw Quote
BROADBENT [stiffly]. Devil is rather a strong expression in thatconnexion, Mr Keegan.KEEGAN. Not from a man who knows that this world is hell. Butsince the word offends you, let me soften it, and compare yousimply to an ass. [Larry whitens with anger].BROADBENT [reddening]. An ass!KEEGAN [gently]. You may take it without offence from a madmanwho calls the ass his brother--and a very honest, useful andfaithful brother too. The ass, sir, is the most efficient ofbeasts, matter-of-fact, hardy, friendly when you treat him as afellow-creature, stubborn when you abuse him, ridiculous only inlove, which sets him braying, and in politics, which move him toroll about in the public road and raise a dust about nothing. Canyou deny these qualities and habits in yourself, sir?BROADBENT [goodhumoredly]. Well, yes, I'm afraid I do, you know.KEEGAN. Then perhaps you will confess to the ass's one fault.BROADBENT. Perhaps so: what is it?KEEGAN. That he wastes all his virtues--his efficiency, as youcall it--in doing the will of his greedy masters instead of doingthe will of Heaven that is in himself. He is efficient in theservice of Mammon, mighty in mischief, skilful in ruin, heroic indestruction. But he comes to browse here without knowing that thesoil his hoof touches is holy ground. Ireland, sir, for good orevil, is like no other place under heaven; and no man can touchits sod or breathe its air without becoming better or worse. Itproduces two kinds of men in strange perfection: saints andtraitors. It is called the island of the saints; but indeed inthese later years it might be more fitly called the island of thetraitors; for our harvest of these is the fine flower of theworld's crop of infamy. But the day may come when these islandsshall live by the quality of their men rather than by theabundance of their minerals; and then we shall see.LARRY. Mr Keegan: if you are going to be sentimental aboutIreland, I shall bid you good evening. We have had enough ofthat, and more than enough of cleverly proving that everybody whois not an Irishman is an ass. It is neither good sense nor goodmanners. It will not stop the syndicate; and it will not interestyoung Ireland so much as my friend's gospel of efficiency.BROADBENT. Ah, yes, yes: efficiency is the thing. I don't in theleast mind your chaff, Mr Keegan; but Larry's right on the mainpoint. The world belongs to the efficient.
BROADBENT [stiffly]. Devil is rather a strong expression in thatconnexion, Mr Keegan.KEEGAN. Not from a man who knows that this world is hell. Butsince the word offends you, let me soften it, and compare yousimply to an ass. [Larry whitens with anger].BROADBENT [reddening]. An ass!KEEGAN [gently]. You may take it without offence from a madmanwho calls the ass his brother--and a very honest, useful andfaithful brother too. The ass, sir, is the most efficient ofbeasts, matter-of-fact, hardy, friendly when you treat him as afellow-creature, stubborn when you abuse him, ridiculous only inlove, which sets him braying, and in politics, which move him toroll about in the public road and raise a dust about nothing. Canyou deny these qualities and habits in yourself, sir?BROADBENT [goodhumoredly]. Well, yes, I'm afraid I do, you know.KEEGAN. Then perhaps you will confess to the ass's one fault.BROADBENT. Perhaps so: what is it?KEEGAN. That he wastes all his virtues--his efficiency, as youcall it--in doing the will of his greedy masters instead of doingthe will of Heaven that is in himself. He is efficient in theservice of Mammon, mighty in mischief, skilful in ruin, heroic indestruction. But he comes to browse here without knowing that thesoil his hoof touches is holy ground. Ireland, sir, for good orevil, is like no other place under heaven; and no man can touchits sod or breathe its air without becoming better or worse. Itproduces two kinds of men in strange perfection: saints andtraitors. It is called the island of the saints; but indeed inthese later years it might be more fitly called the island of thetraitors; for our harvest of these is the fine flower of theworld's crop of infamy. But the day may come when these islandsshall live by the quality of their men rather than by theabundance of their minerals; and then we shall see.LARRY. Mr Keegan: if you are going to be sentimental aboutIreland, I shall bid you good evening. We have had enough ofthat, and more than enough of cleverly proving that everybody whois not an Irishman is an ass. It is neither good sense nor goodmanners. It will not stop the syndicate; and it will not interestyoung Ireland so much as my friend's gospel of efficiency.BROADBENT. Ah, yes, yes: efficiency is the thing. I don't in theleast mind your chaff, Mr Keegan; but Larry's right on the mainpoint. The world belongs to the efficient.