"The English say, Yours Truly, and mean it. The Italians say, I kiss your feet, and mean, I kick your head"

This quote by Wilfred Owen is an amusing comparison between the English and Italian cultures. He is suggesting that the English are more sincere in their expressions of gratitude and respect than the Italians. The English expression "Yours Truly" is a respectful method of expressing gratitude and regard, and Owen suggests that the English imply it when they say it. On the other hand, the Italian expression "I kiss your feet" is a more overstated expression of regard, however Owen implies that the Italians don't really mean it. Instead, he suggests that they are most likely to "kick your head" than to really kiss your feet. This quote is an amusing way of highlighting the distinctions in between the 2 cultures and their respective expressions of respect.