"The country is provincial; it becomes ridiculous when it tries to ape Paris"
- Honore de Balzac
About this Quote
In this quote, Honore de Balzac is slamming the country for its efforts to mimic the city of Paris. He explains the country as "provincial," indicating it is small-minded and lacks sophistication. By trying to copy Paris, the country is humiliating itself and appearing ridiculous. Balzac suggests that the country must welcome its own special identity rather of attempting to imitate a larger, more cosmopolitan city. This quote highlights the idea that each place has its own distinct culture and needs to not attempt to mimic others. It likewise talks to the risks of blindly following patterns and losing one's individuality.
"I've never seen the Osbournes, I've never seen Paris Hilton. I'd rather read than watch reality TV. I'd rather live life than watch somebody else living it"
"Going out in Paris was like going out in the '30s dressed like the Andrews Sisters. It was everything I'd seen in books at my grandparents' house, only it was our generation"
"America is a nation with no truly national city, no Paris, no Rome, no London, no city which is at once the social center, the political capital, and the financial hub"
