A few days ago
rebecka

what does this quote mean?

im trying to write an essay about this quote. im trying to see if i enerperated it right so just wanted to see what it means to others. the quote is by tanizaki from the story in praise of shadows. heres the quote:

westerns attempt to expose every speck of grime and eradicate it, while we orientals carefully preserve and even idealize it. yet for better or for worse we do love things that bear the marks of grime, soot, and weather, and we love the colors and the sheen that call to mind the past that made them

Top 5 Answers
A few days ago
Anonymous

Favorite Answer

It’s definitely referencing a difference in cultures. It’s saying how Westerners are germaphobes, they want everything to be clean and to be and act as if it were brand new. But Asian culture appreciates the processes that caused things to become old and dirty, and therefore appreciates things in their current state. Also, you COULD argue that this follows through to society as well. As in, Westerners generally do not appreciate the elderly, and would rather be with younger people, putting them in nursing homes, etc, while the Asian cultures generally place the elderly at the highest, most honorable rank of family status, for they are seen as the wisest and most experienced
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A few days ago
Erin M
Those in the Western culture (Eastern Europe, America) like to create drama from every single bad thing that happens in their society; however, Orientals always try to take their history and preserve it. Orientals often consider something that is bad to be good, to be encouraged among their people.

Even though things seem bad, we often embrace them.

Just my literal interpretation. Never read the story, so not sure if it would be symbolism of any sort.

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A few days ago
Jennifer B
Western peoples like to conform things to their own ideals of what it should be and how things shoud look, even to the point of getting rid of some aspects in order to create this perfect environment.

Eastern peoples accept and appreciate each aspect in its true form.

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A few days ago
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Don’t regret the mistakes that you have made, embrace and cherish them for if you have learned anything from them then and only then have you grown and matured. This is then a good thing not something to regret and feel sorrow for but something to be proud of.
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4 years ago
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It potential that The Cat is having chicken for Dinner this night, little doubt approximately it. The Cat would be steadfast in his pursuit of that darn chicken and make that fact actual. that’s what it potential! Darn chicken, The Cat desires his attractiveness sleep! i’m going to instruct that cock!
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