Who said “Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is…”?

Verified

James Joyce. A published source records them saying or writing it.

Source"A Suave Philosophy," in Daily Express, Dublin (6 February 1903), printed in James Joyce: Occasional, Critical and Political Writing (2002) edited by Kevin Barry [Oxford University Press, ], p. 67

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“Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many things which perhaps are of no importance, that it cannot but see something feeble in a civilization which smiles as it refuses to make the battlefield the test of excellence.”
Verified"A Suave Philosophy," in Daily Express, Dublin (6 February 1903), printed in James Joyce: Occasional, Critical and Political Writing (2002) edited by Kevin Barry [Oxford University Press, ], p. 67 · evidenceBuddhism

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: "A Suave Philosophy," in Daily Express, Dublin (6 February 1903), printed in James Joyce: Occasional, Critical and Political Writing (2002) edited by Kevin Barry [Oxford University Press, ], p. 67.

APA

Joyce, J. (n.d.). Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many things which perhaps are of no importance, that it cannot but see something feeble in a civilization which smiles as it refuses to make the battlefield the test of excellence. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/8090-our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers/

MLA

Joyce, James. “Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many things which perhaps are of no importance, that it cannot but see something feeble in a civilization which smiles as it refuses to make the battlefield the test of excellence.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/8090-our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Joyce, James. “Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many things which perhaps are of no importance, that it cannot but see something feeble in a civilization which smiles as it refuses to make the battlefield the test of excellence.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/8090-our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers/.