One has to give minority groups a kind of reward, an emotional reward, that it is worthwhile assimilating … - Norbert Elias

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Quote of the day

My path to wisdom began when I stopped pretending to know things I didn't know. When I explicitly admitted to the limits of my knowledge, stopped building on ambiguity and ignorance, and instead realized that I knew nothing, not even the things I thought I knew.

Norbert Elias

One has to give minority groups a kind of reward, an emotional reward, that it is worthwhile assimilating to this particular majority group. And if this majority group looks down on itself. . . If a minority group is not given some pride in assimilating to the culture of another group then the process is very difficult.

Difficult, Emotional, Giving, Groups, Pride

Same Author Quotes

The way one behaves and feels as a Dutchman and Dutchwoman is the result of a long development. It is by no means 'the natural way' or 'the human way' of behaving, it is a particular code of behavior which has developed over the years. And these people, the immigrant people, come from a group where different standards of conduct and behavior have developed. What clashes are these two standards of conduct and behavior.

Developed, Dutchwoman, Long, Mean, People, Way

I wish you all the pleasurable excitement one can have without hurting others and one's own dignity.

Dignity, Excitement, Hurt, Wish

Debating the concept of race does not mean that I in any way regard this as a quarrel between neighbors over where they come from. I have perhaps said enough when I said the alternative to assimilation is that immigrant groups form their own state or go away for lack of acceptance. Why should it be less serious if quarrels and dissensions are socially related? After all, the quarrels and dissensions between Russia and America are also not racial. And yet they seem to me extremely dangerous.

Acceptance, America, Going Away, Mean, Neighbors, Socially

Assimilation, a certain uniformity of conduct, is necessary in a multi-party state. This is not only a requirement to the established majority; it is also a requirement to the minorities themselves. Because, I repeat myself, a ghetto existence is not very nice.

Existence, Ghetto, Necessary, Nice, Requirement

The heart of assimilation process of absorbing minorities lies in the self-image of a nation. There are, as you will know, big differences for instance between the self-image of the French and the English. And the Germans, in accordance with their rather chequered history, had at least in the past very little capacity for absorbing minorities.

Accordance, Germans, Heart, Lying, Minorities, Past