The British are supposed to be particularly averse to intellectuals, a prejudice closely bound up with their dislike of foreigners. Indeed, one important source of this Anglo-Saxon distaste for highbrows and eggheads was the French revolution, which was seen as an attempt to reconstruct society on the basis of abstract rational principles.

Summary

This quote suggests that the British have a tendency to dislike intellectuals, which is closely tied to their disdain for foreigners. The sentiment appears to have roots in their perception of the French revolution—an event regarded as an effort to rebuild society using abstract rational concepts. This association creates a negative bias towards intellectuals and the pursuit of intellect in British culture.