Quote by Billy Wilder
The Austrians are brilliant people. They made the world believe that Hitler was a German and Beethoven an Austrian.
Summary
This quote is a satirical commentary on the perception of national identity and cultural ownership. It suggests that Austrians are cunning and skillful in manipulating historical facts to associate themselves with great personalities like Beethoven while distancing themselves from negative figures like Hitler. The quote challenges the notion of fixed national identities and highlights how individuals and nations often selectively adopt historical figures or events to serve their own narratives and pride.
By Billy Wilder