Quote by George Bernard Shaw

Your friends are all the dullest dogs I know. They are not beautiful: they are only decorated. They are not clean: they are only shaved and starched. They are not dignified: they are only fashionably dressed. They are not educated: they are only college passmen. They are not religious: they are only pewrenters. They are not moral: they are only conventional. They are not virtuous: they are only cowardly. They are not even vicious: they are only frail. They are not artistic: they are only lascivious. They are not prosperous: they are only rich. They are not loyal, they are only servile; not dutiful, only sheepish; not public spirited, only patriotic; not courageous, only quarrelsome; not determined, only obstinate; not masterful, only domineering; not self-controlled, only obtuse; not self-respecting, only vain; not kind, only sentimental; not social, only gregarious; not considerate, only polite; not intelligent, only opinionated; not progressive, only factious; not imaginative, only superstitious; not just, only vindictive; not generous, only propitiatory; not disciplined, only cowed; and not truthful at all: liars every one of them, to the very backbone of their souls.

Summary

In this quote, the speaker criticizes their friends for being shallow and lacking genuine qualities. They describe their friends as superficially attractive but lacking true beauty, clean in appearance but not in character. The friends are portrayed as educated only to meet societal expectations, religious only out of obligation, and moral only because it is conventional. The speaker emphasizes how their friends lack virtues such as courage and kindness, and their behavior is driven by fear and vanity. Ultimately, the speaker sees their friends as pretentious and deceitful, lacking authenticity and sincerity in their everyday lives.