The Ambassadors Admiration Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

Pagan—yes, that was, wasn't it? What Chad would logically be. (4.1.20)

When Strether thinks of Chad as a pagan, it's not an insult. Rather, Chad has shown Strether that his normal "Christian" way of looking at the world is totally prejudiced because it tries to fit everything into narrow categories of good and bad. Chad, though, experiences each new thing without prejudice, and it doesn't take Strether long to decide that this is simply a better way to live.

Quote #5

The deep human expertness in Gloriani's charming smile—oh the terrible life behind it!—was flashed upon him as a test of his stuff. (5.1.4)

Strether's first encounter with Gloriani, the super-famous artist, gives another significant shock to his sense of admiration. He's been trained by Mrs. Newsome to reject everything he encounters in Europe. But Gloriani is so undeniably charming and talented that Strether feels himself admiring the man, even though he's pretty sure there's some immorality lurking beneath. He knows he should stay strong, but resisting someone like Gloriani is a test he might not be able to pass.

Quote #6

'I know—if we talk of that—whom I should enjoy being like!' (5.2.18)

When Strether sits down with the little artist named Bilham, he can't hold back his admiration for Chad, and he goes so far as to say that he wants to be like Chad. Big switch, Streth. This is a pretty bold thing to say, since this is when Strether still considers it his mission to drag Chad back to America—but it's to a family he's starting to admire less and less.