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Aras Dilley
Herbert Y. Edgeways is the belligerent retired general who speaks to the Fort Beulah Rotary Club in the novel’s opening scene. He boldly calls for the U.S. to expand its power and conquer the whole world. His speech reflects Sinclair Lewis’s belief that the American public was already leaning towards populism and fascism during the Great Depression.
Herbert Y. Edgeways Quotes in It Can’t Happen Here
The It Can’t Happen Here quotes below are all either spoken by Herbert Y. Edgeways or refer to Herbert Y. Edgeways. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 1
Quotes
“For the first time in all history, a great nation must go on arming itself more and more, not for conquest—not for jealousy—not for war—but for peace! Pray God it may never be necessary, but if foreign nations don’t sharply heed our warning, there will, as when the proverbial dragon’s teeth were sowed, spring up an armed and fearless warrior upon every square foot of these United States, so arduously cultivated and defended by our pioneer fathers, whose sword-girded images we must be … or we shall perish!”
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“Well, all the birdies in their nest agree. My friend, Mrs. Pike, ought to know that freedom of speech becomes mere license when it goes so far as to criticize the Army, differ with the D.A.R., and advocate the rights of the Mob. So, Lorinda, I think you ought to apologize to the General, to whom we should be grateful for explaining to us what the ruling classes of the country really want. Come on now, my friend—jump up and make your excuses.”
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Herbert Y. Edgeways Quotes in It Can’t Happen Here
The It Can’t Happen Here quotes below are all either spoken by Herbert Y. Edgeways or refer to Herbert Y. Edgeways. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 1
Quotes
“For the first time in all history, a great nation must go on arming itself more and more, not for conquest—not for jealousy—not for war—but for peace! Pray God it may never be necessary, but if foreign nations don’t sharply heed our warning, there will, as when the proverbial dragon’s teeth were sowed, spring up an armed and fearless warrior upon every square foot of these United States, so arduously cultivated and defended by our pioneer fathers, whose sword-girded images we must be … or we shall perish!”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
“Well, all the birdies in their nest agree. My friend, Mrs. Pike, ought to know that freedom of speech becomes mere license when it goes so far as to criticize the Army, differ with the D.A.R., and advocate the rights of the Mob. So, Lorinda, I think you ought to apologize to the General, to whom we should be grateful for explaining to us what the ruling classes of the country really want. Come on now, my friend—jump up and make your excuses.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
