The Sheltering Sky

by Paul Bowles

“The people of each country get more like the people of every other country. They have no character, no beauty, no ideals, no culture—nothing, nothing.”

In reference to what happens to a country after a war.

The Arab laughed. “The war was bad. A lot of people died. There was nothing to eat. That’s all. How would that change the cafés? Oh no, my friend. It’s the same as always.”

The Arab is contradicting what the Americans said about war changing countries.

“Humanity?” cried Port. “What’s that? Who is humanity? I’ll tell you. Humanity is everyone but one’s self. So of what interest can it possibly be to anybody?”