He musn’t become like the general run of his people; when among themselves they feel as if they are from a race which has no equal on earth. But as soon as they are near a European, even just one, they shrivel up, lacking courage even to lift their eyes.~ Mr. de la Croix as narrated by Miriam de la Croix in a letter addressed to Minke, excerpt from This Earth of Mankind by Pramoedya Ananta Toer