When I persisted in my views on the west being barbaric, that person vehemently objected and asked what made me say so whereby I answered, 'If the west is truly civilized, they should deal with an undeveloped country with fundamental kindness and should admonish that country with patience to lead it to become civilized but, instead of doing so, they have been hardhearted and brutal towards the undeveloped and unilluminated country to their own benefit which is barbaric,' that person pursed his lips with words failing him," chuckled Saigo.
「否な否な野蛮ぢや」と畳みかけしに、「何とて夫（そ）れ程に申すにや」と推せしゆゑ、「実に文明ならば、未開の国に対しなば、慈愛を本とし、懇懇説諭して開明に導く可きに、左は無くして未開蒙昧の国に対する程むごく残忍の事を致し己れを利するは野蛮ぢや」と申せしかば、其の人口を莟（つぼ）めて言無かりきとて笑はれける。