# Endnotes explained — Travel Essays

> Chapter companion for Travel Essays by Robert Louis Stevenson.

## What happens

The author addresses criticism from his native town regarding remarks made in the book, defends his observations as harmless, and offers a conciliatory note to Glasgow. He also includes several scholarly references and a comparison to Blake.

## Key lines

> These sentences have, I hear, given offence in my native town, and a proportionable pleasure to our rivals of Glasgow.

I've heard that my words upset people in my hometown while pleasing our Glasgow rivals.

_The author acknowledges local controversy over his remarks._

> A man in a frock-coat looks out of place upon an Alp or Pyramid, although he has the virtues of a Peabody and the talents of a Bentham.

A formally dressed man seems incongruous on a mountain or pyramid, even if he possesses great virtue or intellect.

_Comment on the mismatch between modern urbanity and romantic landscapes._

> Improvement makes straight roads; but the crooked roads, without improvement, are roads of Genius.

Progress creates direct paths, but the winding, unimproved paths are the ones of genius.

_Quotation from Blake, used to contrast order with creative freedom._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/travel_essays_se/chapters/endnotes
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/travel_essays_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/travel_essays_se/chapters