Perhaps I myself am a pompous and conceited old fool. And perhaps if these fools I complain of were French or Dutch or German I would not mind so much, because then I could say 'What else can you expect?' and feel superior. It is because they are men of my own race that I would have them all good.
In the quote from "The Far Pavilions" by M.M. Kaye, the speaker reflects on their own flaws, acknowledging a sense of arrogance and self-importance. They express frustration with people of their own nationality, feeling a desire for them to embody better qualities. This internal conflict highlights a struggle between national pride and disappointment in one's own people.
The speaker suggests that if the faults they see were present in people from other cultures, it would be easier to dismiss them and maintain a sense of superiority. However, because these individuals share the same racial background, the speaker feels a deeper sense of responsibility and hope for improvement among them.