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The tall poppy syndrome is a pejorative term primarily used in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and other Anglosphere nations to describe a social phenomenon in which people of genuine merit are resented, attacked, cut down, or criticised because their talents or achievements elevate them above or distinguish them from their peers. This is similar to begrudgery, the resentment or envy of the success of a peer. Australia and New Zealand's usage of the term has evolved and is not uniformly negative. In Australia, a long history of "underdog" culture and profound respect for humility in contrast to that of Australia's English feudal heritage results in a different understanding of "tall poppy syndrome." == Etymology == The concept originates from accounts in Herodotus' ''The Histories'' (Book 5, 92f), Aristotle's ''Politics'' (1284a), and Livy's ''History of Rome'', Book I. Aristotle uses Herodotus' story in his ''Politics'', (1284a) referring to Periander's advice to Thrasybulus via a herald. The herald reported that in response to his request Periander lopped off the tops of poppies, which Thrasybulus, upon hearing the account, knew to mean "that it was necessary to make away with the eminent citizens". The specific reference to poppies occurs in Livy's account of the tyrannical Roman King, Tarquin the Proud. He is said to have received a messenger from his son Sextus Tarquinius asking what he should do next in Gabii, since he had become all-powerful there. Rather than answering the messenger verbally, Tarquin went into his garden, took a stick, and symbolically swept it across his garden, thus cutting off the heads of the tallest poppies that were growing there. The messenger, tired of waiting for an answer, returned to Gabii and told Sextus what he had seen. Sextus realised that his father wished him to put to death all of the most eminent people of Gabii, which he then did. The earliest English-language example of Tall Poppies being used as a metaphor for notables may be found in Roger L'Estrange's newspaper, ''The Observator'', in 1710. One party to a dialogue relates the tale of Tarquin, and later observes approvingly of his Royalist allies: :"If you'll have but a little Patience, you may see them make very noble Efforts towards striking off the Heads of the tall Poppies."〔''The Observator'' (London), 6 December 1710, p.1.〕 By 1835, the metaphor had crossed the Atlantic to the United States, where the ''Torch Light'' of Hagerstown, Maryland, observed of then-Congressman Francis Thomas: :"Politically, Mr. Thomas and his friends are imitating the example of Tarquin and Sextius – indeed it is said some of the tall poppies of our county are in danger of decapitation."〔''Torch Light'' (Hagerstown, Maryland), 1 October 1835, p.2.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Tall poppy syndrome」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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