"Bete noire" Quotes from Famous Books
 ... was popular, at that period, with English travellers. Such men, however, were unknown in most of the regions which Ramage explored. The colour must have inspired feelings akin to awe in the minds of the natives, for white is their bete noire. They have a rooted aversion to it and never employ it in their clothing, because it suggests to their fancy the idea of bloodlessness—of anaemia and death. If you want to make one of them ill over his dinner, wear a white ...
— Alone • Norman Douglas |
