The temper of the Americans is vindictive1, like that of all serious and reflecting nations. They hardly ever forget an offence, but it is not easy to offend them; and their resentment2 is as slow to kindle3 as it is to abate4. In aristocratic communities where a small number of persons manage everything, the outward intercourse5 of men is subject to settled conventional rules. Everyone then thinks he knows exactly what marks of respect or of condescension6 he ought to display, and none are presumed to be ignorant of the science of etiquette7. These usages of the first class in society afterwards serve as a model to all the others; besides which each of the latter lays down a code of its own, to which all its members are bound to conform. Thus the rules of politeness form a complex system of legislation, which it is difficult to be perfectly8 master of, but from which it is dangerous for anyone to deviate9; so that men are constantly exposed involuntarily to inflict10 or to receive bitter affronts12. But as the distinctions of rank are obliterated13, as men differing in education and in birth meet and mingle14 in the same places of resort, it is almost impossible to agree upon the rules of good breeding. As its laws are uncertain, to disobey them is not a crime, even in the eyes of those who know what they are; men attach more importance to intentions than to forms, and they grow less civil, but at the same time less quarrelsome. There are many little attentions which an American does not care about; he thinks they are not due to him, or he presumes that they are not known to be due: he therefore either does not perceive a rudeness or he forgives it; his manners become less courteous15, and his character more plain and masculine.
The mutual16 indulgence which the Americans display, and the manly17 confidence with which they treat each other, also result from another deeper and more general cause, which I have already adverted18 to in the preceding chapter. In the United States the distinctions of rank in civil society are slight, in political society they are null; an American, therefore, does not think himself bound to pay particular attentions to any of his fellow-citizens, nor does he require such attentions from them towards himself. As he does not see that it is his interest eagerly to seek the company of any of his countrymen, he is slow to fancy that his own company is declined: despising no one on account of his station, he does not imagine that anyone can despise him for that cause; and until he has clearly perceived an insult, he does not suppose that an affront11 was intended. The social condition of the Americans naturally accustoms19 them not to take offence in small matters; and, on the other hand, the democratic freedom which they enjoy transfuses21 this same mildness of temper into the character of the nation. The political institutions of the United States constantly bring citizens of all ranks into contact, and compel them to pursue great undertakings22 in concert. People thus engaged have scarcely time to attend to the details of etiquette, and they are besides too strongly interested in living harmoniously23 for them to stick at such things. They therefore soon acquire a habit of considering the feelings and opinions of those whom they meet more than their manners, and they do not allow themselves to be annoyed by trifles.
I have often remarked in the United States that it is not easy to make a man understand that his presence may be dispensed24 with; hints will not always suffice to shake him off. I contradict an American at every word he says, to show him that his conversation bores me; he instantly labors25 with fresh pertinacity26 to convince me; I preserve a dogged silence, and he thinks I am meditating27 deeply on the truths which he is uttering; at last I rush from his company, and he supposes that some urgent business hurries me elsewhere. This man will never understand that he wearies me to extinction28 unless I tell him so: and the only way to get rid of him is to make him my enemy for life.
It appears surprising at first sight that the same man transported to Europe suddenly becomes so sensitive and captious29, that I often find it as difficult to avoid offending him here as it was to put him out of countenance30. These two opposite effects proceed from the same cause. Democratic institutions generally give men a lofty notion of their country and of themselves. An American leaves his country with a heart swollen31 with pride; on arriving in Europe he at once finds out that we are not so engrossed32 by the United States and the great people which inhabits them as he had supposed, and this begins to annoy him. He has been informed that the conditions of society are not equal in our part of the globe, and he observes that among the nations of Europe the traces of rank are not wholly obliterated; that wealth and birth still retain some indeterminate privileges, which force themselves upon his notice whilst they elude33 definition. He is therefore profoundly ignorant of the place which he ought to occupy in this half-ruined scale of classes, which are sufficiently34 distinct to hate and despise each other, yet sufficiently alike for him to be always confounding them. He is afraid of ranging himself too high—still more is he afraid of being ranged too low; this twofold peril35 keeps his mind constantly on the stretch, and embarrasses all he says and does. He learns from tradition that in Europe ceremonial observances were infinitely36 varied37 according to different ranks; this recollection of former times completes his perplexity, and he is the more afraid of not obtaining those marks of respect which are due to him, as he does not exactly know in what they consist. He is like a man surrounded by traps: society is not a recreation for him, but a serious toil38: he weighs your least actions, interrogates39 your looks, and scrutinizes40 all you say, lest there should be some hidden allusion41 to affront him. I doubt whether there was ever a provincial42 man of quality so punctilious43 in breeding as he is: he endeavors to attend to the slightest rules of etiquette, and does not allow one of them to be waived44 towards himself: he is full of scruples45 and at the same time of pretensions46; he wishes to do enough, but fears to do too much; and as he does not very well know the limits of the one or of the other, he keeps up a haughty47 and embarrassed air of reserve.
But this is not all: here is yet another double of the human heart. An American is forever talking of the admirable equality which prevails in the United States; aloud he makes it the boast of his country, but in secret he deplores48 it for himself; and he aspires49 to show that, for his part, he is an exception to the general state of things which he vaunts. There is hardly an American to be met with who does not claim some remote kindred with the first founders50 of the colonies; and as for the scions51 of the noble families of England, America seemed to me to be covered with them. When an opulent American arrives in Europe, his first care is to surround himself with all the luxuries of wealth: he is so afraid of being taken for the plain citizen of a democracy, that he adopts a hundred distorted ways of bringing some new instance of his wealth before you every day. His house will be in the most fashionable part of the town: he will always be surrounded by a host of servants. I have heard an American complain, that in the best houses of Paris the society was rather mixed; the taste which prevails there was not pure enough for him; and he ventured to hint that, in his opinion, there was a want of elegance52 of manner; he could not accustom20 himself to see wit concealed53 under such unpretending forms.
These contrasts ought not to surprise us. If the vestiges54 of former aristocratic distinctions were not so completely effaced55 in the United States, the Americans would be less simple and less tolerant in their own country—they would require less, and be less fond of borrowed manners in ours.
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1
vindictive
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| adj.有报仇心的，怀恨的，惩罚的 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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kindle
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| v.点燃，着火 | |
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abate
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| vi.(风势，疼痛等)减弱，减轻，减退 | |
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intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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condescension
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| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
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etiquette
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| n.礼仪，礼节；规矩 | |
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8
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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deviate
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| v.(from)背离，偏离 | |
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inflict
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| vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担 | |
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affront
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| n./v.侮辱，触怒 | |
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affronts
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| n.（当众）侮辱，（故意）冒犯( affront的名词复数 )v.勇敢地面对( affront的第三人称单数 )；相遇 | |
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13
obliterated
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| v.除去( obliterate的过去式和过去分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
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mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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adverted
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| 引起注意（advert的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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accustoms
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| v.（使）习惯于( accustom的第三人称单数 ) | |
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accustom
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| vt.使适应，使习惯 | |
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transfuses
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| v.输（血或别的液体）( transfuse的第三人称单数 )；渗透；使…被灌输或传达 | |
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undertakings
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| 企业( undertaking的名词复数 )； 保证； 殡仪业； 任务 | |
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harmoniously
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| 和谐地，调和地 | |
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dispensed
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| v.分配( dispense的过去式和过去分词 )；施与；配（药） | |
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labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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pertinacity
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| n.执拗，顽固 | |
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meditating
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| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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extinction
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| n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种 | |
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captious
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| adj.难讨好的，吹毛求疵的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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33
elude
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| v.躲避，困惑 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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35
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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38
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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interrogates
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| n.询问( interrogate的名词复数 )；审问；（在计算机或其他机器上）查询v.询问( interrogate的第三人称单数 )；审问；（在计算机或其他机器上）查询 | |
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40
scrutinizes
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的第三人称单数 ) | |
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41
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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42
provincial
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| adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人 | |
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43
punctilious
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| adj.谨慎的，谨小慎微的 | |
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44
waived
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| v.宣布放弃( waive的过去式和过去分词 )；搁置；推迟；放弃（权利、要求等） | |
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45
scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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46
pretensions
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| 自称( pretension的名词复数 )； 自命不凡； 要求； 权力 | |
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47
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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48
deplores
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| v.悲叹，痛惜，强烈反对( deplore的第三人称单数 ) | |
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49
aspires
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| v.渴望，追求( aspire的第三人称单数 ) | |
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50
founders
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| n.创始人( founder的名词复数 ) | |
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51
scions
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| n.接穗，幼枝( scion的名词复数 )；（尤指富家）子孙 | |
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52
elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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53
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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54
vestiges
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| 残余部分( vestige的名词复数 )； 遗迹； 痕迹； 毫不 | |
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55
effaced
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| v.擦掉( efface的过去式和过去分词 )；抹去；超越；使黯然失色 | |
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