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Topic: An old Frenchman on the National Vanity of the Americans
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al-Qa'bong
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3807
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posted 27 March 2003 06:23 PM
quote: The Americans, in their intercourse with strangers, appear impatient of the smallest censure and insatiable of praise. The most slender eulogy is acceptable to them, the most exalted seldom contents them; they unceasingly harass you to extort praise, and if you resist their entreaties, they fall to praising themselves. It would seem as if, doubting their own merit, they wished to have it constantly exhibited before their eyes. Their vanity is not only greedy, but restless and jealous; it will grant nothing, while it demands everything, but is ready to beg and to quarrel at the same time.
Alexis de Tocqueville Democracy in America What's up with that, anyway? [ 27 March 2003: Message edited by: audra estrones ] [ 27 March 2003: Message edited by: al-Qa'bong ]
From: Saskatchistan | Registered: Feb 2003
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jeff house
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 518
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posted 31 March 2003 11:04 PM
quote: I wouldn't pay much mind to Tocqueville anyway. That aristocrat was clinging to the ancient regime with as much strength as he could muster.
Actually, Tocqueville did not support the Old Regime at all.He supported the French Republic, and opposed the 18th Brumaire of Louis Napoleon, just as Marx did. I do not believe that Toqueville was pro-slavery, either. My recollection is that he decried the inequality involved in slavery, and predicted that, if every there were a revolution in the US, blacks would lead it, because it did not grant them its full bounty. I have found Tocqueville more penetrating each time I encounter him. Iam against "dissing" him on such a slender basis as that he was an aristocrat.Please desist.
From: toronto | Registered: May 2001
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al-Qa'bong
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3807
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posted 05 April 2003 01:17 PM
quote: What do we do when Canadians present such opinions? Tocqueville didn't write anything on us!!
Voltaire beat him to it. "Quelques arpents de neige" Ça suffit, non?
From: Saskatchistan | Registered: Feb 2003
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Puetski Murder
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3790
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posted 05 April 2003 07:54 PM
Ah oui. Je comprends maintenant. Malheureusement pour nous, il y a deja un Francais qui a ecrit quels-que choses sur Canada./French attempt. Reference to another work is duly noted. [ 05 April 2003: Message edited by: Puetski Murder ]
From: Toronto | Registered: Feb 2003
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