“Boasting is often carried by certain Americans to the extreme. Often however it is areaction against slights, an effort to veil deficiencies, an effort made by a people aware of them, but on the other hand conscious of having accomplished in two or three generations what it took other nations centuries to perform. Generally, humannature revolts at taunts, at arrogant reproof, at undervaluation. Experience and time alone teach a becoming equanimity. European nations bear scoffing more patiently because they have thrown it occasionally for centuries at each other's head. Like old war horses accustomed to theroar of battles, they remain cool and self-possessed. There is on the American surface much to be rubbed offand rounded. Rude angles areto be soft ened, ease, flexibility instilled. Time mustdo the work. Refinement is a fruit slowly ripened by ages.”
![“Our advertising and even our arts convey the idea that we [Americans] as a society are brash, irreverent, and free of all constraint, when the best available evidence would suggest that we are in fact tame, spayed, and easily brought to heel.” quote by Garret Keizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c7e/garret-keizer-34804_art_our-advertising-and-even-our-arts-convey_2679349.jpg)
