--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No difference exists between American and…" description: "\"No difference exists between American and European manners. A proletarian from Chicago can be just as Philistine as an English duke.\" — Vladimir Nabokov" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bf/vladimir-nabokov-198_chicago_no-difference-exists-between-american-an_657198.jpg" --- # No difference exists between American and European… ![“No difference exists between American and European manners. A proletarian from Chicago can be just as Philistine as an English duke.” quote by Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bf/vladimir-nabokov-198_chicago_no-difference-exists-between-american-an_657198.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bf/vladimir-nabokov-198_chicago_no-difference-exists-between-american-an_657198.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bf/vladimir-nabokov-198_chicago_no-difference-exists-between-american-an_657198.jpg) > “No difference exists between American and European manners. A proletarian from Chicago can be just as Philistine as an English duke.” [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Manners are culturally constructed, not inherent; social class can produce similar crudeness across societies. **In simple terms:** Manners are learned, not innate. Key Takeaway Judge people by behavior, not origin. Themes culture class behavior Mood critical analytical Type observational critical When to use this quote - travel - business meetings - social gatherings - online interactions Key Concepts social norms cultural relativism Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize genuine courtesy versus performative manners? - Can class ever fully dictate behavior? A Different Perspective Assumes all individuals conform to stereotypes; ignores personal variation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chicago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chicago/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [English](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/english/) [Manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manners/) [Philistines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philistines/) ## Related quotes > [Tobacco smoke is the one element in which, by our European manners, men can sit silent together without embarrassment, and where no man is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/tobacco-smoke-is-the-one-element-in-which-by-our-european-manners-men/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The superman exists and he's American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/the-superman-exists-and-he-s-american/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [“Perhaps in the process of reconstructing its corporeal form, this new and wholly original entity achieved a complete mastery of all matter; able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/perhaps-in-the-process-of-reconstructing-its-corporeal-form-this-new/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [It does not follow because many books are written by persons born in America that there exists an American literature. Books which imitate or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-fuller/it-does-not-follow-because-many-books-are-written-by-persons-born-in/) [Margaret Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-fuller/) > [I have something to say about the difference between American and European cities, but I forgot what it was. I have it written down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/i-have-something-to-say-about-the-difference-between-american-and/) [David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/) > [Let's be careful when we start comparing American to European tolerance because there isn't necessarily a lot of European tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/montel-williams/let-s-be-careful-when-we-start-comparing-american-to-european/) [Montel Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/montel-williams/) > [From a German point of view, German-American and European-American relations are a pillar of our foreign policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/from-a-german-point-of-view-german-american-and-european-american/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [So I am getting a little bored with defining one type of film as American and the other European or from somewhere else because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wim-wenders/so-i-am-getting-a-little-bored-with-defining-one-type-of-film-as/) [Wim Wenders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wim-wenders/) > [There are significant differences between the American and European version of capitalism. 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A realgood head is not oval but round.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/those-eggheadsareterrible-philistines-a-realgood-head-is-not-oval-but/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [When temptation comes your way, name that boastful, deceitful giant “Goliath!” and do with it as David did to the Philistine of Gath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/when-temptation-comes-your-way-name-that-boastful-deceitful-giant/) [Gordon B. 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Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) ## More by Vladimir Nabokov > [And the rest is rust and stardust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/and-the-rest-is-rust-and-stardust/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [There is no science without fancy and no art without fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/there-is-no-science-without-fancy-and-no-art-without-fact/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“My solemn exasperation was to her the silence of love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/my-solemn-exasperation-was-to-her-the-silence-of-love/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [ “...under no circumstances would he \[Humbert Humbert\] have interfered with the innocence of a child, if there was the least risk of a row.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/under-no-circumstances-would-he-humbert-humbert-have-interfered-with/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [The cradle rocks above an abyss, and common sense tells us that our existence is but a brief crack of light between two eternities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/the-cradle-rocks-above-an-abyss-and-common-sense-tells-us-that-our/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“Ami azt illeti, Vannak kezdtek nagyon tetszeni a fák is, a csodák is meg az Adák is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/ami-azt-illeti-vannak-kezdtek-nagyon-tetszeni-a-f-k-is-a-csod-k-is/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [We live not only in a world of thoughts, but also in a world of things. 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Come on over here, you foolish little doe, and tell me on what day I shall die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/it-isn-t-possible-i-cannot-imagine-it-come-on-over-here-you-foolish/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“Precautions to be taken in the case Of freak reincarnation: what to do On suddenly discovering that you Are now a young and vulnerable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/precautions-to-be-taken-in-the-case-of-freak-reincarnation-what-to-do/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [And this is the only immortality you and i may share, my Lolita.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/and-this-is-the-only-immortality-you-and-i-may-share-my-lolita/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“Be true to your Dick.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/be-true-to-your-dick/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“It is indeed a tricky name. It is often misspelt, because the eye tends to regard the "a" of the first syllable as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/it-is-indeed-a-tricky-name-it-is-often-misspelt-because-the-eye-tends/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“(T)here exist friendships which develop their own inner duration, their own eons of transparent time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/t-here-exist-friendships-which-develop-their-own-inner-duration-their/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“She was all rose and honey.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/she-was-all-rose-and-honey/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) [Explore all 883 Vladimir Nabokov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) ## More Chicago quotes > [I'm proud to say I had a bet with a guy from Chicago who said Chicago is windier and colder than Wyoming. 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