If I were asked for a single symbolic figure summing up the whole of what seems eccentric and interesting about America to an Englishman, I should be satisfied to select that one lady who complained of Mrs. Asquith's lecture and wanted her money back.Source: What I Saw in America by G. K. Chesterton
I do not mean that she was typically American in complaining; far from it. I, for one, have a great and guilty knowledge of all that amiable American audiences will endure without complaint.
I do not mean that she was typically American in wanting her money; quite the contrary. That sort of American spends money rather than hoards it; and when we convict them of vulgarity we acquit them of avarice.
Where she was typically American, summing up a truth individual and indescribable in any other way, is that she used these words: 'I've risen from a sick-bed to come and hear her, and I want my money back.'
The element in that which really amuses an Englishman is precisely the element which, properly analysed, ought to make him admire an American.
But my point is that only by going through the amusement can he reach the admiration.
The amusement is in the vision of a tragic sacrifice for what is avowedly a rather trivial object.
Moving…
All content on this blog from Tim McGhee has moved to the Tim McGhee Substack, and soon, Lord willing, will be found only on that Substack.
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
Reaching admiration
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Blog Archive
-
▼
2020
(436)
-
▼
February
(30)
- Congress Updates
- What storytellers do
- Three approaches to work
- The first mark of a childlike spirit
- The servants of hope
- The main charm of life in Europe
- Sunday Talk Show Recap: South Carolina Next
- Congress Updates
- Billy Graham’s greatest surprise in life
- 600 Days; new personal time paradigm
- Two kinds of diversity
- Reaching admiration
- The hidden comfort in direction
- Brave where all others were cowards
- Sunday Talk Show Recap: Bloomberg, Nevada, South C...
- Congress Updates
- Digitally hanging out
- From character to personality
- Loving characters
- What Rome defended
- Beauty no painter could represent
- Sunday Talk Show Recap: Pre-New Hampshire
- Congress Updates
- Emoji is fake
- When overcoming adversity is most useful
- Mastering the imagination and not the reason
- When work is not work
- Miles of worship
- Sunday Shows Recap: Impeachment Concluding; Iowa C...
- Congress Updates
-
▼
February
(30)
No comments:
Post a Comment