On National Prejudices---by Oliver Goldsmith
1. As I am one of the sauntering tribe of mortals, who spend the greatest part of their time in taverns, coffee hous, and other places of public resort, I have thereby an opportunity of obrving an infinite variety of characters, which, to a person of a contemplative turn, is a much higher entertainment than a view of all the curiosities of art or nature. In one of the, my late rambles, I accidentally fell into the company of half a dozen gentlemen, who were engaged in a warm dispute about some political affair; the decision of which, as they were equally divided in their ntiments, they thought proper to refer to me, which naturally drew me in for a share of the conversation.
2. Amongst a multiplicity of other topics, we took occasion to talk of a different characters of the veral nations of Europe; when one of the gentlemen, cocking his hat, and assuming such an air of importance as if he had possd all the merit of the English nation in his own person, declared that the Dutch were a parcel of avaricious wretches; the French a t of flattering sycophants; that the Germans were drunken sots, and beastly gluttons; and the
Spaniards proud, haughty, and surly tyrants; but that in bravery, generosity, clemency, and in every other virtue, the English excelled all the world.
3.姜夔代表作This very learned and judicious remark was received with a general smile of approbation by all the company--all, I mean, but your humble rvant; who, endeavoring to keep my gravity as well as I could, I reclined my head upon my arm, continued for some times in a posture of affected thoughtfulness, as if I had been musing on something el, and did not em to attend to the subject of conversation; hoping by the means to avoid the disagreeable necessity of explaining mylf, and thereby depriving the gentlemen of his imaginary happiness.表格怎么设置
4. But my pudo-patriot had no mind to let me escape so easily. Not satisfied that his opinion should pass without contradiction, he was determined to have it ratified by the suffrage of every one in the company; for which purpo addressing himlf to me with an air of inexpressible confidence, he asked me if I was not in the same way of thinking. As I am never forward in giving my opinion, especially when I have reason to believe that
镜子能不能对着床it will not be agreeable; so, when I am obliged to give it, I always hold it for a maxim to speak my real ntiments. I therefore told him that, for my own part, I should not have ventured to talk in such a peremptory strain, unless I had made the tour of Europe, and examined the manners of the veral nations with great care and accuracy: that, perhaps, a more impartial judge would not scruple to affirm that the Dutch were more frugal and industrious, the French more temperate and polite, the Germans more hardy and patient of labour and fatigue, and the Spaniards more staid and date, than the English; who, though undoubtedly brave and generous, were at the same time rash, headstrong, and impetuous; too apt to be elated with prosperity, and to despond in adversity.
5. I could easily perceive that all of the company began to regard me with a jealous eye before I had finished my answer, which I had no sooner done, than the patriotic gentleman obrved, with a contemptuous sneer, that he was greatly surprid how some people could have the conscience to live in a country which they did not love, and to enjoy the protection of a government, to which in their hearts they were inveterate ene
论文注释怎么加mies. Finding that by this modest declaration of my ntiments, I had forfeited the good opinion of my companions, and given them occasion to call my political principles in question, and well knowing that it was in vain to argue with men who were so very full of themlves, I threw down my reckoning and retired to my own lodgings, reflecting on the absurd and ridiculous nature of national prejudice and preposssion.
6. Among all the famous sayings of antiquity, there is none that does greater honour to the author, or affords greater pleasure to the reader (at least if he be a person of a generous and benevolent heart) than that the philosopher, who, being asked what "countryman he was," replied that he was a citizen of the world. How few there are to be found in modern times who can say the same, or who conduct is consistent with such a profession! We are now become so much Englishmen, Frenchmen, Dutchmen, Spaniards, or Germans, that we are no longer citizens of the world; so much the natives of one particular spot, or members of one petty society, that we no longer consider ourlves as the general inhabitants of the globe, or members of that grand society which comprehends the whole human kind.
许志安老婆花旦7.Did the prejudices prevail only among the meanest and lowest of the people, perhaps they might be excud, as they have few, if any, opportunities of correcting them by reading, traveling, or conversing with foreigners; but the misfortune is, that they infect the minds, and influence the conduct even of our gentlemen; of tho, I mean, who have every title to this appellation but an exemption from prejudice, which, however, in my opinion, ought to be regarded as the characteristical mark of a gentleman: for let a man's birth be ever so high, his station ever so exalted, or his fortune ever so large, yet if he is not free from national and other prejudices, I should make bold to tell him, that he had a low and vulgar mind, and had no just claim to the character of a gentleman. And in fact, you will always find that tho are most apt to boast of national merit, who have little or no merit of their own to depend on, than which, to be sure, nothing is more natural: the slender vine twists around the sturdy oak for no other reason in the world but becau it has not strength sufficient to support itlf.
8. Should it be alleged in defen of national prejudice, that it is the natural and necessary growth of love to our country, and that therefore the former cannot be destroye
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d without hurting the latter; I answer, that this is a gross fallacy and delusion. That it is the growth and love to our country, I will allow; but that it is the natural and necessary growth of it, I absolutely deny. Superstition and enthusiasm too are the growth of religion; but who ever took it in his head to affirm that they are the necessary growth of this noble principle? They are, if you will, the bastard sprouts of this heavenly plant; but not its natural and genuine branches, and may safely enough be lopped off, without doing any harm to the parent stock; nay, perhaps, till once they are lopped off, this goodly tree can never flourish in perfect health and vigour.
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