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Oh ok. So when someone comes in a facade of seeking knowledge, only to show his true colors of a simple we're smarter-and-better-than-you crier we're not allowed to get upset?
It's vain to get offended when someone insults your intelligence or manner in which you live? That's not what Toqueville was speaking of (though nice use of him I must admit). What he was pointing at was the way in which to best deal with American diplomats. The diplomats and people show a weakness to flattery... but show me a person that doesn't deal better with those who compliment him/her than with one who only attacks and I'll prostate myself infront of you (i.e. not going to happen).
However that is a flawed source, primarily because his society (perticularly class) respected tradition. While most were forward thinking, there was a tendancy to believe that because something has lasted, that survivability prooves it was worthwhile and thus worthy of respect. Clearly this was in opposite of this brand new country. While Americans viewed themselves as respect worthy due to their victory, the Europeans attempted to reject that simply because America had not proven itself in the length of time as the various European powers.
Toqueville was extremely forward thinking and liberal, however these biases still existed, thus it can not be brought into this as an objective source.
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