Page:Democracy in America (Reeve, v. 2).djvu/319

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
ITS INFLUENCE ON MANNERS.
297

Thus, far from thinking that humility ought to be preached to our contemporaries, I would have endeavours made to give them a more enlarged idea of themselves and of their kind. Humility is unwholesome to them; what they most want is, in my opinion, pride. I would willingly exchange several of our small virtues for this one vice.