What is true about the English character? [originaltext]F: Johnny, what’s your

F:  Johnny, what’s your impression on English people?
M: Well, they are the most reserved, the most suspicious, the most unreceptive, the most unfriendly, the coldest-hearted, and the most domineering of all western peoples.
F: Why? It seems that you have great prejudice against the English people.
M: Not necessarily. This is the judgment by all other European people. Ask a Frenchman, an Italian, a German like me, or even an American, what he thinks about Englishmen; and every one of them will tell you the very same thing.
F:  Don’t you have any compliment for the English people?
M: Oh, yes. You would find upon the other hand that nearly all nations would speak highly of certain other English qualities-- energy, courage, honor, and justice. Although no man is so difficult to make friends with, the friendship of an Englishman once gained is more strong and true than any other. What do you think them any way?
F:  I don’t know much about English people. But last semester, we had a teacher named Mr. McCourt teaching us writing, he is from Liverpool, he is rather silent, reserved, and not amiable. Some of us were really afraid of him. But he was a great teacher, and has taught us many writing techniques. I have made much progress.
M: Then he is a typical English man, for the Englishman of the best type is much more inclined to be just than he is to be kind.
F:  That’s right. Mr. McCourt often told that kindness is an emotional impulse, and we should on our guard against every kind of emotional impulse.
M: But with all this, the character is a grand one, and its success has been the best proof of its value.